The Women’s Fund Grants

The Women’s Fund Grants program is administered by The Women’s Fund, an affiliate of the Wayne County Community Foundation, which was established in 2013. This funding opportunity is designed to benefit women and girls in Wayne County, Ohio. The Fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations and qualified governmental entities that propose projects aligned with the mission of encouraging the full participation and development of women and girls in the community. This includes support for educational, physical, emotional, social, and personal growth initiatives specifically targeting female populations. The Women’s Fund supports projects in three primary focus areas. The first area is Women’s Education, with grants favoring proposals that provide instruction on parenting, career preparation, and informed lifestyle choices. Projects that foster collaboration among groups of women are particularly encouraged. The second area is Women’s Economic Empowerment, emphasizing financial independence for women and their families. Supported activities include financial literacy, access to better employment, and job readiness. The third focus area, Women’s Health and Wellness, supports physical and mental health initiatives and those promoting safe, violence-free living environments for women. Mental health awareness and treatment of issues like depression are also prioritized. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt charitable organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or qualified government agencies. Projects must serve women and girls living in Wayne County, Ohio. The Foundation strongly encourages collaborative applications among organizations, though one lead agency must be designated. Grants are intended for a one-year duration, and applicants must use the full grant amount within this period. Previous awards have ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with no specified total program funding limit. Grantee organizations are expected to demonstrate leadership capacity, fiscal accountability, and organizational stability. Three types of grants are available: project grants for new or expanded programming, start-up grants for emerging organizations, and capacity-building grants to expand service reach or efficiency. The Fund does not support scholarships, capital campaigns, religious or political activities, fundraising events, or debt reduction. Projects involving agencies outside Wayne County or discriminatory practices are ineligible. Applications are submitted exclusively through the Foundation’s Online Grant Portal. The submission deadline is September 1. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Interest, which is reviewed within three business days. Those meeting the criteria receive an invitation to complete the full application. Applications are reviewed by the Women’s Fund Advisory Committee using criteria such as clarity of objectives, alignment with funding priorities, collaboration, financial feasibility, and organizational readiness. Interviews may be requested. All recommendations are subject to final approval by the Foundation’s Trustees. Awardees are notified by June 1, and must submit both interim and final reports within one year of receiving funding. Contact for inquiries is grants@wccfoh.org or (330) 262-3877.

Proposals are evaluated on clarity, alignment with focus areas, collaboration, fiscal realism, and organizational readiness.