Rochester Women’s Giving Circle

Purpose

The Rochester Women’s Giving Circle (RWGC) is a community of philanthropic women who combine their financial resources to support area women and girls on the journey to economic independence. Member donations fund annual grants to programs in the greater Rochester area that help women and girls gain the education, training, skills, and jobs necessary to gain economic independence. Members determine how the money will be distributed.

The Giving Circle is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Monroe County. Our mission is to strengthen our community by enabling women and girls living in poverty to transition to a lifetime of economic self-sufficiency.

Click here to learn more about the RWGC.

Typical Grant Size

Up to $25,000 for single year grants.

Eligibility Criteria

Non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) status whose activities and programs fit within the mission and scope of RWGC’s funding guidelines are eligible to apply. We are especially interested in organizations working to reduce inequity and programs supporting underserved women and girls. Organizations must be located in and serve women and/or girls in Monroe County.

The RWGC considers and funds programs for women who have taken action to stabilize their lives and the lives of their children, and are on the path to achieving economic independence. Programs that serve males and females are eligible as long as RWGC funds are directed to the women and/or girls in the program.

The RWGC seeks to support programs that provide the following:

• Education and training;
• Money management and financial literacy skills;
• Life skills and job-readiness skills;
• Leadership opportunities for women and girls;
• Mentoring programs for girls; and
• Programs that put women to work.

The RWGC guidelines continue to evolve and may change over time. The RWGC does not fund private foundations.

Application Due Date(s)

The upcoming deadline to submit an application is Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Opportunities are announced in our quarterly e-newsletter, Grant Opportunities. (Click to subscribe.)

Application

To begin a new application for the Rochester Women’s Giving Circle, click here.

Note: For each of the outcomes you describe in your rationale, you will be required to report progress to the Rochester Women’s Giving Circle via this mid-cycle and final report.

Contact

Dawn Perry
Giving Circle Associate
Rochester Area Community Foundation
500 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
585.341.4330
dperry@racf.org