AAUW Branch and State Affiliate Community Action Grants: Empowering Our Branches and States to Lead in STEM

The American Association of University Women (AAUW), a long-established leader in advancing gender equity through education and advocacy, is offering Community Action Grants to its branches and state affiliates. This initiative provides up to $10,000 in funding to support innovative STEM programming tailored for girls in grades K–12. By leveraging the deep community ties and local insights of its affiliates, AAUW aims to address the persistent gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The grant seeks to empower local branches to serve as change agents in their communities by engaging young girls in impactful STEM learning experiences. The program encourages hands-on, engaging STEM projects that build confidence, foster interest, and develop identity in the field. Grants can support activities such as skill-building in STEM disciplines, confidence and identity development, preparation for college and STEM careers, and mentorship opportunities linking girls with women in STEM professions. The ultimate goal is to cultivate long-term interest and capacity in STEM among underrepresented youth, reinforcing AAUW’s broader mission of creating gender equity in education and the workforce. Applicants must be AAUW branches or state organizations actively designing or implementing K–12 STEM programming. In addition to alignment with AAUW’s mission, programs should demonstrate clear goals for impact, evidence of addressing structural or individual barriers, and plans for gathering community feedback. Strong proposals will also show organizational readiness, experienced volunteer leadership, and sustainable program design that can outlast the grant term. Collaboration with schools or community organizations is encouraged. Applications are submitted via AAUW’s Fluxx portal and must include a comprehensive narrative detailing the program's alignment with AAUW’s mission, outreach strategies, activity timeline, success metrics, and community engagement plans. Financial documents including prior and current branch budgets and a detailed program budget are required. The application will be evaluated based on four criteria: alignment with AAUW’s STEM goals, potential for community impact, implementation capacity, and community engagement strategy. The grant is awarded on a competitive basis across three application rounds. The next round closes on November 30, 2025, with awards announced by January 30, 2026. Funds will be disbursed between January and February 2026. A subsequent round will close on March 30, 2026, with awards announced by May 29, 2026, and funds disbursed in June 2026. These recurring cycles enable AAUW to continuously support local initiatives and scale its impact. For questions, applicants can contact AAUW at their main address: 1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005, or by calling 202.785.7700. No specific contact email or program officer is provided. Applicants are encouraged to participate in scheduled information and demonstration sessions to improve their understanding of the grant’s objectives and submission requirements.

Strong applications will align with AAUW’s STEM goals, show community connection, and demonstrate sustainability and leadership capacity.