2010 Grant Guidelines

It is important for applicants to know:

• Proposals for operating support – We understand sometimes the most important part of continuing to provide excellent service is being able to pay the bills. Operating support proposals will be accepted only from organizations whose mission is to serve women and/or girls or from organizations for whom females constitute a significant majority of individuals served.

• Proposals for program support – We are interested only in gender-specific efforts, not just programs that happen to serve women and/or girls.

Women’s Fund will support organizations and programs specifically designed to meet the needs of women and girls which demonstrate:

• Significant Impact

• Fiscal Responsibility

• Innovation/Creativity

• Collaboration

• Outreach to Traditionally Underserved Populations

• Potential for Matching Funds (this is a bonus, not an expectation)

We anticipate providing grants averaging $25,000.

Women’s Fund will not award grants for:

• Organizations not committed to gender equity

• Programs promoting religion, including proselytizing or religious training

• Fundraising activities (such as golf tournaments or galas)

• Political campaigns

• Individuals

• Organization-sponsored conferences or event sponsorships

• Organizations whose board of directors is composed of less than 50% women at the time of proposal submission, unless the organization can demonstrate how it is on the path to reach at least 50% female board composition.

If you are not a 501(c)(3) and plan to use a fiscal sponsor, please contact Julie Koegel at 317.293.7006 or juliekoegel@sbcglobal.net BEFORE submitting proposal.

1. Organizations wishing to be considered for funding by Women’s Fund of Central Indiana must submit a one page letter of intent by April 2, 2010 to deannag@cicf.org. The letter should be on letterhead and contain ONLY the following information in this order:

   1. Contact person's name and email address;

   2. Organization's mission statement;

   3. Percent of the board of directors that is female;

   4. The amount requested; and

   5. A statement of 100 words or less on how the grant will be used).

2. Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will be notified by May 14th and sent the proposal form and instructions. Proposals will be due by noon, June 25, 2010.

3. Women’s Fund Grants Committee will review proposals. Applicants will be notified of their status by December 31, 2010.

4. If after reviewing the guidelines you have questions about the submission process, please contact Women’s Fund Grants Officer Julie Koegel at juliekoegel@sbcglobal.net. Visits and phone calls after letters of intent are received are discouraged.  If we require a personal meeting, we will notify you.

WOMEN'S FUND OF CENTRAL INDIANA

Women’s Fund of Central Indiana was established in 1996 as a permanent endowment whose income will support programs and organizations working to improve conditions and opportunities for women and girls in Central Indiana (including Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby Counties). Women’s Fund is a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

An Advisory Board of community leaders directs Women’s Fund. Board members are active in all decision-making and policy development for the Fund, including all funding decisions. They are also active in recruiting key volunteers from the community to help with the planning and implementation of our activities and to serve on various working committees of the Fund.

Women’s Fund has conducted a number of important studies that have helped define our direction. Our first needs assessment, On Shaky Ground: Where Women and Girls Stand in Central Indiana, was conducted in 1996. In 2003 and 2006, Women’s Fund released updated Still on Shaky Ground reports, which are available on our website: www.cicf.org\womensfund. Women’s Fund encourages all applicants to view these assessments in order to more fully understand our interests and priorities.

These guidelines are provided to assist potential applicants in assessing the appropriateness of a request to Women’s Fund. Women’s Fund reserves the right to modify or adjust its guidelines or the application of these guidelines at any time.