Grants

Women’s Fund

At a glance

  • Status

    Open

  • Opening June 1, 2026
  • Closing July 31, 2026
  • Region
    Central Texas
  • Grant Range

    $20,000-$60,000

  • Funding Areas

    Child care, education, housing, unintended pregnancy prevention, women’s health

About our 2026 grant opportunity

Austin Community Foundation believes that advancing the economic mobility of women and children is essential to closing the opportunity gap in Central Texas—and we know true progress requires tackling the persistent economic and health disparities many women still face.

Apply today

The Women’s Fund awards funding to organizations and programs providing direct services and systems-level change in the following strategy areas:

  • Housing: Supporting access to affordable housing for women that include a network of support and/or opportunities for long-term wealth building.
  • Child Care: Expanding access to safe, quality, culturally competent and affordable child care that is conveniently located for families with low incomes.
  • Education: Providing access to an ecosystem of support—academic, emotional, and financial—for women pursuing educational dreams.
  • Unintended Pregnancy Prevention: Increasing access to consumable, unbiased pregnancy prevention resources.
  • Women’s Health: Reducing health disparities experienced by women facing the greatest barriers to care.
In each strategy area, three grants will be distributed as follows:
  • Winning Finalist: $60,000 total; a multi-year grant over two years
  • Runner-up Finalist: $30,000
  • Semifinalist: $20,000

In total, $550,000 in unrestricted, general operating support will be awarded to 15 different nonprofit organizations.

Application process

Before applying for a grant from the Women’s Fund, please review our strategy areas and most recent report to ensure your work is aligned with our mission. Our application resources below will help guide you in submitting a successful application.

Application resources:
  • Latest research report: Women’s Issues are Community Issues (2023)
  • Strategy Statements & Guiding Definitions
  • Scoring Rubric
  • Application Questions: This Word document can be used for drafting responses before submitting an official application through our Grant Portal.
  • Women’s Fund Informational Webinar Recording: Get an overview of the Women’s Fund, including its strategic focus areas, eligibility criteria, application process details, and tips for submitting a strong application. Click here to view the slide deck.
  • Office Hours: If you attended or watched our webinar and still have questions, you can book a one-on-one meeting with an ACF staff member here.
  • Grant Writing Technical Assistance: Offered in both English and Spanish for applicants who have already attended office hours with our staff. Please note that a draft application must be submitted to the appropriate consultant at least one full business day before your scheduled appointment. Sign up here.
Next steps:

If you believe your organization is a good fit for our grant opportunity, please apply through our Grant Portal.

Please note that in order to submit an application you will first need to pass a brief eligibility quiz. Details on that process can be found here, and any questions can be directed to impact@austincf.org.

All applications are due at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Get started

Key dates for the 2026 grant cycle

  • Application opens

    Please note: This year’s application begins with a brief eligibility quiz.
    Apply today

  • Informational webinar


    Watch recording

  • Office hours

    If you attended or watched our webinar and still have questions, you can book a one-on-one meeting with an ACF staff member.
    Schedule

  • Grant writing technical assistance

    Offered in both English and Spanish for applicants who have already attended office hours with our staff, which can be scheduled above. Please note that a draft application must be submitted to the appropriate consultant at least one full business day before your scheduled appointment.
    Schedule

  • Applications due


  • Zoom learning sessions with semifinalists


  • Award decisions announced


Eligibility considerations

  • All applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or units of government serving the six county Central Texas region which includes: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, and Caldwell Counties.
  • Organizations must be tax-exempt under Sections 501(c)3 or 170(b)(1)(a)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code, and/or be a unit of government.
  • Proposals will be considered from organizations that engage in non-lobbying advocacy work. Organizations doing systems change level work such as educating the public about issues, community organizing, policy research and other non-lobbying advocacy activities may apply.
  • Proposals will be considered from religious organizations that engage in non-religious programming.
  • Religious organizations will need to demonstrate that their work aligning with the Women’s Fund strategies is secular in nature and does not discriminate against any employees or clients based on religion.
In general, the Women’s Fund does not award grants for:
  • Endowment funds
  • Fundraising activities or events
  • Individuals
  • Political lobbying or legislative activities
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Scholarships
  • Umbrella funding organizations that intend to distribute funds at their own discretion

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