A Message from Our Board
It's hard to believe that we have been sheltering in place for over two months now, but we hope this communication finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
 
As promised in our March e-news, we want to update you on our work over the past few months, including information we just released about our 2020 grants program . We're announcing important grants process changes in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, hoping that these changes will make it more helpful and less burdensome for our nonprofit partners in these challenging times.
 
We are also busy planning our summer and fall programming. The Research, Education, and Advocacy Committee is creating an updated Gender Lens Report that will be released later this year, and they're planning a virtual community conversation for this summer. The Membership Committee is working on the Women’s Fund’s inaugural book club as well as other ideas on how to engage with our members during these unprecedented times. 
 
Given the uncertainty of our environment, the board has decided to convert our annual luncheon to a virtual event. T he Events Committee has a full schedule ahead as they are planning for our first ever virtual luncheon! We are disappointed not to see many of you in person in November, but please know that everyone’s health is our top priority.
 
While this crisis has led to tremendous loss, it has also led to many instances of innovation, and we're excited to make plans for an event that we guarantee you will not want to miss. Be sure to mark your calendars for November 17, 2020 and stay tuned for more information about our virtual luncheon in the coming months. We are excited to announce that for the second year in a row,  Truist  has agreed to be our presenting sponsor, and we are grateful for their continued support!
 
Our members are the ones who make programming and grants possible each year. If you have already joined or renewed this year, we thank you! If you have not yet, there is still time to join or renew   so you can have a vote in the annual grants process. We have three membership levels: $100, $600, and $1,200, and your membership is critical to us being able to provide grant funds at a time when our nonprofit partners need us most. If you have any questions about membership or would like to join one of our committees, please contact Andrea Hulighan , Director of Strategic Initiatives at ahulighan@wsfoundation.org  or (336) 604-5034.
 
We know that these are challenging times, and we appreciate your support so we can continue to make an impact on the lives of women and girls together. We look forward to updating you again this summer, but in the meantime, be sure to follow us on social media for more immediate information, including how you can help our current grantees.
Our 2020 Grants Program
The Women’s Fund provides grants to organizations to ensure that all women and girls in Forsyth County have equal opportunities and the skills and resources to be independent, self-sufficient, and contributing members of the community.

Organizations of all sizes can apply for grants of up to $15,000; proposals must have a gender lens focus and demonstrate how the requested dollars would positively impact the economic security of local women and girls.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the inequities in our community, and we are committed to supporting nonprofit partners in order to be more responsive to the needs of women and girls in this challenging time.

We have simplified our grant application process and made two significant changes to our grant guidelines :
  • Organizations can apply for general operating expenses or general programmatic expenses.
  • Organizations requesting support for previously-funded programs are not required to step-down in their grant request amount.

For more information, please view our   Grant Guidelines and online grant application . Applications are due June 26 .
Join us for a Virtual Grant Applicant Workshop
The Women’s Fund invites you to attend a virtual grant applicant workshop on Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 PM . You do not have to attend a workshop to apply; however, the workshop will include an overview of the guidelines and application process and provide the opportunity to ask questions.