Application Process

Our Grant Program awards grants to nonprofits doing the work to advance equity for women (and girls) in Greater Milwaukee.

You must…

Have 501(c)3 status or a fiscal sponsor. No exceptions.
Focus on advancing equity for women (and girls.)
Encompass social change (and not service delivery or social services.)
Do your work in the Greater Milwaukee area.

If your work is outside of Greater Milwaukee, we will not consider your application. FYI: There are other Women’s Funds in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

Notes

We define social change as a shift in attitude, behavior, and/or culture.

Proposals need to impact at least one of these areas: Economic Empowerment, Leadership Development, or Education.
Your request for funding may be for advocacy, programmatic, operational funds, or capital expenditures.
The Grant can be for seed funding, capacity building, programs, evaluation, projects, collaborations, and research.
You can submit a proposal for something with proven outcomes or it can be for an innovation.
It can be for a one-time project, or on-going programming.
Multi-year requests are entertained.

Limitations

Endowments, debt reduction, fundraising events, scholarships, political campaigns, and programs that promote religious or sectarian activities.

All grants are made to entities/organizations, not individuals.

Application, Preliminary

Please click on these links…

Application 2020 Preliminary FINAL as of 9 11 2020

WATCH the WF Grant Informational Session recorded Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Important Dates…Tentative Schedule 2021

WF Grant Informational Session: TBA, June 2021

Preliminary Application Opens Via Website: TBA, June 2021

Preliminary Applications Due: TBA, August 15, 2021

Invitation to Apply for Grant Notification: TBA, Week of October 4, 2021

Final Application Due: TBA, October 17, 2021

Grant Notifications: TBA, Week of December 13, 2021

Grant Checks Distributed: January 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you grant money to individuals?

No, we do not grant money to individuals for any purpose.

Do you fund direct-service-only organizations?

We do not fund social service work. We fund organizations that are doing social change work. These organizations may also be doing direct service.

Do you fund for-profit efforts?

No. We award grants to 501(c)(3) type organizations/projects that are working to advance equity for women.

Will my submission be acknowledged?

Yes. An email will be sent that acknowledges the receipt of your application.

Questions?

Please contact the Women’s Fund at info@womensfundmke.org or 414-290-7350.

Why It Matters

Women have higher rates of poverty and much lower rates of business ownership than men in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, despite having made significant progress over the last 25 years in attaining a college education.