Business Women's Giving Circle

Since 2014, the Business Women’s Giving Circle awarded more than $400,000 to organizations providing exciting experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Leadership and Entrepreneurship with measurable impact on the lives of over 3,000 girls and young women in Northern Virginia. Applications for 2022 are closed. They will reopen in the summer of 2023.

Timeline for the Grants Process

July 27, 2022	Application Period Opens
September 29, by 5 p.m.	Application Period Closes
November 16, 9 am-Noon	Semi-Finalists Pitch at Shark Tank
December 2022	Grant Recipients are announced

Application Process

We will review all submitted applications to ensure that applicants meet our eligibility requirements. Applications that pass our initial screening will move on to our Grant Committee, which will review applications in the month of October. In early November, semi-finalists will be contacted and requested to pitch later in November.

Semi-Finalist Pitch Week

The Business Women’s Giving Circle (“BWGC”) of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awards grants to support innovative STEM opportunities for girls and young women in our region. In November, we hear pitches from our semifinalist grant applicants to develop the slate of grant winners. Each semifinalist presents, or “pitches” their program, and then addresses questions from BWGC members. After the pitches have concluded, the assembled members deliberate, document feedback for the presenter, and develop a recommended slate of grantees which is later presented to the full membership for approval. All BWGC Members will have the opportunity to vote on the slate of grantee finalists.

Grant Recipients Announced

In December, Grant Recipients will be contacted and notified. Once grantees have completed acceptance, a press release will announce the recipients.

Grantee Celebration

In January, Grantees will present their organization again to all members, donors, and key stakeholders. This is an opportunity to share how the funds will be utilized and other volunteer opportunities that may exist.

Eligibility Requirements & FAQ’s

Grant Application Portal

To apply, update, or submit a grant application, access the grants portal here:
Grants Portal

You will be instructed to set up an organizational profile before applying. If your organization has applied in the past, please contact the Community Foundation staff to gain access to the organization profile that was already established. Please do not set up a new profile unless you are sure your organization has not applied previously.

Who can apply?

• Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations providing charitable or educational services including preschools, K-12 public schools, and colleges and universities. Local, state and federal government entities are not eligible to apply.
• The 2021 BWGC grant cycle supported nonprofit organizations and schools that provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs to girls and young women, preschool through college-age in Northern Virginia, with an emphasis on innovative program components such as entrepreneurship, leadership or mentorship.
• Grant requests for program support were considered; applications for general organizational support were not considered. Funding for both existing and new programs was considered. Applications for capital improvements, endowments, or scholarship awards were not considered.
• Grants were made to organizations providing services in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park).
• In 2022, the BWGC intends to award multiple multiple one-year grants, as well as a single two-year grant.
• Only one application per organization will be considered.