OUR GRANTS

About Our Grants

The mission of the Giving Circle of Women's Connection Philadelphia is to support local nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of women and children in the City of Philadelphia by raising funds for collective donor-advised philanthropy. The Giving Circle is the philanthropic arm of the Philadelphia Chapter of Women's Connection, a national organization of professional women aged 50 and forward who seek to continue a life of learning, engagement, and leadership in the world.

Giving Circle members pool dollars, make grants to nonprofit organizations and conduct educational programs and other initiatives to raise awareness of the significant needs in our city. We are passionate about making a difference, nurturing relationships with the organizations we support and engaging with our members to build a better community. The Giving Circle is committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion and identity. We are looking to support organizations who share this commitment.

Through the generosity of our donors, we raise funds throughout the calendar year and then in January determine how many grants - and at what amounts - can be awarded. 100% of the money raised goes towards the nonprofits selected.

HOW TO APPLY FOR ONE OF OUR GRANTS

Our 2027 Grant Application Cycle will open in January.  The Request for Grant Solicitations that pertain to the focus area listed below can be found on The Philadelphia Foundation website.

The Philadelphia Giving Circle (PGC) has selected health care for underserved Philadelphia women, ages 18 and older, as its 2027 focus area. 

Eligible nonprofits will be dedicated to helping women overcome barriers to affordable, quality health care including access to preventive and ongoing care; maternal and reproductive health services; educational programs and initiatives which empower women to make personal health choices; and advocacy nonprofits addressing these issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is your mission?

Our mission is to improve the lives of women and children in Philadelphia. 

How do you accomplish your mission?

We provide grants to local nonprofits who qualify and meet our review criteria. We also provide liaison, consulting, and volunteer support to grantees if they so desire.

How do you choose your grantees?

Each grant cycle we select a focus area for our grants. Last year our focus was Juvenile Justice.  This cycle our focus area is food insecurity. Through our application, we invite nonprofits to apply.  After receipt of applications our reviewers look at mission, financials, and impact. We conduct site visits for applicants that advance to our second level review process.  In May, our donors vote on which nonprofits to support.

What kinds of nonprofits do you support?

We support smaller nonprofits that are established for two or more years, have a 501( c) (3)designation, and that have no religious or political affiliation. For a complete list of prior grant recipients click here.

What is the amount of your grants and how many recipients are there?

Our grant amounts and the number of recipients vary from year to year based upon the success of each donation campaign.   We determine our funding balance on Dec 31 of each year. But for a minimal reserve, we distribute all the money that we collect. To make the process most impactful, we aim to award 3 grants of no less than $20,000 each. In our 3 most recent grant cycles, we have well exceeded this goal.

Do grant applicants have any budgetary restrictions?

Because we want to be most impactful with our grants, we support organizations that have an annual budget of $3 Million or less.

Do applicants have to identify how the funds will be used, and/or designate a specific project?

 No. Our grants are for general operating purposes and we employ trust-based philanthropy in our practice. We trust our grantees to use their award in a way most essential to them.

If my nonprofit is part of national organization or has a presence outside of Philadelphia, am I eligible to apply?

You may apply; however, you must share your Philadelphia specific budget and information on your Philadelphia operations. We ask that our grants only be applied to your work in Philadelphia. 

Are there any limitations on nonprofits that may apply?

So long as you meet our criteria as listed above, we encourage you to apply.

If our organization has been awarded a grant in the past, may it reapply?

If you have received one of our grants, you can reapply in the third grants cycle from your award. If example, if you received a grant in 2025, you may reapply in 2028. However, always make sure that your mission matches our funding focus for that grant cycle.

As a grantee, is there a way for us to participate in the activities of The Giving Circle?

Yes, we invite a representative from each of our recent grantee nonprofits to serve as an “at-large member” on our grants committee. They fully participate and their insights help us improve our grants process.

 We would like to apply, where can we find your grant application?

Each year in early January you can find our application at The Philadelphia Foundation website under Special Intiative Grants.  You also may contact our Grants Committee at the email address provided below

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