current funds
The Women and Girls Fund is both a component fund of The Community Foundation and a local movement to involve women in philanthropy. Initially established as a field of interest fund by the 2008-2009 Community Foundation Board of Governors, this fund enriches our community by addressing the needs of area women and girls. The founding vision is a fund made up 1,000 women, each willing to pledge $1,000. The long range goal, then, is a $1 million endowment. Specific strategies of the effort include empowering area women leaders to contribute “time, treasure and talent” on behalf of women and girls, as well as generating localized data to inform and guide charitable grant making. Grant funding recommendations are made at the direction of the fund’s membership of donors.
Please review The Community Foundation’s overall grant guidelines by visiting our Grant Guidelines page.
Please refer to the Competitive Grant Opportunities page for important dates for all our competitive grantmaking.
For support in designing a proposal that makes best use of available grant funds, we encourage you to contact Director of Donor Services, Casey Hu (casey.hu@cfrrr.org) or 540-373-9292 x123.
In addition to The Community Foundation’s overall grant guidelines, details for this fund include:
The Women and Girls Fund allocates money, time, and talent to address the critical needs of women and girls in our community. We wish to address persistent and systematic gender inequalities that not only dampen the lives of women and girls, but negatively impacts families, economies, and communities. Areas of focus include health, education, employment, safety and wellness of women.
- Available funding: one-time award $50,000
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Nonprofit or programming can serve any population, just be prepared to demonstrate how this grant funding would specifically serve the unique needs of women and girls i.e., Articulate how funding will support the mission and funding priorities of the Women and Girls Fund if your organization or project services not only to women and/or girls.
Dates:
- Applications open January 5, 2026.
- Applications will not be accepted after 5:00 PM on February 23, 2026.
- Additional information may be requested once your application is reviewed.
- Funding decisions will be made by a membership vote Live Ballot event on May 7, 2026, and notifications will follow.
- Funds should be used within 10 months of the grant award.