CFES Women’s Fund Grant

The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is a permanent endowment that exemplifies the principles of collective philanthropy, focusing its efforts on improving the lives of women and girls on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. By pooling financial resources, its members are able to significantly increase the reach and impact of local programs serving this target population. Typical beneficiaries include girls in foster care, mothers facing crises, young women seeking job readiness and leadership skills, and others striving for self-sufficiency and community engagement. This mission underscores the Fund’s dedication to helping women and girls become stronger agents of change within their communities. Each year during the spring cycle, The Women’s Fund directs its grantmaking to address the unmet needs of women and/or girls specifically within Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset Counties in Maryland. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how their proposed program or service will provide direct, measurable benefits to this targeted population within the eligible counties. The fund prioritizes support for programs that are new or from first-time applicants, although past grantees may be reconsidered, particularly if they show program expansion, address loss or gap funding, or have a track record of success. Grants are competitive, and successful proposals typically offer evidence of local impact and strong community ties. Award requests can be up to $5,000. However, camperships and general summer camp support are explicitly excluded from funding consideration. Projects that have previously received awards will be evaluated on a range of criteria, including outcomes achieved, challenges encountered, and the presence of any new needs or expansions since the last grant cycle. If a program is not eligible for full award consideration, staff will notify the applicant early in the cycle. To begin the application process, eligible organizations must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) between March 1 and March 22. These letters will be reviewed by the Women’s Fund Advisory Committee, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the final deadline of April 18. Decisions regarding LOI advancement will be communicated by April 1. This two-stage process helps ensure that only qualified and relevant programs advance to full review. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, and faith-based organizations that provide non-sectarian programs. Eligible applicants must serve populations in Wicomico, Worcester, or Somerset Counties. Faith-based programs must be secular in nature to qualify. The fund does not allow applications from individuals, for-profit organizations, or programs based outside the geographic scope, and no PDF guidelines or additional documentation links were identified in the available materials. This grant program is recurring each spring and has a defined structure for review and award distribution. Although exact performance periods are not defined in the source, the timeline typically includes a March LOI window, April final application deadline, and subsequent funding notifications. Applicants are encouraged to present clear, outcome-driven proposals aligned with the fund’s mission to empower and uplift women and girls in the defined service area.