Women Investing in Shepherd (WISH) Offers 4 High Impact Grants for 2026

Nonprofits and Shepherd University groups addressing critical needs are invited to submit letters of inquiry to Women Investing in Shepherd (WISH) for the group’s 2026 awards.

WISH will award two nonprofit grants in the amount of $36,625 each and two Shepherd University learning project grants in the amount of $36,625 each for the 2026 grant cycle. Qualifying nonprofit organizations must be designated as 501 (c) (3) public charities. Organizations and groups affiliated with Shepherd must be university sanctioned. Nonprofit applicants submitting an inquiry by March 1 and Shepherd applicants submitting an inquiring by March 15 will be notified about eligibility to submit a formal grant proposal.

In 2025, WISH awarded four grants totaling $145,000 collectively to two community nonprofits and two Shepherd University learning projects.

WISH, a women’s giving circle comprised of both alumnae and community members, was established in 2014 by the Shepherd University Foundation.  WISH was created to educate, engage and empower women to achieve their philanthropic goals.

For information about how to submit a letter of inquiry, visit our grants page. For more information or to request a word document, contact Meg Patterson, director of donor engagement and strategic initiatives, at 304-876-5021, [email protected].