Porter County Community Foundation Women’s Fund

The Women’s Fund of Porter County is a philanthropic initiative housed within the Porter County Community Foundation. The foundation itself is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering generosity and leadership within the Porter County, Indiana community. The Women’s Fund specifically focuses on empowering, connecting, and inspiring women in Porter County by supporting programs and initiatives that positively impact women and children. Since its inception, the Women’s Fund has awarded a total of 61 grants amounting to nearly $900,000. The fund supports a diverse range of essential programs that directly address the needs of women and children within the local community. In 2024, the fund distributed $57,500 in grants to local organizations. Of this amount, Hilltop Neighborhood House and Jacob’s Ladder Pediatric Rehabilitation each received $25,000 to support high-impact programs, while Parents as Teachers of Porter County, the MAAC Foundation, and The Caring Place each received $2,500 in general support. For the 2025 grant cycle, the application window for the Women’s Fund of Porter County opens on May 27 and closes at 12pm (noon) on June 30. Nonprofit organizations that serve Porter County and are organized for tax-exempt purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to apply. However, organizations that received a $25,000 grant from the Women’s Fund in 2024 are ineligible to apply during the 2025 cycle. Certain project areas are explicitly excluded from funding consideration. These include projects not addressing issues related to women and/or children, scholarship programs including daycare and participation fees, annual appeals, membership contributions, event sponsorships, sectarian or religious programs, political organizations or candidates, contributions to endowment campaigns, debt reduction campaigns, already completed programs or pre-contracted equipment, travel for bands and sports teams, camp scholarships or fees, and recurring professional development such as annual conferences. Applications must be submitted online by the stated deadline. The website offers an "Apply for a Grant" option for prospective applicants. Past recipients spotlighted include Hilltop Neighborhood House, which used its grant to provide nutritious meals and promote food security through its Mission Kitchen; Dressed for School, which supplies quality clothing to elementary and middle school students in need; and Family Promise of Porter County, which provides temporary shelter, case management, and sustainable housing opportunities for families experiencing homelessness. For more information, applicants and interested parties can contact the Porter County Community Foundation at 1401 Calumet Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383, via phone at 219.465.0294, or by email at info@pccf.gives. The foundation also maintains an active online presence through Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.