Women’s Fund of East Tennessee Grant Announcement

The Women’s Fund of East Tennessee (WFET) announces a new, rolling grant strategy to support the continuation of services and programs through a privately funded “Self-Sustainability” grant program. Funding available for this designated giving will total over $100,000 and be available to non-profits within the 25 counties served in East Tennessee. The intent of this new channel of grant making is to impact program expenses, staffing, travel, materials, and/or general operations for organizations and programs aiding the self-sustainability of women and girls in our region. These funds are not available for capital improvements.

The Self-Sustainability grant cycle was designed to complement the SWSF Network funding, adding to our impact by creating opportunities for more women and girls in East Tennessee to thrive. WFET believes the most efficient path is to foster partnerships with similarly focused non-profit organizations to share expertise and collectively identify opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and action in our communities. Adding this additional level of funding, while continuing the work of the SWSF network, enhances our ability to achieve those goals long into the future.

Non-profit organizations wishing to apply for the 2024-25 “Self-Sustainability” grant cycle can do so by visiting the recently refreshed WFET website at the following link: https://womensfundetn.org/network-building/. Applications will be open on November 1, 2024, and grant awards will be announced starting in December of this year, and on a rolling basis.

The Strong Women Strong Futures (SWSF) Network was established and funded by WFET in 2018. After completing extensive research in the region to better understand the barriers to post-secondary education, WFET worked to develop tools and resources to reach the young women and girls in their service area of East Tennessee. “The addition of a new tier of grant funding through the Self-Sustainability grant program extends our reach far beyond the SWSF Network. In this new era of granting for the Women’s Fund, we are thrilled to be able to make a difference among like-minded non-profits across the 25 counties we serve,” explains Kirby Deal, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund. “We believe that when you invest in a woman, you invest in a family, a community, and, ultimately, a region. The Women’s Fund has never been better positioned to accomplish our mission of every woman self-sustaining.”

The Women’s Fund was founded in 2011 with the mission to serve as a catalyst to transform the lives of women and girls in East Tennessee. By 2015, the Board of Directors elected to become a supporting organization of the East Tennessee Foundation, becoming a 501(c)3 public, non-profit. With a focus on collaboration, education, and advocacy, WFET quickly became a premier source of hope and funding for those who need it most in our region. For more information, or to apply for grants, please visit: www.womensfundetn.org

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