The Women’s Giving Circle Grant Program is live and will close March 12 at 3pm!
The Hendricks County Women's Giving Circle (HCWGC) is a program of the Hendricks County Community Foundation (HCCF). A giving circle is a group of people who pool their money to donate to a cause. They are a form of collective giving that can be a way to make a greater impact on a cause. The HCWGC is designed to award grants to local nonprofit organizations serving women and children while encouraging philanthropy and community engagement among women in Hendricks County.
Each member donates annually to support the nonprofits selected through a grant application process. All donations are pooled and the dollars will be awarded in 2025 to local nonprofits serving women and children. Once all applications are received, HCWGC members will review the applications (online) and evaluate them based on an established rubric. The top 9 scoring nonprofits will be invited to present at a HCWGC Award Celebration: three at each meeting in June, September and November. At each meeting, 1st, 2nd and 3rd level grants will be awarded to the presenting nonprofits - $7500, $4500 and $3000, respectively.
The Giving Circle officially launched at the start of 2025 with 174 inaugural members. The membership will gather for a "Meet & Greet" in the spring (March 5) and then convene three more times in 2025 (June 4, September 10, and November 12) to award the selected nonprofits with grants.
Eligibility
Who/What is Eligible:
- Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities.
- Applicants must be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service, the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State of Indiana, and any other pertinent governing body.
- Programs/projects must serve women and children in Hendricks County.
- Programs/projects must meet a measurable or demonstrable need in Hendricks County.
- Programs/projects must not discriminate in terms of program provision, and the applicant organization must not discriminate in staffing or hiring decisions.
Who/What is Ineligible:
- For-profit companies.
- Grants to individuals or families for personal needs
- Bands, sports teams or other groups without a philanthropic project
- Annual appeals or membership contributions
- Fundraising events such as galas, golf tournaments, walk-a-thons and fashion shows
- Projects aimed at promoting a particular religion or construction projects for religious institutions
- Organizations or projects that discriminate based upon race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, military service/veteran status, or any other category protected under state or local law
- Political campaigns or projects aimed at promoting a particular political party or candidate
- Post-event, after-the-fact situations or debt retirement
- Endowment or reserve-building
- Classroom/teacher grants and schools/school districts
- Units of government
- Houses of worship
- Hospitals
- Service projects
Disclaimer: These lists are not exclusive, if you are curious about whether or not your organization/project/program is eligible, please contact HCCF Vice President of Programs Eric Hessel at eric@hendrickscountycf.org or 317.268.6240.
Timeline
Applications Live: February 14
Applications Due: March 12 at 3 pm
HCWGC Review: March 14 – April 9
HCWGC Applicants Notified: April 11
Award Celebrations
Each of the top 9 scoring nonprofits from the online review will be awarded a grant of some amount. At each Award Celebration, the selected nonprofits will make an approximately 5 minute pitch to members of the HCWGC. Members in attendance will vote on the presenting nonprofits to decide 1st, 2nd and 3rd level grant awards, which are $7500, $4500 and $3000, respectively.
June Award Celebration: June 4 from 5:30-7:00 pm Location TBD
September Award Celebration: September 10 from 5:30-7:00 pm Location TBD
November Award Celebration: November 12 from 5:30-7:00 pm Location TBD
HCCF will distribute grant checks from the Women's Giving Circle Fund to the selected nonprofits, enabling them to expand their vital services for women and children in Hendricks County! Grant recipients will report to the membership the following year on how the funds were used and the resulting impact.
Grant Size
Grant sizes are determined by membership enrollment. Exact amounts to be determined.
Grant Application and Rubric
View a SAMPLE PDF version of the application before applying. This is a sample application and may not perfectly reflect the current application.
NOTE: This is a preview only. Only applications submitted through the online grant portal will be accepted.
Review Hendricks County Women's Giving Circle Rubric
If you have any questions, please contact HCCF Vice President of Programs Eric Hessel at eric@hendrickscountycf.org or 317.268.6240.
