Collective Grants

In 2026 we are piloting four different types of collective grants: a direct services grant, an advocacy grant, a grassroots grant and a place-based grant. Most grant types will be multi-year, general operating grants. WaWF members will participate on grant committees for each grant type, to learn about the issues, evaluate grant applications, and select new grantees through a collective process. We also plan to experiment with different committee structures, including a virtual three-month committee, an in-person weekend intensive, and our popular popup event.

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Advocacy Grant | Direct Services Grant | Grassroots Grant | Place-Based Grant | FAQs

ADVOCACY GRANT

We have learned through several years of experimentation with advocacy grantmaking that true structural change takes time and sustained investment. That is why we have structured this grant program as a multi-year grant, with a commitment of $50,000/year for three years. One new advocacy grantee will be selected each year by a committee made up of WaWF members.

DIRECT SERVICES GRANT

Building on our rich history supporting direct service work, this grant program is focused on supporting organizations delivering direct services benefiting women & girls. This grant program is a multi-year grant, with a commitment of $50,000/year for three years. One new direct services grantee will be selected each year by a committee made up of WaWF members.

GRASSROOTS GRANT

We love supporting organizations of all sizes. With this grant, our focus is on emerging, grassroots social change efforts with budgets ≤ $500,000. Grassroots grantees will be evaluated by a committee made up of WaWF members. At our popular PopUp event, attendees will select three grantees to each receive $20,000.

PLACE-BASED GRANT

As a Washington State focused funder, we have built relationships with organizations across our great state. While we intend to support statewide, our grant history shows more investment in organizations in the Puget Sound region. With this grant program, we intend to focus on one geographic area, to deepen our understanding with a place-based lens. This grant program is a multi-year grant, with a commitment of $50,000/year for three years. One new place-based grantee will be selected each year by a committee made up of WaWF members and local experts, compensated for their participation. We will partner with a local place-based foundation for guidance. We will rotate geographic locations regularly in order to learn about different parts of our state and deepen our connection over time.

We encourage you to review the Frequently Asked Questions below as well as our definition s document before completing your application. For more information on the application, please click the button below.

Please contact staff at info@wawomensfdn.org if you have questions that are not answered below.

Open Application

FAQs

Does this mean you don’t have a racial equity focus anymore?

No. We see this shift in as a deepening; we are adding an explicit gender layer while maintaining our commitment to racial equity.

Are requests from religious organizations considered?

WA Women’s Foundation believes that no person should be excluded from agency services, employment or volunteer participation, and will not fund organizations that engage in unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief, or for any other discriminatory reason. We also do not fund organizations that serve an exclusively sectarian purpose.

Are out-of-state projects considered by WA Women's Foundation?

No. We only fund organizations with a presence in Washington State unless the advocacy practiced by your organization takes place at the federal level to benefit Washington State residents.

Are requests from other grantmakers considered?

No.

Does WA Women's Fdn fund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives?

While we believe that integrating DEI practices into your work is key for all organizations, we are focused on organizations that already meet the above criteria. For that reason we are not funding DEI initiatives at this time.

Does my organization need to meet all elements of the grant criteria?

Yes. We believe that all elements will help us assess an organization’s fit with our criteria.

Our organization has a program focused on women/girls, but our work serves a broader community. Are we a good fit for funding from WaWF?

Maybe. As described above, we are focused on supporting women/girls most impacted by inequities. We understand that in sometimes this work happens within organizations whose work is not only focused on women/girls, and that geography has a big impact on this. If you work in a smaller community and your organization is the only source of support for women/girls most impacted by inequities in your community, you likely would be a fit.

What do you mean by "direct services"?

We know that services can include many different kinds of community support. If you consider your work to be service-providing, please apply and make the case.

How does WA Women's Foundation define advocacy?

Our understanding of advocacy is work that seeks to advance an idea, argue a position, and/or enrich the debate about an issue of public concern. This could include education, research, litigation, campaigning, or nonpartisan political work. If you consider your work to be advocacy, please apply and make the case.

What about other kinds of inequities?

We have intentionally decided to prioritize funding organizations that focus on women/girls most impacted by inequity. As a learning organization, this means we will continue to build on our understanding of race even as we apply a more targeted gender lens to our grantmaking. Targeted Universalism shapes our understanding of the intersectional nature of inequities in our state. For more about this approach, we encourage you to watch this introductory video linked here.

How does WA Women's Foundation define women & girls?

WaWF has a broad and evolving understanding of gender. With our grants we support women, girls, and gender expansive people, including cis, trans and non-binary individuals and communities.

How does my nonprofit apply for a grant?

We encourage nonprofits that fit within our funding guidelines to submit an application Letter of Inquiry (LOI) online through JustFund. We only accept applications submitted using our online form through JustFund– we do not accept mailed letters or emailed applications.

What is the typical grant amount?

The total amount available for our grants is determined by the amount we fundraise each year. Because our grants are dependent on fundraising, grant award size may change year to year. That said, most of our grants are multi-year commitments, and we now make grants at multiple stages of the process, with a minimum gift size offered at each stage.

What are the reporting requirements for grantees?

We do not ask for any written reports. Instead, members from our Grantee Engagement Team (GET) will regularly follow up with grantees to check in and offer our continued support. For more about GET please review the Grantee Support page (link here).

If an organization was funded by WA Women’s Foundation in the past, can it be considered again?

Yes. There is no timeline eligibility for our grants. If your organization fits our criteria and is eligible, please apply.

Is it necessary to have a member recommend or endorse my organization?

No. We strongly recommend that organizations do not solicit endorsements from Foundation members.

Can I apply in collaboration with another nonprofit?

Yes, collaborations, coalitions, and partnerships are welcome to submit an application. We encourage you to be clear about each entity’s role in the work to avoid confusion.

How many applications can my organization submit?

By using the JustFund platform organizations only need to fill out their organization profile once, and will be considered for multiple grants.

How do organizations learn the status of their application?

We will email all applicants regularly, notifying them of their status during the grants process.

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Grantmaking

ADVOCACY GRANT

DIRECT SERVICES GRANT

GRASSROOTS GRANT

PLACE-BASED GRANT

FAQs

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