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.
We are excited to announce the opening of our 2025/2026 Grants Cycle!
Please return to this page often for information on training sessions, the application process, and answers to frequently asked questions.
We invite organizations who are seeking funding to meet the needs of women and children in Cumberland County to apply for our 2025/2026 grants cycle.
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
Applicants are required to attend one of the two training sessions offered in August. Trainings will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, August 12th at 4:00 PM and Friday, August 15th at 10:00 AM. Prior registration is required. You will be emailed the Zoom link the day before your training through the email provided in your registration. If you attended an information session in 2024, you are not required to attend again this year. If you have any questions, please reach out to tara@cumberlandcf.org.
If you cannot attend a training session live, register for one of the two dates and a video recording will be sent to you following the conclusion of the session.
How to Apply
A link to the online application will be available August 18, 2025. The link will be emailed to training session attendees and will also be added to this page. Funded projects will be selected based on an objective review of full applications and site visits.
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: February 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 either Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM or, Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM to learn about our grant program. Go to the Cumberland Community Foundation calendar to register on the date you would like to attend.
- If you attended a grant information session in 2024 for the Women’s Giving Circle, you are not required to attend one this year (unless your organization point of contact has changed). If you are not sure if your organization attended, 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
