Nonprofit Grants
Apply Now!
We are now accepting requests from nonprofit organizations for funding that will assist women and/or girls in Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
Please contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my organization get a grant?
To be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, submit a complete application, and the funding request must be for programs or projects that benefit women and girls.
How can I apply?
Our 2026 application window is now open. Click here to apply.
When is the deadline to apply?
Deadline for Applications Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
What dollar amount may I apply for?
Applications are being received for requests for funding up to $20,000.
Thank you!
To all who have applied for our 2025 grants.
Applications are now closed for the 2025 cycle of our nonprofit grants. See below for additional information or contact us at grants@womensfundhoc.org.
Since The Women’s Fund began granting funds in 1999, we have provided over $496,000 in non-profit program grants to provide opportunities for women and girls to achieve independence and success in life.
Who is eligible for funding?
The Women’s Fund invites requests for funding that will assist women and/or girls in Herkimer and Oneida counties. To be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, submit a complete application, and the funding request must be for programs or projects that benefit women and girls.
What are the funding priorities of The Women’s Fund?
The Women’s Fund supports programs in the local community that meet its mission of empowering women and inspiring girls while promoting leadership and building self-esteem. Gender and geographic location areas are the sole restrictions on those who may benefit. The funding priorities of The Women’s Fund include:
- To create opportunities for economic, educational and personal growth for women and girls of all ages
- To encourage the advancement and full participation of women and girls in the community
For more information please email us at info@womensfundhoc.org or call (315) 381-3072.
2025 Grant Recipients:
Rome Rescue Mission – the grant addresses a number of critical safety and structural needs in their transition housing for women and children.
Project Fibonacci Foundation – the grant will support speakers for the Foundation’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Women Rising Symposium.
Cornell Cooperative Extension – funding supports the cost of a new Women in Agriculture Program.
Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation – through the grant the organization will support the Bessie Hicks Program for Senior Women in Utica’s Cornhill neighborhood by expanding and enhancing the program’s theater initiative.
Catholic Charities Herkimer County – the funds will pay for twelve program sessions of HER Space, A Year of Connection, Creativity and Confidence which supports vulnerable women and their families.
2024 Grant Recipients
Thea Bowman House: helps address health education and wellness for women in low-income populations. Through monthly educational meetings of mothers of pre-kindergarten children, a nurse-led forum will cover topics like maternal health, dental care, lead poisoning prevention, diabetes and food allergies. These forums will serve as a resource for women and families in the area.
Old Forge Library: Supports senior women living in the Adirondacks by helping them with access to essentials needs for their care including educational programs, hygiene products, health information and supplements. Additionally free Wi-Fi allows library attendees to have tele-health access and working in collaboration with library personnel the initiative helps to build supportive communities within the surrounding area.
Mosaic Health: to support the Holistic Women’s Health and Prenatal Supportive Initiative which ensures comprehensive care before, during and after pregnancy. Designed to improve maternal health outcomes for underserved populations, the grant expands access to primary care, dental care, doula services, as well as nutrition support and education.
Upstate Caring Partners: The grant will help address the lack of inclusiveness and accessibility for social opportunities for women and girls with disabilities and behavioral health needs. The activities are designed to foster social engagement, personal growth and mental wellbeing. Engagement activities will include arts programming, yoga and nature-based team building activities. The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit which is funded by donor contributions. The organization has been supporting women and girls in our communities for more than 26 years.
Midtown Utica Community Center: A self-care program specifically designed for women and girls in our refugee community. Safe space workshops will focus on goal setting, self-confidence and leadership skills, career exploration and empowerment exercises. The program is designed to support the women in our communities while honoring their diversity and cultural traditions.
2023 Grant Recipients
Leatherstocking Council BSA to provide funding for four young women to attend leadership camp in New Mexico.
Midtown Utica Community Center for transportation and childcare for women that will enable them to participate in programs including athletic groups, literacy programs, academic programs/after school tutoring, workshops, etc.
Young Scholars LPP of Utica for a leadership and personal development program in their “Taking the Lead” series.
