Washington Womens Foundation

Programs: Pooled grant making: in 2017 the foundation made five grants of $100,000 each, totaling $500,000 to regional nonprofit organizations, one in each of the following areas: arts, education, environment, health, and human services. 70-80 members invest more than 2,000 hours annually in the grant-making process, participating in a rigorous review procedure with the grantees ultimately selected by a vote of the membership. Merit grants totaling $10,000 were awarded to the five runner-up organizations.

individual recommended grant making: foundation members may recommend individual grants of $500 or $1,000 to qualified nonprofit organizations. Each member's grant recommendations are reviewed to ensure that the grantees are 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing. All grants are approved by the board of directors prior to payment. In 2017, $374,000 was granted to 315 nonprofits.

education: foundation members participate in a broad spectrum of learning opportunities, such as leadership forums, philanthropy skill-building workshops, issues discussions, and "hands-on" grant making through committee work and site visits. In 2017, 61 educational events were attended by over 1,500 members and guests. We have over 200 active committee members and 2,500 volunteer hours are invested each year in our programs.

partner grant initiatives provide a deeper level of inquiry through an advanced curriculum of hands-on grant making. A committee of foundation staff and members work with community partners to research, identify, and award grants each year to a nonprofit program in one of the following areas (on a rotating basis): diversity, international and emerging issues. In 2017, $28,000 was granted to 3 nonprofits.