The 2025 application period for Women’s Giving Circle grants is open through February 28. This year we will fund a record $280,000 in grants to organizations that empower Frederick County women experiencing challenging circumstances. In particular, priority is given to programs that further workforce/educational opportunity and economic capacity.

This year, we’ve made some changes designed to streamline our grant application and review process. The grants cycle now reflects a more modern and scalable approach. For applicants, our new model is designed to be more straightforward and accessible, making it easier to submit proposals through the Community Foundation’s online portal. For our Grants Committee members, the changes are equally impactful. The need for site visits has been removed, so members can now evaluate all applicants conveniently through the portal—making it a much more flexible and time-friendly commitment. We hope these improvements will encourage more WGC members to get involved in this important work, helping us better serve our community without the time constraints of the previous process.

Our 2025 Grants Committee is staffed and ready to get started. We are deeply grateful for the commitment of this year's committee members led by Stephanie Fitch (Chair) and Emilie Routzahn (Vice-Chair). Our Grants Committee members always find the experience to be both interesting and rewarding, as they strive to be good stewards of the funds donated by our members.

In early April, the committee will be faced with the difficult task of allocating funds and will prepare their final list of recommendations. The grant award recommendations will be distributed to the WGC membership for review in late April and applicants will be notified soon after. The Annual Grants Award celebration will be held on June 4, where we will formally recognize our 2025 grant recipients. This event is always an exciting and happy time for our members and the funded organizations.

If you know of Frederick area nonprofit organizations that meet the mission objectives of the Giving Circle, please encourage them to apply!

For more information about the Women's Giving Circle Grants program: see https://frederickwgc.org/grants.