Erie Women’s Fund Major Grant

The Erie Women’s Fund Major Grant is an annual funding initiative facilitated by the Erie Women’s Fund, a women-led field of interest fund of The Erie Community Foundation. This grant program is designed to support nonprofit organizations working in Erie County, Pennsylvania, with a mission to uplift women and families through projects that advance equity, opportunity, and well-being. The fund strategically invests in projects that produce meaningful, measurable impact within a 12-month implementation period and encourages bold, innovative ideas that address systemic challenges. The purpose of the grant is to support new or expanded efforts that clearly respond to critical community needs and demonstrate both the organizational capacity to implement change and the potential for lasting, measurable outcomes. Applicants are expected to propose projects that fit within one or more of the following focus areas: Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context. These areas reflect the broader social determinants of health and well-being for women and families in the Erie County region. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Erie County and focused on serving women and families within that locality. Collaborative projects involving multiple organizations are encouraged, though not required. Projects must be implemented entirely within Erie County. Certain activities and entities are specifically excluded from eligibility, such as for-profit businesses, sectarian religious activities, hospitality-focused initiatives, fundraising-only efforts, and third-party grantmaking. Additionally, organizations that have received a Major Grant from the Erie Women’s Fund within the past 12 months are ineligible for the current cycle. The grant opportunity opens on February 20, 2026, and will close on April 17, 2026. All applicants must submit a completed written application and a 2–5 minute informal video introducing their organization and proposed project. Applications are submitted through an online portal. Only complete submissions, including all required materials, will be reviewed by the Grants Committee. Following the application deadline, the Grants Committee will evaluate submissions and select semifinalists and finalists for further review, including presentations and a voting process that takes place in the spring and early summer. The final grant recipient will be announced at an Erie Women’s Fund event in July. The selected project must be able to demonstrate measurable results within a 12-month funding period following the award. For further questions or to request additional information, applicants may contact the Erie Women’s Fund via email at [email protected]. The fund encourages innovative thinking and a strong focus on impact, particularly within the target areas of equity and community empowerment for women and families in Erie County.