I’m having technical difficulties downloading the Letter of Inquiry form. What do I do?

I’d like to use additional space for the Letter of Inquiry narrative. Is this okay?

Does my organization need to be invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Women's Impact Fund?

Do I need to have a member of the Women’s Impact Fund endorse my Letter of Inquiry project?

Does the Women’s Impact Fund support only projects relating to women?

Does the Women's Impact Fund consider requests for existing programs?

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for operating support?

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for projects outside of Mecklenburg County?

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for capital projects?

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for endowment funds?

My organization was funded by the Women’s Impact Fund in the past. Can I submit a Letter of Inquiry again?

My organization submitted a Letter of Inquiry last year but wasn’t selected as a grant recipient, can I resubmit the same project for consideration?

What are the chances that my organization will receive a grant from the Women's Impact Fund?

My organization submitted a Letter of Inquiry form for the current grant cycle. What’s next?

I’m having technical difficulties downloading the Letter of Inquiry form. What do I do?
Contact the Women’s Impact Fund office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 704.707.4292 and we can e-mail you an attachment with the Letter of Inquiry form in a MS Word format.

I’d like to use additional space for the Letter of Inquiry narrative. Is this okay?
Due to the volume of Letters of Inquiry that are received, all Letters of Inquiry must conform to the space allotted.  (A reminder – the Letter of Inquiry is not a grant application.)

Does my organization need to be invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Women's Impact Fund?
No.  Any eligible organization may submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Women's Impact Fund.  No invitation is necessary.

Do I need to have a member of the Women’s Impact Fund endorse my Letter of Inquiry project?
No. Each fall, all members of the Women’s Impact Fund have the opportunity to recommend organizations to the Grants Committee. This is not required, however, and many projects move forward without formal member endorsement or referral.

Does the Women’s Impact Fund support only projects relating to women?
No. The Women’s Impact Fund funds broadly and considers proposals serving a wide array of causes that are of interest to our membership.

Does the Women's Impact Fund consider requests for existing programs?
Yes.  To date, more than two-thirds of our grants have been made for expanding and improving current services and programs.

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for operating support?
Yes, though generally speaking, a specific explanation of how the funds would support the mission of the organization and what the impact of the funds would be, is helpful.

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for projects outside of Mecklenburg County?
No.

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for capital projects?
No.

Does the Women’s Impact Fund consider requests for endowment funds?
No.

My organization was funded by the Women’s Impact Fund in the past. Can I submit a Letter of Inquiry again?
If it has been three years since the completion of the term of the previous grant award, organizations are welcome to submit a Letter of Inquiry again for possible consideration by the Grants Committee.

I submitted a Letter of Inquiry last year but wasn’t selected as a grant recipient, can I resubmit the same project for consideration?
Yes.

What are the chances that my organization will receive a grant from the Women's Impact Fund?
Last year the Women's Impact Fund received 130 LOIs for consideration.  Each year, twenty organizations (4 in each focus area) are asked to submit RFPs and ten organizations (2 in each focus area) are placed on the ballot.  All of the Women's Impact Fund members (over 400) are given the opportunity to vote on these organizations and five (5) organizations receive grants (one in each of our five focus areas).

I’ve submitted a Letter of Inquiry form for the current grant cycle. What’s next?
The Women’s Impact Fund will confirm receipt of all letters of inquiry via email. If you do not receive an email within 72 hours of sending in your LOI, please call the Women’s Impact Fund office at 704.707.4292.

Please remember that submission of a Letter of Inquiry is not a formal application for funding; the Letter of Inquiry process is intended to be an avenue for research and information-gathering for the Grants Committee. After the Letters of Inquiry are reviewed, formal requests for proposals will be extended to a maximum of 20 organizations in December 2011. Only these organizations will be actively considered for funding in the 2011-2012 grant cycle.

Return to Grants Guidelines and Priorities page