WISH Reaches 105 Founding Members, Begins Grant Application Process

At 105 members strong, Women Investing in Shepherd (WISH), a women’s giving circle created by Women for Shepherd University and sponsored by the Shepherd University Foundation, has ensured that their 2015 grant pool will total $52,500. Wow!

Half of the grant pool will provide an award for a Shepherd University campus-centered learning program, while the other half will support a nonprofit in the greater regional community with a focus on programs centered around education, arts and culture, community and family, health and wellness, and/or environment.

WISH is now ready to begin the grant application process based on the guidelines below.

For Regional Nonprofit Organizations:

WISH will accept applications from nonprofit organizations that demonstrate financial need based on responses to urgent and critical needs, the pursuit of bold new ventures, and/or new approaches to ongoing challenges.

Nonprofit applicant organizations must have a current 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS and be based in or primarily serving the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, or Hampshire in West Virginia; Frederick, Clarke, or Loudoun Virginia; and Frederick and Washington in Maryland.

For Shepherd University Learning Projects:

Eligible Shepherd University learning projects must be recognized as an approved academic, athletic, cultural, or community service program carried out by students, faculty, and/or staff, and sanctioned by the supervising Vice President or Dean.

Applicants must show a need for use of this high impact amount in a time span no greater than three (3) years.

Letters of Inquiry must be submitted c/o of the Shepherd University Foundation no later than 12 p.m. on March 1, 2015. Visit the WISH grants application page to download a Letter of Inquiry and learn more about the grant application process. You may also contact Meg Peterson at [email protected] for a Word document version of the Letter of Inquiry.

Please share these guidelines and criteria with any organizations you would like to encourage to apply for this exciting opportunity!