Many Hands Grant Program

Many Hands, the oldest and largest giving circle in the Washington, DC area, provides significant funding to local nonprofits that support women, children, and families facing socioeconomic challenges. Since its inception in 2004, Many Hands has awarded over $3.5 million to community-based organizations operating in its defined regional service area. The organization offers four unrestricted annual grants across four focus areas: economic empowerment, education, health, and housing. Of these, one is a flagship Impact Grant of at least $100,000, and the remaining three are Partner Grants, which vary annually based on fundraising. In 2025, each Partner Grant was valued at $75,000. Funding from Many Hands is unrestricted, allowing grantees flexibility to allocate resources toward operating, programmatic, or capital expenses. Applications are submitted via the Foundant platform and must be completed by January 16, 2026. Applicants can preview the application beginning December 1, 2025, and attend a virtual webinar on December 16, 2025, to ask questions about the process. Eligibility is strictly limited to 501(c)(3) organizations that are secular, non-partisan, and located within the Many Hands service region, which includes Washington, DC; Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties (MD); Arlington and Fairfax Counties (VA); and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church (VA). Organizations must have operated for at least five years, maintain an annual budget between $500,000 and $5 million, and serve local women, children, and/or families in need. The review process is thorough and member-driven, unfolding in multiple phases over approximately four months. After initial eligibility screening through January 31, 2026, qualified applicants advance to committee-level reviews occurring from mid-February to late March. Selected applicants then host site visits and submit updated financials in April. In May, each focus area committee selects one grantee, and the full membership of Many Hands votes to determine which of the four will receive the larger Impact Grant. Final disbursements are issued in late May or early June, contingent upon execution of a grant agreement. Many Hands restricts reapplications from organizations that received Partner Grants in the previous cycle (2025) or those who have cumulatively received $100,000 or more in funding from Many Hands. The funder does not provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants but encourages questions during the webinar. Grantees may also be featured in communications or promotional materials produced by Many Hands. This opportunity is designed for well-established nonprofits that operate within the designated geographic boundaries and demonstrate mission alignment with Many Hands' commitment to empowering underserved women, children, and families. Emphasis is placed on measurable community impact, local leadership, and alignment with one of the funder’s core thematic areas.

Review the focus areas and eligibility carefully; past recipients cannot reapply if they received 2025 Partner Grants or have exceeded $100,000 in total funding