Calling All Nonprofits-Time to Apply for EWF Grant

February 19, 2024


Each year the Erie Women’s Fund (EWF), a women-led Field of Interest fund of The Erie Community Foundation devoted to Empowering Women and Families, announces a Request for Proposals that will make significant impact in our community.

For 2024, EWF seeks proposals from nonprofits who can help women and families reach self-sufficiency. Families are considered "self-sufficient" if they have access to basic needs and resources. The Self-Sufficiency Standard, published by Pathways PA, a nonprofit advocacy group for women and children, measures how much income is needed for a family of a certain composition, in a given county, to adequately meet their minimum basic needs without public or private assistance.

The Erie Women's Fund is seeking innovative proposals for projects that address the self-sufficiency gap, by addressing basic minimum needs in any of the following areas:

  • Child Care
  • Food insecurity
  • Health & Healthcare
  • Housing
  • Work Force Training/Education

The 2024 grant will be as much as $100,000 and no less than $75,000 and should be able to be completed within a 12-month time frame. EWF is seeking bold ideas that will profoundly change the lives of women and families in Erie.

Eligible Organizations: Applications may be submitted by any Erie County 501(c)3 organization. Collaborative efforts are encouraged, but not required.

Ineligible Organizations: Applications submitted by for-profit businesses, sectarian religious activities, fund-raising only purposes, or hospitality projects will not be considered.

Application Process: Please submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) explaining your project and how it relates to our mission of Empowering Women and Families. After reviewing the LOI submissions, the EWF Grants Committee will invite ten (10) nonprofits to submit full applications. Letters of Interest must be submitted at Erie Community Foundation’s grants portal, GoApply, by March 8.

Other Important Dates: The 10 finalists will be invited to apply by April 1st and the grant will be announced and awarded at The Erie Women’s Fund’s Summer Event in July.

Questions? Contact Olivia Burgess by clicking here.