The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for The Fund grants:

• Non-profit organizations that demonstrate tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c)(3)
• Groups or organizations that submit an application through a fiscal sponsor, i.e., a tax-exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3) that agrees to accept funds on its behalf.

Additionally, though an organization does not need to be located within the county, all applicants must demonstrate a commitment to women and girls in Chester County. Any organization applying for a general operating or capacity building grant must demonstrate that women, girls, or mothers and their children in Chester County make up at least 75% of the organization’s total target population. Organizations applying for program or project support must demonstrate one of the following: 1) 100% of the recipient of services supported by a Fund grant are women, girls, or mothers and their children in Chester County; or 2) the proposed work will produce impacts that increase resources and opportunities for women and girls in Chester County.

The Fund will give preference to applicants that:

• Advance The Fund’s message and focus on women and girls
• Have a track record of collaboration and partnerships with other organizations
• Have limited access to large grants and do not have the resources of larger non-profits

The Fund does not provide grants for:

• Capital expenditures, equipment, endowments, special events
• Advertising, publishing or promotional materials
• Conferences or one-time educational workshops
• Government agencies or individuals
• Political campaigns or lobbying organizations
• Projects with an objective to restrict or limit a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices
• Religious programs (however programs run by religious organizations may qualify)

The Fund has three grantmaking programs through which it invests in organizations serving women and girls in Chester County:

Core Grants Program: The Fund’s Core Grant Program makes two-year program, general operating, or capacity building support grants to organizations or programs that align with The Fund’s mission, vision, and priority areas. These grant requests are considered by the Grants Allocation Committee through an open RFP process.

Girls Advisory Board Grants Program: The Fund operates a girls’ grantmaking program, the Girls Advisory Board (GAB), offering an opportunity for young women to learn about the deep and varied need in their communities and to engage in strategic grantmaking. GAB makes grants annually through their annual RFP, review, and allocation process. Each year, GAB determines its focus area based on The Fund’s priority areas and invites select organizations to apply.

Impact Grants: Moving Her Forward: The Fund’s Impact Grant: Moving Her Forward program makes program support grants to organizations seeking to respond to an emergent or critical opportunity or issue that aligns with The Fund’s priority areas. The Fund may proactively identify critical initiatives or programs related to emergent issues. More specifically, The Fund prefers to identify partnerships addressing these issues. Or, organizations or collaborating organizations that are interested in applying may submit a letter of request to the Executive Director on a rolling basis. Check out the video tribute to our 2020 Impact Grant recipients.