SUNY Poly foundation for a mentorship program tailored to first-year female students enrolled in STEM programs.
2022 Grant Recipients
On Point for College: Financial Literacy Workshops on budgeting, interest rates, debt, identity theft, etc.
Utica University Young Scholars LPP: “Connecting for Strength,” programming to foster improved mental health among youths.
YWCA of Mohawk Valley: Four security and fire doors at Hall House to protect residents and their families.
2021 Grant Recipients
Legal Aid
This grant will support the “Mohawk Valley Domestic Violence Litigation Fund,” which provides free civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault & stalking.
Young Scholars/Girls Rise
This grant will provide funding for a leadership program to expand social / emotional learning into the spheres of justice and action. It will be used to empower Young Scholars girls with knowledge of current issues in our community and the world and develop the leadership skills they need to take action.
2020 Grant Recipients
Abraham House
This grant helps fund a year-long program of monthly self-care workshops for caregivers. The program will include yoga, stress reduction techniques and small-group therapy sessions.
Catholic Charities
This grant provides furnishings for a peaceful space for mother and child to visit together, furthering a positive and healthy bond between them.
Center for Family Life and Recovery
This grant finances cooking, parenting and therapy sessions to help women achieve sustained recovery, provide stability for their family, connect with their community and overall have a better quality of life.
Empowered Pathways
This grant supports the PIVOT program (Providing Interactive Virtual Office Training). The program includes: teaching clients to expand skills for a changed workplace, virtual interview skills, telecommuting and computer skills to work remotely.
Evelyn’s House/I-CAN
This grant provides opportunities for past residents to apply and interview and return to share experiences and mentor current residents re: housing / financial stability, education/ employment and maternal/child health & well-being.
The Center
This grant helped purchase Chromebooks for the delivery of the agency‘s programs and services to assist in making refugees self-sufficient (language programs, community integration, citizenship classes).
Young Scholars
This grant will funds an effort to expand Social/Emotional learning into the spheres of justice and action. It will assist in helping to empower Young Scholars girls with knowledge of current issues in our community, country and world and develop the leadership skills they will need to take action.
YWCA
This grant will help to provide funding for household furnishings for New Beginnings and/or Safe Horizons programs that provide transitional housing for victims of domestic violence.
2019 Grant Recipients
On Point for College
Development of support systems to enable education for women fleeing domestic violence, young women facing forced marriage and single mothers.
Young Scholars, LLP.
This grant will be used for the continuation of the Neer-Peer program that we funded last year. Students in grades 10 – 12 are trained to mentor students in grades 7-9 with strong academic potential facing strong social and/or economic challenges.
Upstate Family Health Center (UCP)
Maternity care packages for new and expectant mothers.
2018 Grant Recipients
Center for Family Life and Recovery
Long-term recovery and aftercare for 150 women recovering from substance abuse. Provide various presentations to help these women create healthy experiences and empower them toward a sustained recovery.
Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program of Utica
Near-Peer Mentoring Program – Students in grades 10-12 mentor students in grades 7-9 to reduce high risk behaviors and encourage them to make better choices.
On Point for College – Utica
Access and Success Services for college bound women: provide enrollment assistance and guidance to college bound women, college supplies, last dollar grants for items not covered by financial aid and retention counseling.
Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees
Yoga Program: to improve women’s physical and mental health and connect them to other women with shared experiences. Yoga can make the body safe and inhabitable after trauma. This will assist in restoring confidence and self-esteem, reducing anxiety and depression.
Utica Zoo
STEAMing the Urban Forest multidisciplinary program that introduces girls ages 12-15 years old to a variety of STEM careers.
Upstate Cerebral Palsy “Girl’s Night Out”
To assist women ages 18 – 30 with disabilities and in rural areas to meet new people, remain physically active and integrate into the community.
YWCA Mohawk Valley
Purchase new community use furniture for Hall House and the Child Advocacy Center Therapy room.
2017 Grant Recipients
The Board of Directors approved grants to the following organizations in critical areas including domestic violence, drug treatment programs and health and education related programs.
