Women’s Giving Circle Grant Program

The Women’s Giving Circle of Jefferson County (WGCJC) is a philanthropic initiative aimed at enhancing the lives of women and children within Jefferson County, Indiana. Through its grantmaking activities, WGCJC seeks to address critical needs and empower local communities by funding impactful nonprofit programs. Operating under the umbrella of the Community Foundation, the WGCJC engages a broad network of women members who collectively review, evaluate, and vote on grant proposals. This collaborative model fosters community engagement and shared responsibility while ensuring resources are directed toward initiatives with the greatest potential for transformative outcomes. Each year, WGCJC provides grants across four strategic fields of interest: Education, Economic Empowerment, Physical and Mental Health, and Violence and Crime Prevention. The education focus emphasizes initiatives that support early learning, literacy, and academic achievement, including programs for school readiness, high school graduation, and adult life/job skills development for women. Economic empowerment efforts seek to boost women’s financial independence through business support programs, non-traditional career initiatives, and financial literacy training. Physical and mental health projects funded by WGCJC may involve prenatal care, health education, nutrition awareness, or substance abuse prevention. In the area of violence and crime prevention, grants support efforts that prevent abuse, aid victims, and reduce recidivism among female offenders. WGCJC grants are awarded competitively to nonprofit and governmental entities, including 501(c)(3) and 509(a) organizations. Programs must directly benefit women and children within Jefferson County, Indiana. Applicants must demonstrate sound financial practices, and organizations may be asked to submit audited financial documents. Grants will not be awarded to individuals, political campaigns, or for religious proselytizing. Furthermore, WGCJC avoids funding for endowment campaigns, debt relief, or general fundraising events. If a project is not completed as planned, unused funds exceeding 10% must be reauthorized by the WGCJC Guiding Circle. The 2026 application cycle opens on Thursday, January 1 and closes on Friday, January 30 at noon. Applications are submitted online through a designated portal. To apply, organizations must create an applicant account, complete all required sections, and submit before the stated deadline. The system will not allow changes after the deadline passes. Prospective applicants can preview eligibility requirements before initiating the application. WGCJC encourages applicants to read all instructions carefully, save their work frequently, and reach out to Kelly Miller, the Finance & Program Officer of the Community Foundation, for technical support. Priority is given to one-time projects with broad community reach, those that address systemic causes of problems, and initiatives that expand access to services, attract volunteer engagement, or enhance organizational capacity. Preventive strategies, collaborative projects, pilot programs, and capital needs outside the applicant’s capacity are also favored. On the other hand, routine maintenance, ongoing operating costs, and previously committed expenses receive lower priority. Organizations that received funding in the previous year are also deprioritized unless their new proposal differs substantially in scope. WGCJC grants are evaluated based on alignment with its mission, the anticipated impact per dollar granted, and the project's ability to serve the community effectively. Selected applications are reviewed by the Grants Sub-Circle and then voted on by the full membership at the annual Spring meeting. Awardees are expected to submit final program and financial reports. Compliance with reporting requirements is essential for eligibility in future funding cycles. Applicants are advised not to contact WGCJC committee members directly; instead, all inquiries should be routed through the designated Foundation staff contact to maintain transparency and integrity in the grantmaking process.

Submit early; do not contact committee members directly; save application often.