2024 The Women’s Giving Circle Grant
The **Women’s Giving Circle (WGC)**, a fund of the **Eau Claire Community Foundation**, supports initiatives that enhance the lives of women and children in **Eau Claire County, Wisconsin**, through the power of collective philanthropy. By pooling the resources and generosity of local women, the WGC aims to create meaningful, lasting change in the community. Its grant program funds projects that directly address the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing women and children, fostering greater equity, empowerment, and well-being. For the **2025 grant cycle**, the Women’s Giving Circle will consider funding requests of up to **$7,000**, with a grant period running from **January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025**. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or those working with a qualified fiscal agent, as well as tax-exempt government, educational, and religious institutions. Projects must primarily benefit **women and/or children under 18 years old** and serve Eau Claire County residents. Applications should demonstrate cultural sensitivity and alignment with community needs, avoiding duplication of existing programs or services. The WGC places a strong emphasis on fairness, inclusion, and collaboration. Grants are not awarded to organizations that engage in discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics. Additionally, to ensure equitable distribution of funds, organizations funded in two consecutive years are ineligible to apply in the third year but may reapply in the fourth. Proposals should demonstrate how the initiative complements existing community efforts, fills an unmet need, and produces tangible outcomes for the intended beneficiaries. Certain requests will be evaluated **on a case-by-case basis**, including travel that supports project implementation and funding requests from other foundations or endowments. However, some types of funding are **not supported**, such as annual fundraising drives, capital campaigns, debt reduction, building funds, political activities, scholarly research, or religiously focused projects. The WGC also avoids grants for ongoing operational expenses or unrelated asset purchases, keeping its focus on direct-impact initiatives that create measurable improvements in the lives of local women and children. When reviewing applications, the Women’s Giving Circle prioritizes proposals that are clear, purposeful, and aligned with the applicant’s mission. Strong applications define a specific goal, outline how success will be measured, and demonstrate a lasting positive effect on the community. Through this program, the Women’s Giving Circle continues its mission of empowering women to be catalysts for change—investing in local solutions that nurture the health, education, and advancement of women and children throughout Eau Claire County.
Award Range
Not specified - $7,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
You must use the online Women’s Giving Circle application form to submit your application. All required supporting documents can be uploaded directly onto the application. They are: 1. Budget: Organization's current overall operating budget, including expenses and revenues. 2. Proof of tax-exempt status: Copy of tax-exempt status letter from the IRS, Government Certificate of Exemption, or equivalent proof of tax-exempt status. 3. Year-to-date financials: Your organization’s most recent financials, including your balance sheet and statement of activities. 4. Board of Directors: List of current Board of Directors or equivalent governing body members. 5. Letter(s) of Support (required if you have a fiscal sponsor): A letter of support is required if another organization/person is integral to your grant proposal and/or is a fiscal sponsor. If you have more than one letter of support, please combine them into one document and upload. 6. Organization logo: Please upload your organization’s logo if you have one. (This will be displayed at the WGC Spring Gathering if your grant proposal is funded.) Funding must be used between January 1 and December 31 of the following year.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Grant Eligibility and Restrictions: • Applicants will need to submit evidence of 501(c)(3) IRS status, or another qualified 501(c)(3) organization must agree to serve as fiscal agent. • Applications from tax-exempt entities like government, educational and religious organizations are also accepted. • The applicant’s proposal must address the needs of women and/or children 18 years of age and younger. • The Women’s Giving Circle makes grants to nonprofit agencies located in Eau Claire County, or to those able to demonstrate significant impact within this area. • The Women’s Giving Circle does not make grants to organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, color, age, familial status, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, lawful sources of income, national origin, or any other discriminatory practice prohibited by state or federal law and the organization must demonstrate cultural sensitivity in the implementation of the project. • If an organization is funded by the Women’s Giving Circle in two consecutive years, its application will not be considered in the third year. However, it can apply again in the fourth year. • The Women’s Giving Circle supports proposals that have been planned considering overall community needs and do not duplicate existing services. • Funding for the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis: o Travel grants that do not directly support the implementation of the proposal. o Requests from endowments and foundations. • Because of limited funds the following will not be supported: o Annual fundraising drives o Asset purchases not related to the proposal o Capital campaigns o Debt reduction o Ongoing operating expenses or building funds o Political parties, candidates, or partisan activities o Proposals with a religious focus o Scholarly research
Geographic Eligibility
Eau Claire County (WI)
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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