The Fund's 2026 Grantmaking Guidelines

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7 days ago
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The Fund for Women and Girls advances gender equity in Chester County and beyond by driving systemic change defined as shifts in:

policy,
practice, and
culture.

We focus on three core priorities:

Equity in Education,
Health & Safety, and
Economic Stability.

Through this lens, The Fund works to remove structural barriers so people can thrive, from ensuring fair and inclusive educational opportunities, to expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare and safety from gender-based violence, to supporting pathways to living wages, childcare, housing, and transportation.

To maximize our impact, we focus on specific initiatives. Our current work includes:

leading a countywide grassroots and statewide advocacy effort for Paid Family Leave through Pennsylvania’s proposed Family Care Act;
advancing Vote16PA, a student-led movement to secure voting rights for 16- and 17-year-olds in school board elections while building real civic leadership skills; and
"Empower Her Vote," an ongoing civic engagement initiative designed to demystify government, strengthen voter participation, and equip people with the knowledge and tools to engage meaningfully in democracy.

The Fund’s grantmaking is an extension of this work, investing in local nonprofits providing essential services for women and girls while tackling the deeper, systemic barriers to gender equity.

General Grant Requirements:

The Fund for Women and Girls has established the following requirements for all grantees:

1) Alignment: The organization’s mission and work must align with The Fund’s systemic

change priorities and/or current initiatives.

2) Governance: The organization must have a board of directors with defined term length and limits, and a conflict-of-interest policy or be willing to do so.

3) Nonprofit Status: The organization must have valid 501(c)3 status with the IRS or be

fiscally sponsored by an organization that does.

4) Fiscal: The organization completes an annual 990 (if required by the IRS) and an annual financial audit or reviewed financial statements or be willing to do so.

5) Human Rights Commitment: The organization must be able to demonstrate a

commitment to The Fund’s Human Rights for All Statement (included as an addendum to this Guide.)

The Fund will award 3 types of grants: