Our grant application is now open, and will close at 5 p.m. CT on July 31, 2023.
About our 2023 grant opportunity
Austin Community Foundation believes that maintaining the economic security of women and children is essential to closing the opportunity gap in Central Texas, and we know we cannot do this without addressing the racial wealth and health divide faced by women of color.
This grants cycle, the Women’s Fund will be awarding funding to organizations and programs providing direct services and systems-level changes in the following strategy areas:
- Housing: Support access to affordable housing for women that include a network of support and/or opportunities for long-term wealth building.
- Child Care: Expand access to safe, quality, culturally competent and affordable child care that is conveniently located for families with low incomes.
- Education: Provide access to an ecosystem of support – academic, emotional, and financial – for women pursuing educational dreams.
- Unintended Pregnancy Prevention: Increase access to consumable, unbiased pregnancy prevention resources.
- Women’s Health: Reduce health disparities faced by women of color.
In each strategy area, five grants will be distributed as follows:
- Winning Finalist: $55,000 total; a multi-year grant over two years – $35,000 in 2023 and $20,000 in 2024
- Runner-up Finalist: $30,000 in 2023
- Semifinalist: $15,000 in 2023
In total, $500,000 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 impact areas and data reports to ensure your work is aligned with our mission. Learn more >
Our Reports
- Women’s Issues are Community Issues, 2023
- Women’s Issues are Community Issues, 2017
- Child Care is a Necessary Work Support for Women
- Racial Wealth Divide in Austin
Grant Application Resources
- Organizational Readiness Tool: We encourage all organizations interested in applying to use our organizational readiness tool to determine if this grants cycle is right for your organization and, if so, which signature program(s) align best with your organization.
- Scoring Rubric, Strategy Statements, and Guiding Definitions: We recommend that all applicants review this document to get a better of understanding of the type of criteria that will be applied to your proposal and to guide you in submitting a successful application.
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 organization 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
If you believe your organization is a good fit for our grant opportunity, please submit an application through our grant portal (opening June 1, 2023).
All applications are due 5 p.m. CT on Monday, July 31, 2023.
Key Dates
- Application opens: Thursday, June 1, 2023, by 12 p.m. CT
- RFP Informational Webinar: Wednesday, June 14, from 12 – 1:30 p.m. CT
- Applications due: Monday, July 31, at 5 p.m. CT
- Learning sessions with semifinalists: Tuesday, October 17 – Friday, November 10
- Award decisions announced: Friday, December 1st by 5 p.m. CT
An application release webinar will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, June 14, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. CT.
Access the Grants Portal
apply todayQuestions?
Community Impact Director, Elizabeth Peña, will hold office hours the week of June 26 – 30 to provide technical assistance with the application process.
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