Best Women & Girls Services Grants

The Bews Foundation Grants support charitable organizations in Idaho's Treasure Valley, focusing on various sectors including education, health, community enhancement, and the arts. Grants up to $10,000 require a simple letter, while larger requests must follow a formal application process. The foundation prioritizes local initiatives and will not accept applications for services outside the Treasure Valley, ensuring that funds directly benefit the community.

The Invest in Her Future Scholarship, provided by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, offers a renewable $2,500 award to single mothers in the Fox Valley area attending UW institutions as part-time or full-time students. This initiative supports educational advancement and addresses financial needs, ensuring that recipients can pursue their academic goals. The scholarship emphasizes community impact by fostering the growth and success of families in the region.

Grassroots Voices, led by Vital Voices Global Partnership Inc, empowers young women aged 18-25 in the U.S. engaged in grassroots justice work. This program offers a unique opportunity to join a supportive cohort, travel to Washington, D.C., and engage with influential women leaders. Participants will enhance their skills and amplify their impact on critical issues like social inequity and reproductive justice, fostering a community of changemakers dedicated to transforming their lives and the world.

The Nancy Armbrust Impact Award, presented by Schreiber Foods Foundation, honors women who significantly enhance community life. With a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit of the recipient's choice, the award empowers initiatives supporting women and girls. Recipients are recognized at the Women's Fund event around International Women's Day. This annual award celebrates Nancy Armbrust's legacy as a dedicated community leader, encouraging others to inspire and uplift women in their communities.

The Fund for Women of the Southern Tier Achieve Grant, offered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., provides financial assistance to women in Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, and Yates Counties. This grant aims to eliminate barriers to educational pursuits, supporting expenses like textbooks, technical supplies, and tuition fees. By empowering women to continue their education, the fund fosters a spirit of community and opportunity in Upstate New York.

The A.I.R. Fellowship Program, established in 1993, empowers emerging women and non-binary artists in New York City by providing them with their first solo exhibition, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Each year, six artists benefit from a 12-month fellowship that includes workshops, curatorial support, and a stipend of $3,000, fostering an inclusive community that encourages creative exploration and dialogue among diverse artists.

Our Mission

The Horner Foundation is a family-based charity dedicated to partnering with community-based organizations that provide youth, aged 10-19, hands-on experiential learning opportunities through Out of School Time (OST) to foster positive youth development.

We work in 4 geographic regions, determined by where family members live, their specific interests and needs identified by the community.

Our Vision

• All youth will be empowered to realize their full potential and become active participants in their communities.
• All youth will have ample opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to experience a diversity of quality learning styles and frameworks.
• All youth will be healthy, strong, and well-prepared for the 21st Century.

Organizational Funding Statement

The Horner Foundation strives to be responsive and meet organizations where they are. This means that we may provide multi-year funding and ongoing support to nonprofits who may be launching a pilot project or going through a transition. However, we also believe in the value of diverse funding sources. The Horner Foundation typically funds organizations for 1-2 funding cycles (2-4 years). In rare cases, we may fund an organizations for 3 funding cycles (6 years).

Grants

The Foundation awards two-year grants dedicated to project funding. We fund in four geographic regions, each with its own funding priorities.

Towns of Corby & Kettering, Northamptonshire, England: Healthy Youth Northamptonshire / Sexual Health and Education & Health, Education and Social Supports for Young Mums    

Strategy

The intention of the Foundation’s work in Northamptonshire is to focus on the Towns of Corby and Kettering in order to improve outcomes for young people and young mums. Existing programs and services already working in these towns, as well as other organizations looking to expand their reach into these under-resourced regions are encouraged to apply. Projects should be well rooted in community need, with an emphasis on service user feedback informing and refining the service models. Through this strategic funding, it is our hope that Corby & Kettering will be models of sexual health & antenatal education as well as early parenting support deeply rooted in the community. 

Two Funding Focuses

• Sexual Health & Education for Young People
• Health, Education & Social Supports for Young Mums

Example projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Prevention: Pregnancy education, sexual education
• Support: Antenatal and parenting education
• Education: Sexual and reproductive health workshops to help individuals make the best choices for sexual wellness
• Gender Equity and Education: with a focus on people of all genders, orientations, identities and abilities

Our Mission

The Horner Foundation is a family-based charity dedicated to partnering with community-based organizations that provide youth, aged 10-19, hands-on experiential learning opportunities through Out of School Time (OST) to foster positive youth development.

We work in 4 geographic regions, determined by where family members live, their specific interests and needs identified by the community.

Our Vision

• All youth will be empowered to realize their full potential and become active participants in their communities.
• All youth will have ample opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to experience a diversity of quality learning styles and frameworks.
• All youth will be healthy, strong, and well-prepared for the 21st Century.

