Each year, WIL's Empowerment Grants Committee sends out a call for organizations to apply for funding for their projects. Unlike our Microfinance Committee that supports loan projects where impoverished women receive small loans to establish/grow their businesses, the Empowerment Grants Committee funds projects in developing areas that target areas of WIL’s mission outside of loan projects: education, health, training, social and political empowerment programs for women.
To be eligible for a grant, projects must follow these criteria:
1. The project's objective must be to reduce poverty and the marginalization of women, girls and their families by providing education, health, training or social/political empowerment solutions that are secure and sustainable.
2. The applying organization must have been in existence for at least three years.
3. Grant applicants must attach a current certificate or license confirming the organization’s status as a Non-Governmental Organization or Non-Profit Organization.
4. Preference is given to organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less.
5. Prior grant awardees who submitted final reports may apply until they receive a total of three grants.
The 2022-2023 Empowerment Seed Grant Cycle will begin at the end of October. Grant application information will be on the WIL website. The deadline to submit an application will be December 31, 2022. If you know of any organizations where this funding would be of help, please invite them to apply.