JLW Grants

The Junior League of Washington (JLW) provides several types of grants to community organizations in the greater Washington, DC area that support educational, professional, and financial programming and resources for children, adolescents, young adults and adults.

Previous grant recipients include Bright Beginnings, Inc., Calvary Women’s Services, Dreams for Kids DC, Woodley House, and many more.

For consideration for any JLW grant, applicants must:

  • Be a 501(c)3 organization with a valid EIN number;
  • Be located in the greater metropolitan Washington, DC area;
  • Present a program in alignment with JLW’s mission, specifically “improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers;”
  • Address a clear unmet need within the organization and/or the community; and
  • Demonstrate that JLW funds will have a significant financial impact.

 The 2024-2025 grant opportunities include:

  • Capacity Grant 
  • Innovation Grant
  • Pathway Grants
  • Volunteer Resources Grant
  • Community Assistance Grants – check back in mid-November for details and submission instructions

We invite you to periodically visit this page as additional opportunities may be posted on a rolling basis, and follow JLW on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter for updates.

Capacity Grant Application: Due August 26, 2024

This year, the JLW will award up to one $15,000 Capacity grant to a JLW Community Placement Partner to invest in infrastructure to expand their existing programs. The program must address at least one aspect of the JLW defined focus areas. Funds must be used to invest in infrastructure that enables the applicant organization to expand their existing program(s).

  • Infrastructure investments include (but are not limited to) facility improvements, software implementations, and/or additional staff.
  • Program growth necessitating this capital investment may come in the form of serving a larger population, serving a new population, and/or adding a new service that meets additional needs of their existing client population.

The deadline to apply is Monday, August 26, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET. Application and webform will be available here.

Innovation Grant: Due September 23, 2024

This year, JLW will award up to one $15,000 Innovation grant to new and/or pilot programs aimed at filling gaps in education, professional development, and/or financial development in our community. Programs must address at least one aspect of JLW’s defined focus areas. Preference will be given to applicants presenting creative and data-driven solutions to unmet and/or under met community needs. This is open to all community nonprofits who meet the criteria listed above.

The deadline to apply is Friday, September 23, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET. Application and webform will be available here.

Pathway Grants: Due October 21, 2024

This year, JLW will award up to four $1,000 Pathway grants to organizations that are of interest to our membership, but may fall outside of JLW’s official focus areas. Pathway grants expand JLW’s reach into and across the greater DC philanthropic landscape by positively contributing to local nonprofit organizations that are mobilized to address a multitude of community needs.

JLW Community Placement Partners are ineligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET. Application and webform will be available here.

Volunteer Resources Grant: Due December 30, 2024 

This year, JLW will award up to one $2,000 Volunteer Resources grant and ten JLW volunteers for a two-year pilot to a program that will engage JLW’s volunteers in meaningful, impactful service opportunities that benefit the greater Washington, DC community. Programs are not required to address any aspects of the JLW’s official focus areas. This is open to all community nonprofits who meet the criteria listed above and are not a JLW Community Placement Partner. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, December 30, 202 at 5 p.m. ET. Application and webform will be available here.

Community Assistance Fund Grants: Due March 17, 2025

Community Assistance Grants award up to $5,000 to organizations experiencing an emergency financial need for their community support programs, which are each funded through the generosity of donors to the Little Black Dress Initiative. This grant opportunity will open in the Fall 2024.