Call for Applications: Community Fund for Women & Girls 2026 – Pathways for Women & Girls

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is advancing opportunity and equity through targeted investments in women and girls across the region. Through its Community Fund for Women & Girls, the Foundation is inviting Greater New Haven nonprofit organizations to apply for grants of up to $15,000.

Applications must be submitted by March 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM, with award decisions announced in May 2026.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen organizations delivering gender-specific services and initiatives that directly benefit women and girls, including individuals who identify as cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary.

2026 Grant Overview

The Community Fund for Women & Girls supports nonprofit organizations engaged in:

• Direct service
• Advocacy
• Community organizing
• Policy and systems change initiatives

All proposals must align with at least one of the following four impact pathways:

• Economic Autonomy
• Leadership
• Education
• Health & Wellness

This structured approach ensures that funding advances long-term equity while addressing urgent needs in the Greater New Haven region.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations must meet the Foundation’s general eligibility requirements and demonstrate alignment with the program’s goals.

Applicants must:

• Align their proposal with one or more of the four impact areas
• Demonstrate 18–24 months of continuous programming prior to applying
• Serve individuals within the Foundation’s 20-town service area
• Be current on all reporting requirements if they have received funding from the Foundation within the past four years

This ensures that grant recipients have an established record of impact and organizational readiness.

Funding Priorities

The Community Fund for Women & Girls is strategically focused on expanding pathways to opportunity. Each priority area addresses systemic barriers while strengthening long-term stability and leadership for women and girls.

Economic Autonomy

The Fund prioritizes initiatives that strengthen economic security and mobility through:

• Access to safe and affordable housing
• Entrepreneurship development
• Women’s participation in the workforce
• Direct cash assistance
• Childcare innovation and family-friendly workplace policies
• Policy and systems change efforts supporting economic security

By addressing income stability, housing access, and workforce participation, this pathway promotes long-term financial independence.

Leadership

The Fund supports programs that elevate women and girls into influential leadership roles that shape equity-centered decisions across sectors.

Funding priorities include:

• Leadership development programs
• Women’s leadership in business, government, and nonprofit sectors
• Advocacy and organizing skill-building initiatives

These investments ensure that women and girls are not only participants in systems of power, but active decision-makers within them.

Education

Education remains a cornerstone of long-term advancement. The Fund supports initiatives that expand educational achievement and opportunity for women and girls.

Priority areas include:

• Support for women and girls in underrepresented fields
• Opportunities for non-traditional and first-generation students
• Childcare access and family-friendly policies for student parents
• Policy and systems change efforts supporting educational equity

By addressing barriers to academic success, this pathway strengthens economic and social mobility.

Health & Wellness

The Fund invests in initiatives that promote health, safety, and bodily autonomy.

Funding priorities include:

• Access to reproductive health services and education
• Maternal health and postpartum care
• Prevention of violence against women and girls
• Survivor support services
• Policy and systems change initiatives advancing health equity

This focus area ensures that women and girls are healthy, confident, and free from violence.

Application Process

Applications are due:

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Award notifications will be announced in May 2026.

Organizations are encouraged to carefully review eligibility requirements and funding priorities before submitting their proposals to ensure alignment.

For questions about the Pathways grant program, applicants may contact the Foundation directly.

Past Grant Recipients

The Community Foundation regularly highlights the impact of funded organizations through press releases and newsletters. Recent coverage includes:

• 2025 Grant Awards
• 2024 Grant Awards
• 2023 Grant Awards
• 2022 Grant Awards

These stories reflect the Fund’s ongoing commitment to strengthening nonprofit capacity, building endowment, and increasing giving throughout Greater New Haven.

About the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Located at 70 Audubon Street in New Haven, Connecticut, the Foundation serves a 20-town region with a mission to:

• Advance opportunity and equity
• Strengthen nonprofits
• Build endowment
• Increase philanthropy across the region

Through strategic partnerships, donor engagement, and community-driven funding initiatives, the Foundation continues to invest in long-term systems change that benefits individuals and families across Greater New Haven.

Nonprofit leaders committed to empowering women and girls are encouraged to apply and contribute to building a more equitable and opportunity-rich community.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the funding. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.