The Illinois Prairie Community Foundation (IPCF) is offering the 2025 Women to Women (W2W) Giving Circle Grants. These grants focus on addressing issues of housing, food, transportation, and childcare insecurity for women and children. Special consideration will be given to programs targeting housing insecurity and its interconnectedness with other essential needs. A total of $60,000 is available for distribution, with individual grant awards historically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on September 30, 2024, and must be submitted through the IPCF online portal.

Eligible programs must occur within the grant funding period of February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Applicants must represent a 501(c)(3) organization, operate under a fiscal sponsor with such status, or be a local government unit. Faith-based organizations may apply if their programs are non-sectarian and available to the broader community. Collaborative projects involving multiple organizations are encouraged but not required, with one organization acting as the lead applicant.

Grant applications will be evaluated based on their potential for sustainability, the ability to promote systemic change, creative solutions addressing the focus areas, measurable outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Collaborative approaches to avoid duplication of services are also highly regarded. Programs should either already demonstrate results or introduce innovative solutions grounded in proven methods.

Certain expenses, such as endowment campaigns, fundraising events, scholarships, or non-program-related costs, will not be funded. Organizations receiving consecutive W2W grants are expected to become self-sufficient or secure alternate funding after two grant cycles.

The grant process includes an oral presentation by finalists to the W2W Grants Committee in late November or early December. Funding decisions will be communicated in early January 2025, with funds distributed that same month upon completion of a grant agreement. Awardees must submit a final report by February 28, 2026, or within one month of program completion, detailing the program's outcomes. Failure to do so may disqualify the organization from future grants.

Applicants can begin their submissions on September 1, 2024, using the IPCF online grant portal. For more information or assistance, organizations can contact Michele Evans, Grants & Communications Director, at mevans@ilprairiecf.org or 309-662-4477.