Organizational Funding Statement

The Horner Foundation strives to be responsive and meet organizations where they are. This means that we may provide multi-year funding and ongoing support to nonprofits who may be launching a pilot project or going through a transition. However, we also believe in the value of diverse funding sources. The Horner Foundation typically funds organizations for 1-2 funding cycles (2-4 years). In rare cases, we may fund an organizations for 3 funding cycles (6 years).

Grants

The Foundation awards two-year grants dedicated to project funding. We fund in four geographic regions, each with its own funding priorities.

Alameda & Contra Costa Counties, Bay Area, California: Youth Food Justice, Youth Sports, & Girls Empowerment    

For the past several years, the Horner Foundation has worked at the intersection of youth development and food justice, with the goal of empowering youth to learn about and take action to localize their food system and increase food security for all. Our 2026–2027 funding will continue this mission, with an increased emphasis on youth-led and youth-organized projects. Youth outcomes are maximized when youth can envision, organize, and execute projects alongside supportive adult mentors and allies. The Foundation aims to provide more funding directly to youth in the Bay Area, so that they can make a measurable difference in their communities.

We are also continuing our newer funding focus to empower young women and girls to access experiential learning and leadership opportunities in the Bay Area.

In addition, the Foundation is expanding its funding priorities to include Youth Sports programs that promote leadership, teamwork, confidence, and access to high-quality athletic opportunities for under-resourced youth. We are particularly interested in organizations that use sports as a vehicle for positive youth development, academic support, and life skills building.

Funding Focuses

Youth Food Justice

• Organizations working at the intersection of youth development and food justice

• Grants that work to elevate youth voice will be prioritized. This may include mini-grant programs for youth, where one organization or collective of organizations build on existing infrastructure or create a new program for youth to apply for / receive mini-grants. It is understood that many youth development programs provide adult mentoring and structured opportunities for youth to participate meaningfully.

Youth Sports

• Organizations that provide equitable access to organized sports for under-resourced youth, using athletics as a platform for leadership development, mentorship, academic encouragement, and social-emotional growth.

• Priority may be given to programs that: Reduce financial barriers to participation; Provide structured mentorship and coaching; Integrate academic or life-skills components; Demonstrate measurable impact on youth outcomes

Girls Empowerment

• Organizations that expand access to experiential learning, leadership development, and confidence-building opportunities for girls and young women in the Bay Area.

Who We Are

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois will make a sustainable philanthropic impact in our community through visible leadership in connecting people who care with causes that matter.

Women in Leadership of Central Illinois Scholarship Fund

The Women in Leadership of Central Illinois Scholarship Fund was established by the Women in Leadership of Central Illinois to provide scholarship support for women in the Tri-County (Peoria) area, who are pursuing secondary or post-graduate education or certification at an accredited college or university.

Women in Leadership Mission

To promote leadership among women by providing mentoring, networking, and educational opportunities.

The Grace Scholarship for Nursing, offered by the John Wood Community College Foundation, provides financial assistance of $100 to female students pursuing a nursing degree. This scholarship aims to support candidates based on their motivational goals articulated in a personal narrative, financial need assessed through income and aid, and academic performance. Established in 1984, the JWCC Foundation strives to empower students and foster future leaders in the healthcare sector.

The Brorstrom Scholarship for Nursing, offered by the JWCC Foundation, supports two female students in the LPN Program. Selection criteria include a narrative statement detailing personal and professional nursing goals, financial need based on income and aid, and academic performance. This scholarship, valued at $500 each, aims to empower future nursing leaders by easing their financial burdens and encouraging their educational aspirations.

Woman in Philanthropy Endowment Fund

G.R.O.W

Nationwide, women are increasingly influential in family decisions about charitable giving. Recognizing this, the Community Foundation of Monroe County, through a group of dedicated women, has established G.R.O.W. Monroe.

Giving Represents Our Women is a philanthropic women’s organization which supports women & children organizations throughout the community. The group unites powerful, visionary women who are committed to provide lasting, fundamental change in the community and to help area women and children make better lives for themselves.

Our Purpose

To ensure that women have the information we need to be effective philanthropists. To financially support organizations that can provide a better life for women and help to promote a better future for our children. To keep members informed of the issues in our community that are currently affecting these individuals and to become an active participant in changing those situations. Currently we are involved with the issue of human trafficking and focusing on ways to help combat this endemic problem.

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to projects serving women and children in Monroe County. We are seeking impactful, community-driven initiatives that create meaningful change at the local level.

The Grace Brorstrom Oakley Scholarship, established by Dr. Burks Oakley II in honor of his mother, supports single mothers pursuing a degree at John Wood Community College (JWCC). With a value of $1,000, this scholarship reflects the commitment of the JWCC Foundation to empower women and children in need, continuing their mission since 1984 to enhance educational opportunities and foster future leaders.