YWCA
Awarded a grant to refurbish Hall House, a temporary emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Comfort House {Abraham House}
Awarded a grant to provide care packages to be gifted to their clients since the average length of stay is 7-10 days. Last year they served 20 women and requested 100 care packages.
Griffiss Institute/CNY Drone Project
Financed instructor compensation to train women in the technology of drones and other STEM activities in their Women in Drones Project.
Thea Bowman
Awarded a grant to the DOVE program (Domestic Violence Ended). Funds will be used to hire a part time DOVE coordinator for a pre-k program. Currently they only work with children in school.
Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc
Assisted in their aftercare program in Oneida and Herkimer Counties for individuals and families who are in early recovery from substance use and related disorders.
Catholic Charities of Herkimer County
Awarded a grant for the domestic violence program enabling them to hire a staff person during non-traditional hours to provide counseling and advocacy services in the residential program.
What we DO fund:
- Direct project costs.
- Related administrative and office expenses essential to the project.
- Equipment or capital expenditures that directly benefit women and girls.
- The priority is for funding grants which directly impact the health, safety and basic welfare of women and girls.
What we DON’T fund:
- Ongoing operating expenses
- Religious or political purposes
- Underwriting for fund raising events
- Endowments
- Debt reduction
- Individual scholarships
- Individual medical procedures
- Indirect costs of any percentage
- Already incurred expenses
- Hospitality expenses (i.e. food, parties, party supplies, receptions)
- Incentives
- Fringe benefits
Click here to apply. Please review this information below, and have it ready at the time of applying. Here is what we ask for:
- Letter of Intent with Agency Executive Director’s signature*
- Project budget including expenses and other sources of income, if any.
- Current list of Board of Directors
IRS 501(c)(3) Determination letter. - Your most recent independent audit OR, if you are not required and do not have a recent audit, your most recent IRS 990 and NYS CHAR500.
- Supporting documentation (optional, 2 pages)
Your 1-2 page Letter of Intent should contain:
- What need or problem has been identified.
- What you plan to do about it.
- What you hope to achieve.
- If awarded the grant, how you will publicize the grant and recognize the Women’s Fund.
Evaluation
We cannot accept late or incomplete grant applications. In conducting due diligence, The Women’s Fund may make inquiries of the applicant organization or of other collaborating organizations.
Deadline
Deadline for Applications Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding a Grant submission please email info@womensfundhoc.org
Health Friends is a program that provides immediate and long-term prescription medication for people without prescription insurance and without the means to purchase medication needed to achieve and maintain good health. Last year, The Women’s Fund was proud to provide Health Friends with a grant to assist women and children in need of critical prescription medication. “Janelle” is just one of the many women who has received much-needed assistance through Health Friends.
When Janelle lost her job she was disappointed to learn that her income was just over the limit for Child Health Plus and other supplemental programs.” Suddenly, just after losing her health insurance, Janelle’s son became very ill. Janelle said “I could tell by the way he was breathing that something wasn’t right.” An emergency room visit revealed that her son had pneumonia and a double ear infection and would require medications costing over $500.
With nowhere to turn and no money to pay for life-saving medications, Janelle was referred to Health Friends. Health Friends paid for the medication and Janelle’s son was soon well enough to return to school.
Janelle now has a secure career with good health benefits. But she has not forgotten about the help she received during a difficult time. Janelle says the support she received from Health Friends lifted her spirits. “A peace came over me,” she said, “to know that my child would recover meant the world to me.”
The Women’s Fund is dedicated to helping women like Janelle provide stable, healthy lives for their families. We are proud to have made a significant difference in the lives of these women during a time of crisis and great emotional stress. This is an example of just one of the women who have benefited from The Women’s Fund.
If you would like to help local women as they strive to build a better life for themselves and their children click here to make a tax deductible donation to The Women’s Fund.
YOU CAN HELP
Support women in need
If you would like to help local women as they strive to build a better life for themselves and their children, click the button below to make a tax deductible donation to The Women’s Fund.
