For Applicants
Since 2004, Many Hands has granted more than $2.8 million to nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and families in socioeconomic need in the Washington, DC area. We currently make four grants each year, including one in each of four focus areas: economic empowerment, education, health, and housing. Of the four annual grantees, one receives the Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant, and three receive Many Hands Partner Grants, the value of which is dependent on annual fundraising. In 2023, each Partner Grant was $70,000. To read about past Many Hands grant recipients, click here.
Many Hands provides unrestricted funding (which may be used for operating, program, or capital expenses) to well managed and financially viable local organizations that operate effective programs and services. Successful applicants will be able to describe how a Many Hands grant will have an impact on organizational and/or programmatic capacity that leads to an increased ability to help the intended beneficiaries.
Important Dates and Deadlines for Applicants – 2024 Grant Cycle
Applications open: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 9:00 am
Application deadline: Friday, January 19, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Grant applications must be submitted electronically, using the Foundant(TM) platform.
The application will be posted for viewing on Foundant on December 1, 2023, one month prior to it being opened for completion and submission. Applicants will have two opportunities to ask questions prior to the application deadline:
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- Submit written questions by email to grants@manyhandsdc.org, December 1, 2023-January 7, 2024. Answers to submitted questions will be found in updated Applicant FAQs by January 14, 2024.
- Participate in a Zoom call on December 13, 2023, at 10:00 am. Members of the Many Hands Grants Committee will be on hand to answer questions about eligibility requirements, grant priorities, and application software.
2024 Grant Review Process
The Many Hands grant review and selection process is member driven. All applications will be evaluated and considered carefully. The entire review process takes approximately four months. At any point in the review process, applicants may be contacted by a Many Hands member for clarification and/or additional information. Applicants will be notified if their proposal is not forwarded to the next level of review.
At Many Hands, we greatly appreciate the time and effort expended in submitting an application for funding, and we review all applications with care. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. We welcome suggestions for improvements to our grants process at grants@manyhandsdc.org.
Eligibility Review
Through February 9, 2024
Applications are reviewed against the eligibility requirements and to ensure that applicants are considered in the appropriate focus area.
First Level Review
Mid-February through late March 2024
Many Hands member Focus Area Committees review and discuss the merits of each application.
Site Visits and Financial Review
April 2024
Each Many Hands Focus Area Committee will invite up to five applicants to host a site visit for Many Hands members. All applicants receiving site visits will be asked to submit updated financial information and answer any final questions from the Financial Review Committee.
Funding Decisions
May 2024
Each Focus Area Committee will select one grant recipient. At the Many Hands Annual Meeting, each grantee will make a brief presentation and answer questions from Many Hands members. Following the presentations, a vote of the Many Hands membership will determine the recipient of the $100,000 Impact Grant. The remaining grantees will receive Partner Grants, the amount of which will be determined prior to the Annual Meeting.
Grant Disbursement
Late May to early June 2024
Grants will be disbursed in a single payment following the execution of a grant agreement. Grant recipients will be asked to participate in Many Hands communications efforts.
Many Hands is committed to serving and empowering Washington, DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need by supporting strongly aligned community nonprofits. Without exception, applicants that do not meet all eligibility requirements will not be considered.
Eligibility Requirements
Population Served:
- Many Hands grant funds must be used to serve women, children, and/or families in socioeconomic need.
- Many Hands grant funds must be used to serve residents of one or more of the following areas:
- District of Columbia
- Montgomery County, MD
- Prince George’s County, MD
- Arlington County, VA
- Fairfax County, VA
- Alexandria City, VA
- Fairfax City, VA
- Falls Church City, VA
Applicant Organization:
- The organization must have 501(c)3 status at the time of application.
- The organization must have been in operation for at least five years.
- The organization must have an established operating budget of at least $500,000 and no more than $6 million, based on the current-year budget and total expenditures in the previous fiscal year.
- The applicant organization must be located in the service area. It must have a local address, an independent budget, and a local board of directors with fiduciary responsibilities.
- The organization must be secular and non-partisan in mission and program and must not promote or compel political or religious participation or affiliation.
Special Considerations:
- Charter schools are ineligible.
- Recipients of the Many Hands Partner Grant in 2022 are ineligible to apply in the 2023 grant cycle.
- Any organization that has received $100,000 or more in total Many Hands funding is ineligible to apply for additional funding.
The 2023 grant cycle application is now closed.
We will begin accepting applications for the next grant cycle in January 2024. Join our mailing list to receive updates on Many Hands’ grant process.
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