Applications are now open for grants from Fifty Women Strong, a new group started by Erath women who joined together to help their community.
“We wanted to give money for local grass roots efforts that don’t typically have big events—groups that are just starting,” said Board President Dr. Rita Cook.
Requests for proposals are due by Jan. 31 and forms can be found online at 50womenstrong.org.
Grants are offered to entities for the benefit of Erath County only and must be focused on a need in one or more of the following categories: Culture and Beautification, Education, Environment, Family, Health and Wellness. Grants cannot be politically based or promote a religious denomination. (Churches may still apply if their outreach is not dependant on the recipients being a certain faith.
Grants are awarded yearly and are not continued. New grants may be submitted by previous awardees but do not receive preferential consideration. If funded, awardees must attend a 50 Women Strong meeting and present documentation of goals achieved through the grant. They must also submit full financial documents and receipts to Fifty Women Strong to ensure that funds are spent appropriately.
Cook said that the group is hoping to give grants of around $10,000 to do the most good for worthy groups, noting that many local grants are capped around $4,000, a sum that may not be enough to help organizations just getting off the ground. Cook said that grants will be considered on a case by case basis though and can be less or more as needed.
Cook said the group got its start in the middle of the pandemic.
“We were sitting around and thinking we missed our friends and family in COVID,” she said, continuing that the isolation made her and other founding members want to reach out and help their neighbors. “It feels good to be part of something that’s promising or hopeful.”
They had the idea of every member contributing $1,000 that would go towards grants to help the community.
“We thought if we could get 20 members, that would be great,” she remembered. “We’re at 55 now.”
“Someone asked what we would do [about the name] if we grow bigger than 50,” Cook said. “Be Fifty Women Strong and counting; that’s what we want to do.”
The group plans four meetings a year with the grant review meeting in March. Every member will review the submitted grants and get one secret ballot vote for a cause they would like to fund, ensuring fair representation for many causes.
Cook said the group has gained diversity and insight as it has grown.
“I had no clue when all this started what kind of need we had in our area,” Cook said. “That’s the good thing about bringing a diverse group of people together. It’s sad that we had this pandemic, but it has brought a lot out that people should have known about our area.”
Fifty Women Strong is a donor-based fund through Boucher, Morgan and Young. All donations are 100 percent deductible.
For more information, visit 50womenstrong.org or call (785) 376-2570.