Women in Philanthropy of the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) Grant

Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area (WIPCSRA) is a philanthropic collective committed to supporting initiatives that enhance the lives of women, girls, and children in the CSRA region. Comprising donors and community members, WIPCSRA awards grants through a participatory voting process in which all members contribute to the decision-making. Funding is sourced from annual member donations, and selected programs are those that exhibit the potential for high impact and sustainable positive change across six counties in Georgia and South Carolina: Aiken, Burke, Columbia, Edgefield, McDuffie, and Richmond. WIPCSRA awards grants on an annual basis, with applications typically opening in late August and closing in early October. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the application window opens on August 25, 2025, and closes on October 3, 2025. All grant seekers are expected to listen to the guidance audio provided by the Grants Chair as a prerequisite. A thorough review process follows, led by the Grants Review Committee—a group composed of interested WIPCSRA members. This committee evaluates all proposals to determine eligibility, community need, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability. Organizations selected for further review must participate in site visits scheduled during the first week of January. Following the site visits, the committee proposes a final slate of organizations to be included on a member-wide ballot. Each WIPCSRA member ranks their preferred projects, and voting determines the final awardees. Selected grantees are expected to attend the March Annual Awards Luncheon, where their projects are recognized. A 3-minute video presentation from each finalist helps inform members during the voting process. To be eligible, applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or government units serving at least one of the six eligible counties. Organizations may apply only once per year and may not apply in consecutive years. Faith-based organizations are eligible, but projects that promote religious beliefs or require religious participation are ineligible. Applicants must also demonstrate financial stability and a commitment to non-discrimination. Grants must align with one of four priority areas: Arts, Education, Health, or Social Well-Being. WIPCSRA prioritizes programs that offer innovative approaches to community needs, demonstrate collaboration, and propose measurable, sustainable outcomes. Additional emphasis is placed on proposals that develop life skills for women, address systemic barriers, and coordinate resources across agencies to maximize community benefit. Grant recipients are required to participate in post-award evaluation and submit a final report on their project and expenditures. A portion of each grant (10%) is held until satisfactory completion of reporting requirements. Unused funds or those spent outside approved purposes must be returned. WIPCSRA does not fund capital campaigns, conferences, political or religious initiatives, re-granting entities, or projects already completed or supported the previous year.

Projects must reflect measurable impact, sustainability, and must fit into one of four funding areas. Collaborations are prioritized.