The Fund for Women & Girls Grant Guidelines
The mission of The Fund for Women & Girls, a special initiative of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is to broaden the awareness of and response to issues affecting women and girls through the power of collective philanthropy. Created in 2000, The Fund for Women & Girls has been working for nearly two decades to and continues to strengthen its primary goals:
- To recruit 1,000 individuals to join the Dream Team by each making a gift of $1,000 which will be used to create a lasting endowment of $1 million to support women and girls now, and far into the future.
- Make grants annually to local nonprofit organizations that focus on bettering the lives of women and girls in the South Central PA counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and Perry, and the Dillsburg Area.
Grant Amount
Up to $15,000
Applications Open: June 1, 2025
Applications Close: September 1, 2025
Apply NowValues
The Fund for Women & Girls believes that positive social change will come about only when barriers of class, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, educational background, faith traditions, gender identity, race, and sexual orientation are overcome, Participation at the broadest level is the beacon of our work.
Enduring progress will be made by focusing on assets unique to the lives and work of women and girls. We strive to create a climate of empowerment in a community where many voices can contribute to the shaping of will and attitudes.
In our society, gender powerfully affects experience and opportunity. All voices will be heard, including those outside the mainstream and those silent voices within the mainstream.
Funding Priorities
To further its mission, The Fund for Women & Girls utilizes four Funding Priorities which seek to support projects that advance the lives of women and girls by:
- Providing opportunities to address basic needs or develop economic self-sufficiency.
- Providing opportunities to strengthen and address health and safety needs.
- Providing opportunities for education.
- Providing opportunities to invest in systems and sustainable change efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion
The Fund for Women & Girls is seeking proposals that are change making for local women & girls.
- Proposed projects may seek to strengthen and/or sustain existing programs, expand existing programs or be brand new
- Proposals must be focused on service to women, service to girls, service to women & girls or service to those who identify as such
- Proposals must have lasting value and provide a plan for sustainability beyond the grant term
Grant Eligibility
The Fund for Women & Girls will make grants to programs/initiatives that serve women and girls in the South Central PA counties of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and the Dillsburg Area of York County. All money must be distributed through nonpro.t organizations federally determined as 501(c)(3) entities. Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may engage a Fiscal sponsor to administer their grant funds.
Grant Timeline
- June 1, 2025: Application available.
- September 1, 2025: All application materials must be submitted online.
- Applicants will be notified of their status by December 1, 2025.
- Proposed projects may take place at any time during the grant year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026. Only projects taking place during the stated grant year will be considered for this round of funding.
Use of Funds
Funds are to be used to carry out the program effort or initiative as defined in the grant proposal. The Fund for Women & Girls considers support for program/initiative operating costs and supports start-up as well as established programs.
What We Do Not Fund
- Advertising*
- Capital campaigns
- Direct lobbying to influence legislation or funding appropriations*
- Individuals
- National and statewide umbrella organizations that cannot demonstrate a local presence
- New staff positions without a substantial plan for sustainability
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Retroactive projects
*Grant proposals that include these should describe the scope, purpose and guidelines.
Criteria for Evaluating Proposals
The Fund for Women & Girls Grant Review Committee consists of a diverse group of individuals committed to the mission of The Fund for Women & Girls. Committee members use the criteria below to evaluate applicant submissions and make valuable suggestions to ensure that work supported by The Fund for Women & Girls will make a difference. The Grant Review Committee may request additional information about the grant proposal prior to making an award or denial.
Below is a list of the criteria utilized to evaluate applications.
- (20) – Connection to the Mission of the Fund for Women & Girls
- Need and target audience is clearly stated.
- Narrative provides a clear picture of all proposed actions and activities.
- Project/program dates and locations are clearly addressed and anticipated.
- (5) – Roles and responsibilities are defined and work to strengthen/enhance the project.
- Partnerships, collaborations, services and affiliations are clearly defined if applicable.
- (5) – Funding:
- Project has a funding diversification plan and is not 100% dependent upon grant award.
- Budget Worksheet clearly defines where awarded funds will be applied.
- (10) – Project success is clearly defined and measurable.
- Goals are measurable and anticipated outcomes are clearly defined.
- (10) – Diversity Equity and Inclusion:
- Project demonstrates how it will be inclusive/accessible to all applicable audiences.
- The board, staff and/or volunteers reflect the community and the people being served.
- (50) – TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE
Would you recommend funding this project? Yes/No
Resources
- Application Tutorial
- How to register and apply
- Draft Reviews
- Applicants may request a draft review of their application up to 2 weeks prior to the deadline. To request a draft review contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org.
If you should have any questions regarding TFEC grant opportunities or your application, please contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org or 717-236-5040. Questions are welcome at any time!
