Women’s Giving Network of Wake County

The Women’s Giving Network of Wake County (WGN) is a giving circle under the umbrella of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Since its inception in 2006, WGN has allocated over $2 million in grants to organizations serving women and children in Wake County, North Carolina. This community-driven network pools donations from its members to provide high-impact funding to local nonprofits. As part of the broader mission of the North Carolina Community Foundation, WGN functions as a philanthropic collective, aiming to enhance quality of life and address critical community needs through direct charitable support. WGN’s primary objective is to fund initiatives that serve women and children in Wake County and respond to either emerging community issues or address ongoing critical needs. The network seeks proposals that present measurable goals and a realistic path toward sustainability beyond the grant period. In its most recent cycle in 2025, the network awarded $120,000 through its application-based grant process. While grants generally range from $25,000 to $50,000, the minimum grant award is $10,000, and applicants are encouraged to review past recipients to understand the types of programs typically funded. There are no strict upper limits on funding amounts, allowing for flexibility based on the impact and scalability of proposals. Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or governmental units. Eligible organizations must provide services to women and/or children residing in Wake County and must operate on a nondiscriminatory basis. Faith-based organizations are not eligible if they serve exclusively sectarian purposes. Organizations that have previously received funding may reapply annually, but they must wait three years from the last awarded grant to be considered again. For example, applicants in the 2026 cycle must have last received funding in 2023 or earlier. The grant application window for the 2026 cycle opens on June 26, 2026, and closes at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on July 28, 2026. Applications must be submitted via the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Grant Application Portal. First-time applicants are required to follow specific instructions to create a profile using Training Module I, while returning users must log in with their existing credentials. All users are instructed to use Training Module II to submit their applications correctly. Only proposals that strictly adhere to the provided guidelines will be considered for review. Ineligible uses of funds include capital campaigns, endowment efforts, travel and conference costs, projects supporting religious or political agendas, and any re-granting activities. To maintain transparency and consistency, WGN evaluates proposals using an annual Community Needs Assessment as a guiding tool. Grant decisions are typically announced approximately two months following the close of the application period, allowing applicants time to plan for implementation upon funding notification. For questions regarding the application process or funding guidelines, applicants are encouraged to contact Katie Crumpler. Comprehensive community grantmaking guidelines are available, and applicants are advised to review these materials thoroughly. The network encourages thoughtful, mission-aligned proposals that demonstrate strong organizational capacity, meaningful outcomes, and long-term impact for the women and children of Wake County.