Clearer Focus, Stronger Impact
Over the past year, WCA Foundation members—working with the Minneapolis Foundation’s collective giving team—took a step back to consider what we’ve learned from recent grant rounds. We listened to grantees, applicants, and members. We also considered what’s happening across the field of women-focused nonprofits and funders.
Why did we do this? Our goal was to clarify and sharpen WCA’s funding focus, and to make the application process more transparent and respectful of nonprofits’ time and capacity.
Today, as we open our 2026 Project Investments grant round, we’re excited to share updated guidelines that reflect what WCA members have learned from grant partners and more clearly describe the kinds of initiatives they aim to support.
“We recognize that the barriers to sustainability facing women-focused organizations right now are intensifying,” said Cary Walski, Co-chair of WCA’s Grants Strategy Committee. “As partners to these community organizations, we felt it was critical to clarify our focus and give the context they need to decide whether to invest their time and energy to apply.”
What’s Changed—and Why
WCA members noticed a shift in the group’s funding patterns toward organizations with intersectional approaches to supporting women. For instance, members found they rarely funded single-issue education requests like scholarships. However, they were funding proposals that wove education-related activities, such as training and skill-building, into their other funding pillars of health, economic stability, shelter, or safety. As a result, WCA no longer funds education as a standalone priority or focus area. That said, WCA members continue to value it as an important thread across these funding pillars.
“Women don’t lead one-dimensional or one-issue lives, so it makes sense that the most powerful ways to support women are holistic and intersectional. We want to fund those efforts.”
Our Commitment Moving Forward
WCA Foundation and Minneapolis Foundation share a commitment to meet today’s challenges and ensure women in our community have access to essential resources for economic stability, health, shelter, and safety.
These updated guidelines build on WCA Foundation’s Strategic Framework and reflect WCA members’ trust in nonprofits doing essential work for and with women in our community.
We look forward to deepening these relationships during this grant round.
