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Together...with our grant partners, we impact our community

The hallmark of our grantmaking program is understanding community needs and targeting our grants to address these needs. One unique need, or theme, is identified for each grant year. To validate such needs, we consult with the Collier and Lee counties’ community foundations, community leaders, and review publications such as "Together we are building a better, stronger Southwest Florida".

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After careful evaluation and WGC membership approval, we are pleased to highlight our six grant recipients for 2024-25.

2024-25 WGC Grantees

Focusing on Children and their Wellbeing


$15,000

Pine Manor After School & Summer Program


This grant supports CAC's Pine Manor After School and Summer Program. Funds will be used for on-site enrichment activities and for six field trips for children, aged five to 12 years. These children live in the disadvantaged community of Pine Manor and need a safe after school and summer environment.

$20,000

Assessing Foster Children for their Specific Needs


This grant funds a tutoring program for foster children between the ages of five and 23 years. Funds will be used to assess foster children for their specific needs and to pay for their mentors' stipends.

$25,000

The Conscious Discipline Program


The Conscious Discipline Program, a nationally recognized, research-based technique promotes a nurturing and emotionally supportive learning environment for children. Grant funds will be used to train educators to effectively use this program for children ages two weeks to five years, purchase curriculum materials, and host workshops for parents and caregivers.

$25,000

The Serenity, Meditation, Awareness, Respect, and Trust Program


This grant supports migrant children. Funds will be used to pay for the mental health specialist who oversees this year-round program. This program is cost free to K-12 students whose families work in the agricultural field in North Naples. It addresses learning deficits and emotional challenges afflicting 25% of these students related to their migrant lifestyle.

$20,000

The Behavioral Health Initiative


This program, designed to address the need for mental and behavioral health support, is especially important in communities suffering from poverty, such as Immokalee. Funds will be used to expand the training of the teaching staff and for the salary of the behavioral health specialist who currently serves five locations in Immokalee. Ideally, an additional specialist can be hired.

$20,000

Mental Health Navigator Program


Navigators, each responsible for 10 families, provide peer mentoring and support for families whose children face mental health challenges. Funds will be used to support and expand the program and thereby increase access to care and decrease the need for pediatric psychiatric hospitalizations.


Since 2013, WGC has awarded nearly $820,000 in grants to the local community. For a complete list of all WGC SWFL grant awards click here.

Grantee's Letter of Appreciation

Dear Members of The Women's Giving Circle of SWFL,

On behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff at Café of Life, I wish to express our most sincere thanks for your very generous donation of $15,000 for FY 2023 Hurricane Relief. It’s only through the generous support of organizations like yours that we can make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This donation will go a long way in bringing our services to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Café was able to provide nearly 20,000 nutritious meals in 2022 to those struggling with nutritional insecurity while also providing these people in need with take-home food and clothing from our pantries.
Thanks for all you do for the less fortunate.

Jeff Nichols
Executive Director, Café of Life

Grantee Story

Our Mother's Home of Southwest Florida

Maria was a new mother at 16. She came from a long line of migrant workers, was undocumented and was not attending school. She did not speak English. After two years at an organization WGC supported, she was two weeks from high school graduation and her son had just started to walk. Now, she can carry on a basic conversation in English and dreams of going to Fort Myers Technical Institute and getting a certificate in the medical field.

Maria has also been taking parenting classes, learning how to budget her money, and enjoying normal teenage activities like going to the beach, shopping at the mall, and going out to eat with her friends.

This is one of many of WGC's success stories, thanks to our dedicated grantees!


"As I learned about the WGC, I was impressed with their follow through on grants—research and evaluation and monitoring—It was reassuring and terrific!"

Sharon, five-year member

Together...we ensure integrity in our grantmaking

Our Grantmaking Process

Based on SWFL's community needs and a recommendation from the Grant Research Committee, the WGC Board approves a grant theme for the upcoming grant cycle, selecting an annual theme that focuses on one area such as supporting children, seniors, healthcare, education, food insecurity, etc. The Grant Research Committee, guided by the Collier and Lee community foundations, studies potential applicants, meets with qualified nonprofit agencies and based on their findings, identifies organizations who will receive an invitation to apply for a WGC grant. Grant applications are accepted by invitation ONLY; the WGC extends invitations each year in early November and grant awards are made the following April.

The Grant Evaluation Committee invites prospective grantees to apply for a grant. Upon receipt of completed applications, the Committee conducts interviews with selected applicants and assesses their ability to successfully deliver the grant proposal. After a thorough review, the Committee prepares the proposed grantee slate, along with funding recommendations, and shares it with WGC's membership for their approval. If approved, grant funds are distributed and the Grant Monitoring Committee assumes oversight of the process, furthering WGC's relationship with our grantee partners.

The Grant Monitoring Committee assures the funds are used as outlined in the grantee's application with the oversight of a WGC liaison. Each grantee prepares both a midterm and final report with the final report reviewing the activities performed, documenting how the grant goals were achieved, and noting any obstacles encountered.





WGC Will Consider Funding:

  • Requests that align with WGC's annual theme
  • Organizations that received an invitation to apply
  • Programs and resources that promote our mission and self-sufficiency for women and their families
  • Organizations that support women and their families of all ages to live healthy productive lives
  • Programs that focus on those who are disadvantaged economically, physically, and/or socially
  • Grants that last no longer than one year
  • Nonprofit 501-(c)(3) organizations as defined by the IRS code

An organization may only submit one grant proposal per grant cycle.

Any funds not used or committed for the specific purpose of the grant must be returned to the Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida.

An organization that has received a grant is eligible to be considered for another grant during a subsequent grant cycle once the funded program has been successfully completed, funds have been accounted for, and all conditions of the first grant have been met.

WGC Will Not Fund:

  • Organizational endowments
  • Capital improvements
  • Purchase of event tickets or sponsorships
  • Deficit reduction
  • Annual drives or annual giving campaigns
  • Political activities, campaigns, or political action committees
  • Grants to individuals or private schools
  • Scholarly research
  • Programs whose philosophy, requirements, or activities do not support and uphold the Diversity and Faith-Based Policies of the Collier Community Foundation and the WGC SWFL

Diversity and Faith-based Policy

Diversity Policy
The applicant organization must have in writing a board-approved policy supporting the following Collier Community Foundation Statement of Diversity.

"We promote the celebration and acceptance of our community's diversity, which contributes to a healthy, caring community. The Collier Community Foundation believes that diversity encompasses, but is not limited to religion, age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic circumstances, physical and mental abilities, characteristics and philosophy."

Faith-based Policy
Faith-based organizations shall not use grants to support inherently religious activities, such as religious worship or evangelization. An organization must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the Community Foundation's (and Women's Giving Circle's) funded service. Only organizations that accept participants from all faiths are considered for funding.


Together...we support our grant partners, beyond the financial

We support our grantees—not only by funding grant programs—but by embracing a lifetime partnership that includes inviting past grantees to our annual professional development and appreciation program, encouraging our members to volunteer with our grantee organizations, and promoting our grantees in our communications. We are connected in many ways!

"Dear WGC,
Once again, I learned so much from the round-table discussions on Tuesday. Attendees are so willing to share great ideas and help problem solve, which is so appreciated.

Congratulations to all of you for providing this to your grantees.
It is helpful in so many ways.

Sincerely,
Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL"

4 year grant partner

Serving Lee and Collier Counties, Florida

1110 Pine Ridge Rd Ste 200, Naples, FL 34108

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The Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida is
a fund of the Collier Community Foundation.


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