100 Women Who Care Grant Program

100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee is an initiative of the Community Foundation of West Tennessee, a regional philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting charitable causes across rural West Tennessee. The Foundation administers this grant program to help strengthen nonprofits working across a range of sectors that impact community wellbeing. The "100 Women Who Care" model harnesses the collective giving power of local women to pool resources and award impactful grants to deserving organizations. This community-driven funding approach enables women to make significant contributions with minimal time commitment by uniting efforts around shared philanthropic goals. The 100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee grant program has no thematic restrictions, allowing funding to support a wide array of programs or to provide general operating support. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for small to mid-sized nonprofits that require adaptable funding streams to sustain or expand their work. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations that have been established for at least three years or current active funds held at the Community Foundation of West Tennessee. Furthermore, applicants must serve the residents of one or more of the 20 eligible counties in West Tennessee, which include Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Tipton, and Weakley Counties. Each year, applications are accepted during a defined submission window. For the 2026 grant cycle, applications will be open from January 1 to January 31, 2026. All applications must be submitted online via the official application portal at https://www.cfwtn.org/100-women-grants. Late submissions will be disqualified at the discretion of the review committee. Once submitted, applications are evaluated by a volunteer committee of donors who review and score proposals to select three finalists each from the small and large organization categories. Finalists will be notified at least one week before the awards luncheon, which is scheduled for March 5, 2026. At the awards luncheon, each finalist presents their mission and project or organizational needs directly to the 100 Women Who Care membership. Following these presentations, members vote to determine which nonprofit in each category will receive funding. The specific award amounts are determined by the total contributions collected from members during the current grant cycle. Grant funds are disbursed via check after the award event, enabling recipients to quickly put the funding to use. Applicants are required to provide standard documentation as part of the submission process, including a current operating budget outlining income sources and expenses, a 501(c)(3) determination letter (unless they are a Community Foundation fund), and documentation for permits or licenses if applicable to their project. The narrative application includes six detailed questions that explore organizational background, community need, programmatic approach, outcomes achieved, funding strategies, and impact on women and children. These elements help reviewers assess organizational capacity, alignment with community needs, and overall potential for impact. For more information or questions about the grant process, interested applicants can contact Haley Fortune at [email protected] or call (731) 984-2146. The Community Foundation's main office is located at 74 Directors Row, Jackson, TN 38305. With an annual grant cycle and a clearly defined selection process, the 100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee program is a consistent funding opportunity for nonprofits serving rural West Tennessee communities.