Women to Women Giving Circle Grants
This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in central Illinois that assist women and children facing challenges related to housing, food, transportation, and childcare insecurity.
The Illinois Prairie Community Foundation (IPCF) is offering the 2025 Women to Women (W2W) Giving Circle Grants. These grants focus on addressing issues of housing, food, transportation, and childcare insecurity for women and children. Special consideration will be given to programs targeting housing insecurity and its interconnectedness with other essential needs. A total of $60,000 is available for distribution, with individual grant awards historically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on September 30, 2024, and must be submitted through the IPCF online portal. Eligible programs must occur within the grant funding period of February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Applicants must represent a 501(c)(3) organization, operate under a fiscal sponsor with such status, or be a local government unit. Faith-based organizations may apply if their programs are non-sectarian and available to the broader community. Collaborative projects involving multiple organizations are encouraged but not required, with one organization acting as the lead applicant. Grant applications will be evaluated based on their potential for sustainability, the ability to promote systemic change, creative solutions addressing the focus areas, measurable outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Collaborative approaches to avoid duplication of services are also highly regarded. Programs should either already demonstrate results or introduce innovative solutions grounded in proven methods. Certain expenses, such as endowment campaigns, fundraising events, scholarships, or non-program-related costs, will not be funded. Organizations receiving consecutive W2W grants are expected to become self-sufficient or secure alternate funding after two grant cycles. The grant process includes an oral presentation by finalists to the W2W Grants Committee in late November or early December. Funding decisions will be communicated in early January 2025, with funds distributed that same month upon completion of a grant agreement. Awardees must submit a final report by February 28, 2026, or within one month of program completion, detailing the program's outcomes. Failure to do so may disqualify the organization from future grants. Applicants can begin their submissions on September 1, 2024, using the IPCF online grant portal. For more information or assistance, organizations can contact Michele Evans, Grants & Communications Director, at mevans@ilprairiecf.org or 309-662-4477.
Award Range
$5,000 - $20,000
Total Program Funding
$60,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
• Program must address the grant focus; funding may support a new or existing program Grant funding is for the period of February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026; program seeking funding must occur during that timeframe • Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to collaborate with at least one other organization for a common program; applicant will act as the lead organization for program • Applicants must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, operate under a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)(3) organization, or be a local unit of local, county, state or federal government. Faith-based organizations may apply for funding provided the program is non-sectarian and available to the community at large. • Women to Women will fund programs for up to two consecutive grant cycles (funding is not guaranteed in second year); after that, program should have the ability to become selffunded or find alternate funding sources • Program must be available to residents of McLean, DeWitt, Livingston or Logan counties; however, programs do not have to serve all four counties • Program must be operated and organized in such a manner that no applicable antidiscrimination laws are violated • Organizations that have received past Women to Women or Illinois Prairie Community Foundation grants must be current on Final Reports • Executive Director, CEO or President of the Board of lead organization applying must approve the application
Geographic Eligibility
DeWitt County (IL), Livingston County (IL), Logan County (IL), McLean County (IL)
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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