WOMEN AND GIRLS FUND

Women and Girls Fund Application

In 2009, the Klompus Family Foundation distributed its assets to the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) to establish the Women and Girls Fund. The mission of the fund is to support projects that develop individual skills, decrease isolation, create new experiences and empower women and girls who face major obstacles due to poverty, disability, domestic violence, and/or lack of access to resources. 

Grants from the Women and Girls Fund will be used to support nonprofits that help women and girls pursue positive, productive lives by helping remove barriers for women and girls, increase their economic security, enhance their well-being and safety, and empower them to make positive life decisions for themselves and their families.

Support the Women and Girls Fund

As outlined in the CFAAC Community Needs Assessment, Poverty Amidst Plenty VI: On the Road to Progress for All, there are 31,377 households led by single parents, of which 22,565 have a single female as the head of household. Estimates suggest nearly 15 percent of the single parent households in the county make an income that is below the federal poverty level. Annapolis has 790 public housing units for low and moderate-income residents; the majority (almost 85 percent) of residents are African American females living with their children on an average of $25,000 per year, equal to or below the poverty threshold. The Women and Girls Fund will focus its grantmaking in the following areas that pertain to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of vulnerable women and girls living in Anne Arundel through:

• Education
• Expanding Opportunities
• Health and Wellness

Examples of programs and initiatives for which grants will be considered are, but not limited to:

• Initiatives that provide access to quality healthcare and wellness programs, including mental health, trauma education, and advocacy.
• Early childhood education and K-12 programs.
• Experimental learning or training program in a shelter environment, such as parenting skills, financial literacy, etc.
• Programs that provide counseling services and/or child-care.
• Programs that provide unique learning experiences to girls, such as a STEM or STEAM activities.
• Initiatives to encourage professional and small business development and provide women with access to economic opportunities.
• Programs that provide access to professional services, such as free legal, financial, or accounting support.

Based on available funding, the Women and Girls Fund will award one or two $3000 to $5000 grants.  Successful grant applicants will demonstrate:

• Strategic and data-informed solutions, aligned with community needs and the organization’s mission
• Credibility in the field or project
• The ability to create a measurable impact

To be eligible to apply, organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

• Operate in Anne Arundel County (AAC), Maryland,
• Have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service;
• Be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation;
• Be in compliance with the Maryland Secretary of State Charitable Organization Registration Requirements.
• An organization may file only one application.

Timeline:

• The Women and Girls Fund Grant Application Open: July 15, 2024 | Deadline: August 23, 2024 | Award Size: $3,000 to $5,000 | Awards in October 2024
• The grant review committee will review applications and conduct interviews if necessary. Grants will be awarded at the conclusion of the process.
• Note: A final evaluation assessing project outcomes is required for all grant projects within six weeks of completion. Report formats will be provided.

QUESTIONS: Contact grants@cfaac.org  or 410-280-1102 x104