Women of Saint Michael Grant Program

WOSM grant funds are available for standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies serving the critical needs of residents in Dallas County as well as those agencies meeting the criteria for Episcopal grants. WOSM grant funds are generated principally through sales activity of the St. Michael's Woman's Exchange, parish events and activities hosted by the Women of Saint Michael, and generous individual donations.

The 2023 recipients received over $600,000 in grants - click here to see a list of recipients.

Grant Application Guidelines and Information

The Gifts Committee is pleased to partner with Communities Foundation of Texas to provide a best-in-class experience for agencies seeking WOSM grant funding.

Questions regarding the online application process can be directed to [email protected]. Sheryl Wylie is the Chair of the 2024 Gifts Committee, and Monique Black is the Chair-Elect.

The online grant portal at Communities Foundation of Texas opens on November 14, 2023 to begin receiving applications for the 2024 grant cycle. The link to the portal is shown below.

Applications are due no later than Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:59 pm and must be submitted within the portal to be considered for funding. Late or incomplete requests will not be reviewed. All requested documentation must be submitted with the application.

Please carefully review the newly revised grant application guidelines below to determine your agency’s eligibility for funding consideration.

Grant Application Guidelines 2023-24

Background:

The Women of Saint Michael (“WOSM”) Gifts Committee is guided by the spirit of giving expressed in Matthew 25:35-36

For I was hungry and you gave me food.
I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
I was naked and you clothed me.
I was sick and you visited me.
I was in prison and you came to me.

In response to this call from Matthew, the WOSM Gifts Committee focuses its giving on grants which help to stabilize and/or empower those living in poverty in Dallas County.

Grant consideration will be given to fund program costs which:

(a) Provide for crisis needs of individuals and families living in poverty – specifically hunger, shelter, or clothing; and/or

(b) Equip low-income individuals and families to achieve financial stability – e.g., through job skills training and support for the unemployed/underemployed, financial education, asset building.

Additionally, as an Episcopal women’s organization, we are committed to supporting stand-alone 501(c)(3) agencies with strong SMAA parishioner involvement, ties to The Episcopal Church, and/or commitment to the Holy Land, where our faith was born.

Applying agencies are to choose one of the following Types of Grant (Impact, Legacy, or Episcopal) that their request addresses:

I. Impact Grant – Independent 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies* that meet the following criteria may apply for an Impact Grant of up to $15,000:

• Total agency revenue, excluding in-kind donations, of less than $4,000,000 **in the most recent fiscal year;
• Request serves Dallas County;
• Request must address crisis needs or financial stability as described above; and
• Request must be specifically for program costs.

II. Legacy Grant - While the WOSM Gifts Committee’s primary focus is to fund agencies with total revenue, excluding in-kind donations, of less than $4,000,000, we continue to value our long-standing relationships with larger agencies. Therefore, larger independent 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies* that meet the following criteria may apply for a Legacy Grant of up to $5,000:

• Total agency revenue of $4,000,000 or more, excluding in-kind donations,** in the most recent fiscal year AND has been a WOSM beneficiary for at least three of the last four years;
• Request serves Dallas County;
• Request must address crisis needs or financial stability as described above; and
• Request must be specifically for program costs.

III. Episcopal Grant*** - Independent 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies* that meet one or more of the following 3 criteria may apply for an Episcopal Grant of up to $15,000:

1. Saint Michael and All Angels (SMAA) parishioner group involvement.
   • SMAA parishioner group involvement is defined as an identified group formed within SMAA that serves directly and on a regular basis with the applying agency.
2. Ties to the Episcopal Church.
   • Ties must be specifically to the Diocese of Dallas, The Episcopal Church, and/or the Anglican Communion. Committee discretion will be used in interpreting this provision and all decisions are final.
3. Faith-related
   • Commitment to the Holy Land, where our faith was born

* Agencies must be independent 501(c)(3) organizations that file a Form 990 or Form 990-EZ tax return
** The Gifts Committee may, at its discretion and with the understanding that all committee decisions are final, consider a carve out of restricted capital campaign funds from total revenue.
***For Episcopal Grants only, we will consider requests for capital improvements.

Please note: The primary focus of the WOSM Gifts Committee is to support agencies serving the Dallas County community. Statewide, national, and international requests will be considered only for the Episcopal grant category. The first year a new applicant receives funding, WOSM often will only approve a conservative grant. The WOSM typically does not fund churches or start-up agencies. We do not fund endowments or pass-through entities. Multi-year grants will not be considered. Only one grant per agency will be considered.

To begin the application process, please follow the steps below:

1. Go to www.CFTGrants.org
2. Select “Create a New Account” or Log On if you already have an account with Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)
   • Click Forgot Your Password if you don’t have one /remember it
   • Follow the prompts
3. Click the Green Apply button at the top of the page
4. In the top right corner, you will see an “Enter Access Code” field. Enter WOSMEXT24
5. Click the Blue Apply button

Please direct application questions to [email protected]. For technical system support, please contact [email protected].