Women Helping Women Fund

The Women Helping Women Fund, administered by the Greater Salina Community Foundation in Salina, Kansas, is a targeted philanthropic initiative aimed at empowering women in Saline County by providing financial assistance through a structured grant process. This program is designed to address specific, urgent needs of women experiencing crisis or seeking a pivotal “hand up” to regain independence and stability. Unlike conventional grant programs that support organizations or long-term projects, the Women Helping Women Fund operates at the intersection of emergency aid and personal empowerment, offering small-scale financial support for time-sensitive, high-impact needs. The fund operates under the administration of the Greater Salina Community Foundation, a respected regional institution that facilitates community giving and resource allocation across a variety of sectors, including education, health, housing, and human services. The foundation’s model emphasizes local responsiveness, with a clear emphasis on community-specific eligibility and impact. The Women Helping Women Fund is one of several programs it administers, and it is unique in its exclusive focus on supporting women and families facing acute hardship within Saline County. Eligible applicants must be women residing in Saline County, Kansas. However, individuals cannot apply directly. Instead, all applications must be submitted through an authorized Partner Agency, which acts as an intermediary and verifies the legitimacy and urgency of each funding request. Partner Agencies are nonprofit service organizations vetted by the foundation. Staff members of these agencies are not permitted to apply for their own needs through their affiliated organization. If they wish to apply, they must do so through another Partner Agency to ensure impartiality. This framework ensures both accountability and personal privacy for applicants while maintaining organizational integrity. Funding from the Women Helping Women Fund is limited to specific types of assistance, aimed at either resolving a current crisis or facilitating a one-time opportunity for greater independence. Covered expenses include birth certificates, emergency vehicle repairs, dental procedures, housing repairs (e.g., air conditioning or plumbing), and other critical services. The fund explicitly prohibits the use of grants for ongoing expenses such as rent, scholarships, attorney fees, or previously incurred debts. This ensures that resources are allocated for one-time interventions with high return on personal stability and well-being, aligning with the fund’s dual mission of crisis resolution and empowerment. The grant cycle occurs six times annually, with deadlines on January 5, March 5, May 5, July 5, September 5, and November 5. While no pre-application steps such as Letters of Intent are specified, applicants must initiate the process through communication with one of the designated Partner Agencies. The Partner Agency then submits the application on behalf of the woman in need. This cycle-based structure provides regular access to funding opportunities throughout the year, with the added flexibility of multiple entry points depending on the timing of need. Grants are reviewed by a dedicated committee within the foundation, and while the specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly listed, the approval process hinges on alignment with the fund’s mission, eligibility verification through the Partner Agency, and the demonstrated urgency and uniqueness of the request. For additional information, interested parties are encouraged to contact Jessica Fuller, Director of Grants and Scholarships at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. She can be reached by phone at 785-823-1800. The foundation’s offices are located at 119 W. Iron, 8th Floor, Salina, KS 67402. This highly localized and mission-focused fund offers a streamlined yet impactful path to support for women at critical junctures in their lives.

Focus on one-time needs and crisis resolution. Avoid requests for ongoing expenses, legal fees, or past debts.