The Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) has launched its 2021 Grants Program. The goal to improve the quality of life for Anne Arundel County women and families, AAWGT’s funding focuses on three specific areas: education, health and welfare, and the prevention and/or treatment of violence and abuse. They are proud to have had the opportunity to partner with so many fine nonprofits and they look forward to continuing that work in the coming year.

AAWGT works to accomplish the mission in three ways:

• Grantmaking programs that support women and families in Anne Arundel County;
• Engaging and educating women about issues affecting women and families in Anne Arundel County; and
• Building the power of collective philanthropy in Anne Arundel County.

Funding Information

• Regular Grants: $5,000 – $20,000;
• Fundamental Needs Grant: $5,000 – $10,000;
• Racial Equity Grant: $5,000 and $20,000.

Grants

This funding cycle they are offering the Regular Grant program plus two additional special focus grants:

• Regular Grants are those that improve the quality of life for women and families in Anne Arundel County. They anticipate awarding multiple grants in this category.
• Fundamental Needs Grant: The program to be funded should address critical needs of women and families in Anne Arundel County such as food insecurity, parenting support, or the needs of children from birth to five years.
• Racial Equity Grant: The new Racial Equity Grant seeks to fund initiatives that could prevent the hardships that disproportionately affect women and families of colour such as childhood hunger, higher mortality rates, early childhood education disparities, higher unemployment, homelessness and poor mental health.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a federally recognized nonprofit:

• Are you your own 501(c)(3)?
• A federally recognized tax-exempt nonprofit is not the same as a not-for-profit entity like the government, school, or church.
• However, many not-for-profit organizations have established a related charitable organization that is a 501(c)(3) — you need to be applying through them (eg. 21st Century Foundation).
• Your church is probably not its own 501(c)(3) – it may be operating under a Group Exemption in the name of the parent church. If so, you need a letter dated this year from your parent church stating that.
• Organizations related to churches usually need to form their own 501(c)(3).
• Fiscal sponsorship is an option that is legally available but should be carefully analyzed.

Application Process

• The Call for Applications was released on November 2, 2020, and their online application is also now available.
• Their Zoom Grant Applicant Workshop was held Tuesday, November 17, 2020, in two parts. The 9:30 am session addressed organizational requirements including federal and state legal requirements and is recommended for newer organizations. The 1:30 pm session focused on the application requirements and was recommended for all applicants; it provided guidance on making sure your proposal is what we’re looking for.
• Grant applications are due January 15, 2021, at 11:59 pm; this is a firm deadline.
• Thereafter, AAWGT members evaluate the applications in a careful process with successful proposals being placed on a ballot for membership voting in mid-May. Applicants eliminated at earlier points or after voting are promptly notified.
• AAWGT will provide a debrief conference call to any applicant not on the final ballot after grant awards have been announced in late May. Debriefings must be requested by email to them no later than May 31. Please include a phone number in your email.

Source:http://givingtogether.org/grants-overview