The Austin Community Foundation is inviting applications for the Women's Fund.

The Foundation believes that maintaining the economic security of women and children is essential to closing the opportunity gap in Central Texas, and they know they cannot do this without addressing the racial wealth and health divide faced by women of color.

This grants cycle, the Women’s Fund will award funding to organizations and programs in the following categories:

• Housing – provide affordable housing opportunities that include a network of support and/or opportunities for long-term wealth building.
• Child Care – increase access to affordable, convenient, cultural competent, and quality child care for low-income families.
• Education – provide access to an ecosystem of support – financial, emotional, and academic – for women pursuing educational dreams.
• Women’s Health – focus on reducing health disparities faced by women of color.
• Unintended Pregnancy Prevention – provide access to consumable, unbiased pregnancy prevention resources.

Funding Information

In each pillar, four grants will be distributed as follows:

• One winning finalist – a $40,000 multi-year grant over 2 years – $20,000 in 2021 and $20,000 in 2022
• One runner-up finalist – $20,000 in 2021
• Two semifinalists – $10,000 in 2021
• In total, $400,000 in unrestricted, general operating support will be awarded to 20 different nonprofit organizations.

Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants must be tax-exempt organizations or units of government serving the six county Central Texas region; Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson.
• Proposals will be considered from organizations that engage in non-lobbying advocacy work. Organizations doing systems change level work such as educating the public about issues, community organizing, policy research and other non-lobbying advocacy activities may apply.
• Proposals will be considered from religious organization that engage in non-religious programming. Religious organizations will need to demonstrate that their work aligns with the Women’s Fund strategies is secular in nature and does not discriminate against any employees or clients based on religion.
• Organizations that were awarded Women’s Fund grants in 2020 are eligible to apply, but must submit a progress report along with their application.

For more information, visit Austin Community Foundation.