Kern Community Foundation: Women’s and Girls’ Fund

Deadline: 24-Nov-20

The Women’s and Girls’ Fund has been announced which is a leadership initiative of Kern Community Foundation. They seek to transform the lives of women and girls in Kern County by mobilizing the power and passion of women working together.

In particular, they educate to create awareness of women’s and girls’ needs unmet by current strategies; they endow a permanent fund whose annual yield supports programs benefiting women and girls, and they empower one another and their girls to become philanthropists and advocates of positive social change.

Focus for 2021-2025 Grants – Education

The Women’s and Girls’ Fund prioritizes requests designed to increase passion and enthusiasm for learning while addressing issues pertaining to Educational Attainment:

Grades K-8

Increase the percentage of girls scoring in the “advance/proficient” level on the California Standardized Test or equivalent test.
Increase literacy including educational success for English learners.
Encourage interest in STEM fields of study.

Grades 9-12

Increase the percentage of girls scoring in the “advance/proficient” level on the California Standardized Test or equivalent test.
Decrease the need for remediation in math, English, and reading in college.
Improve success in A-G course requirements for college readiness.
Increase the graduation rate from high school.
Increase literacy including educational success for English learners.
Provide vocational training with an emphasis on living-wage occupations.
Provide the opportunity for success in STEM fields of study.

Post-high school/adult education

Increase the graduation rate from college.
Provide an opportunity for success in STEM fields of study.
Provide vocational training with an emphasis on living-wage occupations.
Increase literacy.

Funding Information

Total grant dollars available in 2021: Approximately $60,000;
Maximum grant request: $25,000.

Who can apply?

Organizations should have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation or fiscal agent and be registered with Kern Community Foundation. All organizations seeking funds must have current, Silver-level participant status on Guide Star. All must have a presence in Kern County and all programs must benefit women or girls within Kern County.
Funding is typically for one year only. Multi-year grant requests may be considered, but the applicant should also be prepared to accept one year’s funding only. All requested follow-up reports for previous grants from the Foundation (including The Women’s and Girls’ Fund) must be on file before an agency can apply for additional funding.
Nonprofits submitting full applications should have their organizational profile online at Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Search. Contact the Foundation for more information and assistance.

Grantmaking Cycle

November 10, 2020 – Announcement of Focus Area and LOIs open for Kern nonprofits;
November 24, 2020 (5 pm Pacific Time) – Letters of Intent due online;
December 11, 2020 – Invitations / Declinations to Apply are e-mailed;
January 7, 2021 (Noon – 1:30 pm) – Optional grant writing tutorial on this WGF opportunity will be offered online; applicants who have been invited to submit full proposals are encouraged to attend;
January 22, 2021 (5 pm Pacific Time) – Full Proposal application packets due online;
February 3, 2021 (1 – 5 pm) – Applicant interviews with WGF Grants Allocation Committee;
February 12, 2021 – Grantees notified of their award (Provisional notice, pending Kern Community Foundation Board approval);
March 31, 2021 (approximately) – Signed Grant Agreements due;
April 14, 2021 – Grants awarded at Annual Luncheon of The Women’s and Girls’ Fund.