The Roanoke Women’s Foundation (RWF) provides high-impact grants of at least $30,000 to support organizations working in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, and Health & Human Services. These grants aim to fund initiatives that align with the core missions of eligible nonprofit organizations. The selection process is comprehensive and involves multiple review phases, site visits, and final selection through a membership vote in September each year. Organizations receiving funding are expected to use the funds within 24 months and must ensure that all grant money is used within the designated service area.

The application process consists of two phases. Phase I applications open on March 1 and must be submitted by March 31. The RWF Grants Committee then evaluates these applications and notifies applicants by May 1 whether they are invited to submit a Phase II application. Organizations selected for Phase II must submit their applications by May 31. Following submission, the Grants Committee conducts site visits and holds a Grants Fair in early June, where Phase II applicants present their projects to RWF members. During the summer, the committee continues reviewing applications and conducts further evaluations through phone calls or site visits.

Finalists are selected in September, and RWF membership votes to determine the grant recipients. Organizations that are awarded grants are notified in October. The grant awards are publicly announced at the RWF Annual Awards Luncheon in early November. Grantees must submit periodic reports to RWF detailing the progress of their funded projects, in accordance with the terms outlined in the Grant Agreement.

To be eligible, organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for at least 36 consecutive months before the March 31 Phase I deadline. Additionally, organizations must be located in or provide services to Roanoke City, Salem, or the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, or Franklin. Grant funds must be fully utilized within this service area. Organizations that have received an RWF grant within the past five years are not eligible to apply. Applicants should propose initiatives related to program development, services, infrastructure, or other mission-aligned efforts with a minimum budget of $30,000. The grant must fund work beginning after November of the award year and cannot be used for expenses incurred before receiving the grant.

Funding from RWF grants cannot be used for debt reduction, operating deficits, endowments, individual support, private foundations, political or religious activities, fundraising events, annual campaigns, or general appeals. Eligible applicants must be able to provide an independently prepared audit or financial review from one of their two most recent fiscal years if they reach the Phase II stage.

Interested organizations must submit applications through RWF’s online Grants Management System, as paper applications are not accepted. Applicants are requested not to contact RWF members directly, as all aspects of the grant process are confidential. For questions regarding the grant application, organizations may reach out via email at grants@roanokewomensfoundation.org.