Staff report

The Fund for Women & Girls at the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is now accepting applications for its Microfunding Event on April 16.

At the event, supporters of the Fund will hear pitches from organizations and vote on who will receive $3,500 in prize money. Applications are due by the end of the day on March 15.

A copy of the application form can be downloaded at CFMV.org/fund-for-women-girls. Completed applications can be submitted via email to jmedore@cfmv.org or by mail to the CFMV office at 201 E. Commerce St. Suite 150, Youngstown OH 44503.

Preference will be given to projects that encourage the advancement, leadership and full participation of women and girls in Mahoning and Trumbull counties; help women and girls achieve their full potential; create opportunities for economic, educational and personal growth for women and girls; and have women making up at least 50% of the applicant organization’s staff, volunteers and / or leadership.

In addition to projects by nonprofit organizations, applications for student projects are welcomed. For student groups at Youngstown State University, interested organizations should make sure they have an account with the YSU Foundation where a potential grant payment can be made for their organization. High school students who are part of programs hosted by nonprofits should include a letter from the organization that the nonprofit is willing to support the project and receive payment.

Once the application period is over, the Fund for Women & Girls Guiding Circle — a group of women from across the community with a wide array of expertise and lived experiences — will review submissions and select a small number of projects to be presented at the Microfunding Event. At the event on April 16 at the YWCA Mahoning Valley (25 W. Rayen Ave. in Youngstown), shareholders in the Fund for Women & Girls will hear pitches from the finalist organizations and vote for a grand prize winner, as well as who will receive smaller grant awards.

Previous winners also will share the stories of what they accomplished with support from the Fund for Women & Girls.The Fund for Women & Girls is a community-led fund at the Community Foundation.

All donors, regardless of how much they give, to the fund have a voice in how funds are used to support women and girls in the area, while the Guiding Circle works to develop the fund and increase community awareness of issues facing the community it serves.

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