Grant FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions about the Foundation’s grant process

Does the Foundation support only projects relating to women?
No. We fund broadly and consider proposals serving a wide array of causes that are of interest to our members. Our grant areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services.

How does my nonprofit apply for a pooled fund grant?
We encourage nonprofits to submit a Letter of Inquiry. Formal grant proposals are accepted by invitation only.

May nonprofits apply for individually designated grants (the donations self-directed by individual members)?
No. Members have the privilege of selecting their own organizations to receive these funds.

Must organizations invited to submit proposals meet all three of Washington Women’s Foundation criteria (responses to urgent and critical need; bold new ventures; new approaches to ongoing problems)?
No. A strong proposal should meet at least one of the criteria but it doesn’t need to meet all three. For example, providing operating funds to a community organization may be a response to an urgent need, but not a bold new venture. This does not reduce its eligibility for funding. Sometimes the most urgent need is operating support for an established organization or ongoing program; sometimes providing seed money to a new program will be the direction the committee chooses. Either is acceptable.

Are requests for capital projects considered?
Yes.

Are requests for individuals or endowment funds considered?
No. We make grants to nonprofits for capital and operating funds only. However, if we do receive a request for endowment funds early in our grants process and there is enough interest in the organization itself, we may request a revised Letter of Inquiry for a project that is not endowment related.

Are requests from religious organizations considered?
We do not fund organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief, either in terms of the organization’s employment policy or service delivery. In addition, organizations that serve a strictly sectarian purpose (i.e., strongly supporting a particular religious group) will not be considered for funding.

Are out of state projects considered?
No. Because we make site visits to all grant prospects for both initial assessment and follow-up reviews, it is impractical for us to consider distant projects, either out of state or international.

If an organization was funded by Washington Women’s Foundation in the past, can it be considered again?
If it has been five years since the first disbursement of funds from our past grant, organizations are welcome to submit a Letter of Inquiry again.

Is it necessary to have a member recommend or endorse my organization?
No.

Are requests from other foundations considered?
Foundations that intend to use funds for specific, identified projects rather than for re-distribution to fund other organizations may be considered.

How do organizations learn the status of their Letter of Inquiry?
Organizations that are not contacted by the Foundation by mid-February each year should assume they are no longer under consideration. The list of the 25 organizations chosen to submit grant proposal is posted on our Web site by the end of February.