Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation Grant Program

The Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to elevating and empowering women and future women in the greater Aurora, Illinois area. The Foundation fulfills its mission by awarding grants to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that provide impactful and measurable programs and services. These efforts aim to help women overcome inequity and exclusion through life-changing opportunities. The Foundation focuses on fostering tangible progress in education, economic empowerment, and racial equity for women of color. It encourages innovative proposals that align with its mission and vision, even if they do not fit neatly into the predefined categories. Grants from the Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation are available to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit public organizations that are in good standing with the State of Illinois and operate within the greater Aurora community. Collaborative proposals are welcome when multiple organizations pursue a common goal, provided one entity serves as the primary applicant. The Foundation seeks projects that drive program-related outcomes rather than cover operational or capital expenses. While the size of each grant is determined by the Board of Directors, proposals that demonstrate the most effective use of funds have the greatest likelihood of success. Grants typically cover a period of up to one year, with an expectation that funds will be fully utilized within that time, though repeat funding is possible. Before submitting a full application, the Foundation strongly encourages potential applicants to submit a Letter of Intent. The letter should include key project details, alignment with the Foundation’s mission, a brief organizational history, the problem to be addressed, major project activities, key personnel, and information on any additional funding sources. Letters of Intent can be emailed to info@awe-foundation.org or directly to the Foundation’s consultant, Cheryl O’Donoghue, at Cheryl@EiLeadershipResources.com. Submitting relevant materials, videos, and links alongside the Letter of Intent is also encouraged. The grant application process requires a cover letter specifying the program area of interest and introducing the project. An executive summary and statement of need must articulate the organization’s mission, requested amount, grant duration, intended use of funds, project goals, and any collaborative relationships. Additional required documents include proof of 501(c)(3) status, current organizational and project budgets, an organizational chart and board roster, the prior year’s audit, and a completed W9 form. The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, with deadlines set annually by its Board of Directors. Applications undergo a comprehensive review by the Board of Directors, which may include site visits or in-person interviews. Proposals are evaluated on criteria such as organizational eligibility, focus area alignment, community impact, proposal clarity, collaboration potential, realistic budgeting, financial stability, and leadership accountability. Award decisions also consider the applicant’s capacity to achieve the proposed outcomes. Grant recipients must submit an interim report within six months of award receipt and a final report within six months of the grant’s conclusion, accompanied by a fiscal report. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may disqualify an organization from future funding opportunities. The Foundation does not fund organizations that do not directly serve the Aurora community, operational expenses unrelated to program delivery, non-program capital items, religious or political activities, retroactive funding, fundraising events, discriminatory organizations, debt reduction, government agencies (unless part of a collaborative effort), corporate campaigns not linked to specific nonprofit initiatives, or individuals. Questions about the guidelines or application process should be directed to info@awe-foundation.org.

Submitting a Letter of Intent prior to full application is strongly encouraged.