The JWCC Foundation offers the American Association of University Women Scholarship aimed at supporting women pursuing a bachelor's degree. One scholarship is designated for a returning woman, while another is for those aiming to further their education. The amount varies based on funding. Priority is given to women interested in nontraditional fields of study, encouraging diverse educational pursuits and empowerment for future leaders.

The Allison E. Bennett Memorial Scholarship, established by the Bennett family and the JWCC community, honors a vibrant student who tragically passed away before completing her degree. This scholarship supports deserving sophomore senators in the Student Government Association, political science majors, and those involved in women's sports, ensuring that Allison's legacy continues to inspire future leaders at John Wood Community College.

CCF: Women’s Giving Circle Grants

The Women’s Giving Circle at Connecticut Community Foundation was formed in 2017 to bring women together to learn about issues affecting women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills, to join their dollars, and to make grants that will improve lives. When it is time to make grants, Circle members decide together the issues they want to support, such as employment, education, pay equity, housing, parenting or women’s health. Circle members review grant applications and make funding decisions together. The Women’s Giving Circle is open to anyone who cares about women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.

Grant proposals are accepted once annually.

What is the average grant amount?

The average amount is between $5,000 and $15,000. Please review the grant guidelines for the funding area you plan to apply to for an average amount. Grants for larger amounts can be considered. However, for those, please contact our staff to discuss the project in advance of submission.

The Melissa Skiera Myers Scholarship, managed by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports female students pursuing degrees in math, science, and business. Funded by Melissa Skiera Myers to alleviate educational financial burdens, this scholarship prioritizes first-generation college students and those overcoming challenges. Applicants need to submit transcripts and specific documents. With a competitive selection process, the fund aims to empower Tri-Cities women, including adult learners, to achieve their academic goals without the weight of student debt.

The Pat and John MacTavish Fund, established in 2007 by John Mac Tavish in memory of his wife Pat, provides scholarships aimed at encouraging young women to pursue higher education in the hard sciences. Awarded by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, scholarships are competitive and based on criteria such as financial need and academic achievement. Applicants from Northern Ottawa County or specific school districts are eligible. The fund emphasizes the importance of education in fields such as math, chemistry, and computer science.

The P.E.O. Chapter DS Scholarship supports female students from the Tri-Cities area pursuing higher education. Established by the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 2005, it emphasizes academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement. Eligible candidates include graduating high school seniors and non-traditional students. The scholarship prioritizes applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and those intending to attend Cottey College. The application process is straightforward, allowing candidates to apply for multiple scholarships with one submission.

The Women's Club of Grand Haven Grant, established in 2001, offers scholarships to non-traditional students from the Tri-Cities seeking further education. Funded through community efforts such as an annual Used Book Sale, this grant prioritizes financial need and is open to applicants residing in Northern Ottawa County or those who graduated from local school districts. Preference is given to female applicants aged 21 and older, supporting educational advancement for those whose academic journeys have been interrupted.

Madeline Mellers Memorial Girls Golf Scholarship

Madeline started playing golf at a young age with her father, Ed Mellers, in Missouri. After moving to Colorado with her mother and stepfather, Chris and Ann Bush in 4th grade, she continued to play and started competing in CJGA events around the state. When she started as a freshman at Rye High School in 1990-91, there was no girls’ golf team at Rye High School so CHSAA said she could try out for the boys’ team, and she made it! Her junior year, Madeline along with her coach, Greg Bailey and Hollydot Professional, Prim Ivan, approached CHSAA again to see if Mad’s scores from Boys golf in fall could qualify her for the Girls State golf tournament the next spring, and CHSAA decided yes! She qualified and played in her 1st state tournament the next spring, placing 10th. In those days, the girls competed against girls from every size of high school in the state 1A to 6A.

During her Junior and Senior years, Madeline was also working with Dana Smith, a well known teaching professional from the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy in Denver. Dana took Madeline’s golf to the next level and is now graciously helping with her scholarship. He was chosen as the best teacher in Colorado by Golf digest and has several articles on golf published by Golf digest and Golf Illustrated. He is currently one of the staff at Trent Wearner Golf in Denver.

Her senior year, we were able to field a team made up of girls from various Southern Colorado small high schools and they played in girls’ season, 11 tournaments in all. Madeline was medalist in all 11 tournaments. She went on to become the Pueblo Ladies City Champion 3 times in 1994, 1995, and 1996. She was the youngest girl to win the Ladies championship at 17 years old!

Madeline was awarded a golf and academic scholarship to Stetson University, a division 1 school in Florida, where she attended and played golf for 4 years graduating in 1998. Denver University Law School was her next stop, and she graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2002, passed the bar and started her law career with a private firm in Denver.

