Our Grant FAQs

The dates for submission of 2026 applications will be announced by early summer, but are expected to be between mid-August and late September. To be considered, both the sponsor application  and the nonprofit application (including copies of its IRS 501(c)3 letter, its most recent IRS 990 form and a proposed program budget for grant funds) must be submitted by the Application Deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Copies of the WCMA Member Sponsor 2026 Application and the Nonprofit Grant 2026 Application are expected to be available by May 31 and will be posted on our website.

Yes, although the sponsor and the nonprofit can submit their forms separately as long as they are both received by the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. 

Any WCMA member actively involved with a local nonprofit during the current year can sponsor that nonprofit.

There are a variety of ways a sponsor can be active within a nonprofit. A member can serve on a board or committee, or volunteer their time with the nonprofit. Financially supporting a nonprofit alone does not constitute active involvement. Also, a sponsor cannot be a paid employee of that nonprofit.

Sponsors are our main point of contact with their nonprofit. A sponsor should be familiar with our current funding guidelines and restrictions, submit a sponsor application and ensure that both the sponsor’s and nonprofit’s applications are submitted on time. During the review process, a sponsor may be asked to help attain additional information for the review. When a grant is awarded, the sponsor is responsible for delivering the award check and obtaining a signed award agreement. Periodically throughout the year, a sponsor may be requested to provide updated information on current volunteer opportunities and in-kind donation opportunities for their nonprofit.

Individual WCMA Members may sponsor multiple grant applications as long as that Member is an active volunteer with each nonprofit. However, as we generally do not have enough funds to satisfy all requests, we ask that Members use discretion in sponsoring multiple applications.

A nonprofit may submit grant requests for separate projects or package them as a single request, but the total grant amount awarded per nonprofit cannot exceed our maximum grant limit for the applicable Tier. For this purpose, all entities with the same Employer Identification Number are treated as a single nonprofit.

Our Grants Committee reviews all timely applications and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors for a final decision.

To reflect the priorities of our Members, we focus on three  nonprofit types (“Tiers”), with each type having its own maximum funding cap for grants in any year:

• Tier 1: Health & Human Services

• Tier 2: Education

• Tier 3: Animal Welfare & Cultural and Natural Resources

 Our 2026 funding caps for each Tier will be announced by May 31.

We assign each nonprofit to a Tier based on their overall mission (as reflected in their mission statement), not on the nature of the project for which funding is sought. Thus, for example, education programs for a museum are classed as Tier 3 (“Cultural”) rather than Tier 2 (“Education”).

Yes. It depends on the proposed project, performance on prior grants awards, available grant funds and the number and quality of other grant submissions.

We notify sponsors and distribute funds by the end of the year.

Yes, but only for a specific outreach program that does not discriminate on the basis of religion or promote specific religious beliefs. For example, we have funded church run soup kitchens that are open to all members of the community.

Yes, but only for a specific outreach program that does not discriminate on the basis of religion or promote specific religious beliefs. For example, we have funded church run soup kitchens that are open to all members of the community.

No. we will not consider a request for a political candidate or action group. Funds can only be applied toward causes our entire Membership can support such as social, healthcare related, environmental, educational, or cultural services. Also, as a 501(c)(3) we are not allowed to support political candidates or political action groups.