Grant Program Overview

IWCF Members are informed investors.

We learn about the community’s greatest needs, and through pooled investments and individual designations, direct our giving to make the greatest impact in the areas important to us collectively and individually.

IWCF donates money to nonprofit organizations recognized by the IRS. ‘Community Partner’ Members commit $1,125 annually. $500 is credited to the pooled-fund for the grants process. Another $500 is called the Individual Grant Designation, and can be directed to any nonprofit(s) of the member’s choice, as a single $500 donation or in two designations of $250. The remaining $125 is used for annual administrative expenses.

‘Pooled-Fund Grant” Members may choose to instead commit $625 annually. $500 is credited to the pooled-fund for the grants process. The remaining $125 is used for annual administrative expenses.

IWCF funds broadly. Funding is not limited to women’s causes, but rather to impactful and innovative projects that IWCF members have determined best meet our funding criteria. Awards are typically disbursed in installments in May and December.

Pooled-Fund Grants

IWCF members contribute each year to a pooled fund from which we collectively award grants to nonprofit organizations serving southwestern Idaho. IWCF awards grants in the counties of Ada, Adams, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and tax-exempt religious entities.

In an annual Grants Cycle, we award at least six grants: one $20,000-$30,000 grant in each of our six annual interest areas. Our six annual interest areas include:

Each of the six grants are assigned to an evaluation committee, who meets regularly and works to evaluate each submitted grant proposal. The full Grants Committee meets at several stages in the process to guide participants from one step to the next, and to ensure consistency across all interest areas. Each evaluation committee selects 3-4 proposals for a site visit. After site visits, the Grants Committee recommends two projects per interest area for placement on the member ballot.

Ballots are sent to the entire IWCF membership each spring for a vote on final funding decisions. At least one grant will be awarded in every annual interest area. Occasionally, we are able to fund additional grants; this is dependent on the size of IWCF’s pooled fund each spring, as well as the amount of funding sought by the proposals on our ballot.

The Grants Committee is open to all IWCF members. The IWCF grants cycle begins in December and ends in May. For more information on the grants program or to join the Grants Committee, please contact our grants committee chair.