Tragically, we lost Madeline at 41 years old to colon cancer after a courageous 5-year battle. At the time of her death, she was a Senior Asst. Attorney General for the state of Colorado and very actively involved as a fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Alliance of Colorado. Madeline Ann Mellers played golf all of her life and was President of the Denver Businesswomen’s golf league. 

Description of the award

• We will be awarding two $2,500.00 scholarships
• Payment will be made to the institution directly
• Both in-state and out-of-state institutions are accepted
• Applicants must maintain a 3.0 or above GPA while maintaining the scholarship

Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mission Statement

The Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to memorialize Emma by helping female swimmers pursue their dreams of a college education. The scholarship awards will be granted on an annual basis to female graduating high school senior athletes in Southern Chester County.

About Emma

Emma was an excellent student as a sophomore at Unionville High School (UHS). She loved to swim and was a dedicated member of both the Kennett YMCA Sea Dragons and UHS swim teams. In her spare time, Emma was a lifeguard and also taught young children how to swim at the Y. As a younger child and teenager, Emma excelled on the ballfield in URA softball.

At the young age of 16, Emma passed away following complications caused by a rare type of gastric cancer, a form of the disease that was unheard of in a child and unfortunately found too late. Throughout Emma’s brief illness, she was strong and determined to get better, and did not let her health issues define her in any way.

Emma was beautiful in every sense of the word, and was loved throughout her community and beyond. She worked hard at whatever she was trying to accomplish, but always with a cheery, exuberant attitude and lovely smile. More than anything, her absolute kindness and warm heart are what made Emma our sweet girl.

YWCA Chester County Fund

Mission Statement

A primary focus of the YWCA Chester County Fund is to provide scholarships to women, primarily non-traditional students, to continue their education.

Why the Wings Foundation

An unwavering commitment to family, community and stronger tomorrows was the flag under which the Young Women’s Christian Association (aka the YWCA) of Huron stood for over 100 years. During those decades, hundreds of thousands of young lives were touched by the programs and assistance offered through this organization.

As much as the YWCA evolved over the year to keep up with the evolution of women and continued to strive to be an asset to the community, the last decade brought many questions as to the value, in light of the cost. The governing board of directors soon found the aging service organization asset heavy and cash poor with a dwindling list of programs.

In lieu of giving up, the team made plans to ‘reinvent’ the YWCA, beginning with the essence of the original mission and a focus on keeping the value of the assets tied to Huron and the surrounding area. the WINGS Foundation was established as part of the South Dakota Community Foundation. The earnings from this sizable foundation are now being distributed back to Huron and the surrounding communities through the grant application process of the Huron Community Foundation, as well as direct requests. Approved funds must align with the Mission Statement below.

WINGS Foundation Grant

Mission Statement: Funding is designated to achieve the successful establishment or continuation of new or existing family services and community infrastructure in Huron and surrounding areas. Preference will be granted to those requests that provide support for the growth, protection, and overall benefit of women and children to fortify the community and strengthen the family unit.

About JCF

• Extensive History: Founded in 1979 as the Bequest & Endowment Society of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. is a separately-incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
• Community Leadership: With upwards of $35 million in funds under management, and with an estimated $40 million in future expected endowment assets, the JCF has grown into the leading community foundation in South Jersey.

JCF Scholarship Awards are available for all students pursuing post-high school education and who are enrolled (or plan to enroll) in full-time studies for the Fall 2026 school year or for experiential travel in the upcoming year.

Who May Apply for JCF Scholarship Awards?

• Local Residents: An applicant's home residence must be in Burlington, Camden, or Gloucester County ("B/C/G County) in Southern New Jersey, but noting the following exceptions:
  • Stuart & Marylee Alperin Jewish Communal Service Professional Development Award: Must be a B/C/G County resident OR reside elsewhere in Southern New Jersey;
  • Jewish War Veterans Post 126 Award: Applicant may live outside the B/C/G County area, but is a child or grandchild of a JWV Post 126 member in good standing;
  • Col. David Marcus Memorial Award: Priority will be given to B/C/G County residents

• Candidates Who Qualify Based on Award Criteria: To determine which award(s) to apply for, a prospective applicant should review each award's criteria, and apply accordingly. Note that criteria can vary per award based on such requirements as an applicant's age, merit vs. financial need, gender, etc. Most, but not all, awards are for applicants of Jewish faith. An applicant may apply to multiple awards each year.
• Reapplying: Each award is for a one-year time period. Applicants may reapply in subsequent years to any JCF award for which they qualify.

Valerie Gladfelter Scholarship Award

The Valerie Gladfelter Scholarship Award is for Jewish girls and women residing in Burlington, Camden or Gloucester Counties who plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in a college or university degree-related program.

The Bob Zylstra STEM Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports undergraduate students who identify as female or as students of color from West Michigan. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing STEM majors by removing barriers to education and fostering diversity in these fields. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to help students achieve their academic and career aspirations.