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Women's Giving Circle

Grant Timeline and Application

The Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County awards high-impact grants to projects focusing on women and children in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Local nonprofit organizations are invited to apply following attendance at an information meeting and confirmation of eligibility. 

The 2025/2026 grant applications are currently under review! Thank you to all who submitted this year. 

Funding Focus Areas

Basic Needs

  • Financial insecurities (home, job, food, healthcare)
  • Educational insecurities (literacy, financial literacy, academic)
  • Human trafficking

Child Security

  • Child abuse
  • Foster care
  • Childcare insecurity

 

Timeline for the Grant Process                               

  • Mandatory Training Sessions: August 12th and August 15th 
  • Online application available: August 18, 2025
  • Deadline for application submission: September 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
  • Proposals evaluated and site visits conducted: September-October
  • Final grant approvals by members of giving circle: January 2026
  • Funding available upon return of signed grant/communication agreements: February- March 2026

  • Download the document above for information about the Women's Giving Circle and answers to frequently asked questions about the grant cycle.

Special considerations will be given to programs or projects that incorporate any of the following:

  • Projects/programs that demonstrate the ability to achieve measurable results and have a high probability of successful continuation beyond the grant period. NOTE: We may consider 1x funding of positions or jobs. However, our focus is projects and programs that achieve measurable results leading to sustainability. 
  • Programs or projects that impact a larger population
  • Projects/Programs that demonstrate effective collaboration with partnerships as well as leverages other funding sources.
  • Projects/Programs that provide a creative approach to a critical community need.

Eligibility

  • Organizations must be located and provide services in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
  • Applicants must qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be classified as a unit of government.
  • Organizations must not discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious beliefs nor be a religious organization that serves exclusively sectarian purposes.
  • Organizations (any person from organization) must attend one grant information session via Zoom that will be held in August. Go to the Cumberland Community Foundation calendar to register on the date you would like to attend.
  • Attendance at the grant information sessions is only required once every two years (unless your organization point of contact has changed).  If you are not sure if your organization attended in the past year, please email tara@cumberlandcf.org. 
  • Organizations must have met all reporting requirements on previous Women’s Giving Circle funding to be eligible for future funding.

Areas Not Funded

  • Capital and endowment campaigns
  • Event sponsorships
  • Deficit budgets                                                                                                        
  • Organizations for re-granting purposes                                                   
  • Travel and conferences                                                                                                               
  • Scholarships
  • Projects promoting religious or political views