Apply for a Grant

Thank you for your interest in becoming a grant partner of the Women’s Foundation of California! Our 2010 grant cycle is by invitation only and we are not accepting any unsolicited requests at this time. We encourage you to periodically check our website for future opportunities.

To get a better sense of whether or not your organization fits the Foundation's funding criteria, please take a moment to read this page in its entirety.

Funding for publications and one-time events such as retreats and conferences will only be considered if they are integrated within a larger strategy for social change. We do not fund capital improvements, endowments, loans, individuals, fundraising events, debt reduction or expenses accrued prior to the date of the grant award.

To qualify for funding, you must be able to answer ‘yes’ to these questions:

1. Are you a non profit organization with 501C3 status or that is fiscally sponsored by a 501C3 organization? [If you answer ‘no’ to this question, you are not eligible for funding.]

2. Does your organization/program prioritize low-income women and girls in California?

3. Does your programmatic work fall into one of the following issue areas?

• Health and Safety: This includes reproductive health and justice, environmental health and justice and gender-based violence
• Economic Prosperity: This includes efforts towards economic security and economic development

4. Does your organization/program utilize one or more of the following strategies to bring about measurable and sustainable change?

• Policy advocacy
• Community organizing
• Leadership development
• Media and/or public education
• Civic participation
• Participatory Action Research
• Youth-led programs and initiatives

The Women’s Foundation of California does not make grants to or for the following:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations or small businesses
• Start-up loans
• Capital projects 
• Direct Services (unless there is an associated systemic change strategy for which your organization is seeking support)
• Fundraising events
• Scholarships

We remain committed to supporting organizations that seek to create measurable and sustainable systems change through policy advocacy work. We fund direct service organizations only when a broader systemic change strategy is clearly articulated. We encourage cross-issue and cross-sector work, and look to partner both with organizations that engage multiple strategies and emerging grassroots efforts as ways to build and strengthen broad-based movements led by women—especially low-income women and women of color.

Thank you for your interest in the Women's Foundation of California. Specific questions about the Community Action Fund can be addressed to grants@womensfoundca.org.