Apply for grants

The Women’s Giving Network of Wake County (the Network) will accept grant applications from June 30, 2023, to NOON on August 1, 2023. Funds are available for qualified charitable organizations serving women and/or children in Wake County.

The minimum amount awarded is $10,000. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $50,000 but are not limited to this range.

How to Apply

The Women's Giving Network of Wake County is a giving circle of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF). Organizations must apply using NCCF’s online application system.

Read the guidelines before you apply. Your application may not be considered if you fail to follow any of these guidelines.
If this is your first time applying, follow the instructions in Training Module I to create a profile. If your organization already has an account use your information to log in.
Follow the instructions in Training Module II to add a grant application. Once registered, you can access more information about the application process.

Access the Online Application System

About the Women's Giving Network of Wake County's Grantmaking

Founded in 2007, the Women’s Giving Network of Wake County is led by a volunteer leadership committee. Each year, the Network awards grants that have the potential for high impact and that result in significant, positive and lasting change in the community.

In 2022 the Network awarded $95,000 in grants, for a total of over $1.7 million in grants since 2007. Learn more about past grant recipients.

The Women’s Giving Network awards grants to

Organizations serving women and/or children in Wake County that address an emerging community issue and/or a critical community need.
Projects that are measurable with a high probability of successful continuation beyond the grant period.
Areas that are generally not funded include: capital campaigns; endowment campaigns; fraternal organizations; individuals; projects that promote religious or political views; funds for re-granting; travel and conferences.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for consideration, an organization must meet the following criteria:

Must provide services to women and/or children in Wake County.
Must be qualified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code or be classified as a unit of government.
Must not discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief nor be a religious organization that serves exclusively sectarian purposes.
Organizations can reapply for funding from WGN each year. However, if a program has been funded by the Network previously, the organization must wait three years before re-applying. For example, if you are applying again in 2023, you must have won your grant award in 2020 or prior.

Award amounts vary and are at the discretion of the Grants Committee.

Process

Summer. Please note updates to the Network's annual grant cycle: the letter of inquiry (LOI) has been eliminated from the cycle. An open call for grant applications occurs during the summer months as part of a set cycle. For 2023, the grant application will open on June 30 and close on August 1 at NOON.

Late Summer/Early Fall. The Grants Committee reads the full proposals and makes the decision to conduct site visits with a select group of applicants. Following the site visits, the Grants Committee meets once again to discuss which organizations will proceed to the final round, which is a vote by the full membership.

Fall. Based on the Grants Committee’s recommendation, the Network submits votes on the organization(s) that should be funded. Once all the votes are tallied, the Grants Committee makes any final decisions on allocation amounts and notifies the applicants of award decisions.

Late Fall. The Network hosts our annual awards luncheon with winners in attendance.

Questions?

Contact the central region donor engagement officer and read the community grantmaking guidelines. For questions specific to the 2023 grant cycle or how to apply please contact Katie Crumpler.