WILPF Mini-Grants Program

Guidelines for Mini Grant The Mini-Grant Program is broad, with our purpose being to support and nurture the work being done by WILPF US members, especially through our national issues Committees and Branches, as well as to help fund new initiatives and emergent issues in a timely manner. The program began over a decade ago and is being updated as of September 2025

We fund projects that serve WILPF’s mission and vision by building our program. We favor projects that can be shared and replicated and that will have a national impact. The tiered levels of funding, ranging from $250-2,500 in 2025, are designed for flexibility and a diversity of needs, and may fund small one-time projects, seed larger efforts to help procure outside funding, and strengthen and expand the ongoing work of US Section members at all levels, from the local to United Nations level.

For this first year’s revival of the program, the opening date for application submissions is April 2, 2025. The deadline for application submissions is March 2, 2025, by 11:00 p.m. in each applicant’s time zone. A second cycle will began August 2 2025 with a deadline for submissions August 31 2025

Publicity and Responses:

Additional announcements about our Mini-Grant Program will be disseminated through the WILPF US branches listserve, the Program Committee, and in timely eNews articles and/or eAlerts.

Within four weeks of the application deadline, decisions will be announced by the Mini-Grant Committee to each applicant.

The Mini-Grant Committee:

The committee members are Dr. Jean Kennedy, Phillip Cole, and “Cricket” Doyle. 

Additional Program Information

Prior Grants:

If you are seeking to report on a prior grant, please look for the appropriate link(s) below.  If you have questions about a currently active or outstanding grant, contact programsupport@wilpfus.org. 

2024 Update of Mini-Grant Policies and Guidelines:

• Due to limited funds, we do not fund international travel. We do give funds for domestic travel as part of a program-related project. 
• We are a volunteer organization and as such, we expect that the labor involved in each proposed project to be performed by our volunteer members (and possibly others). 
• When contracted services are part of the project, the provider should be a like-minded organization or business that treats its members and/or workers and the environment in ways we value, including union, fair-trade and green. 
• Contracted work must be put out for bid, and the person/business contracted with may not be an author of this grant application, nor a WILPF member. 
• The applicant or applicant’s branch, issues committee or family members may not profit from this grant, the purpose of which should be to enhance our programs, outreach to community and/or new members, to expand and enhance our active program-based efforts supporting peace and our mission and vision, our principles and policies. 
• We do not accept application requests for funds for consumable goods, with the exception of limited funds for “coffee-and-baked-goods” types of light refreshments. 
• We do not fund formal meals or catering activities. 
• We expect applicants to exercise due diligence in finding event venues for little low or no cost, or to pay for such cost(s) themselves out of locally-held or raised funds of the branch or issues committee.

Applications:

All applications are to be submitted by email to the address information on the application form – namely programsupport@wilpfus.org. Individual decisions will be transmitted by email to the email address submitted by each applicant. 

Note, the previously posted expense reimbursement policy has been updated. To learn more, please view Policies and Guidelines above and review the document, Proposal Factors and Funding Restrictions and the application form.

The application form can be found below. Applications must be typed and submitted as attachments to the emailed applications. Submit to:  programsupport@wilpfus.org. 

Note:

The Mini-Grant Program forms do not apply to a particular year’s funding cycle. Please simply use the most current form. 

Final Report:

Grantees will provide a written report assessing the projects undertaken and accounting for the use of funds. To avoid disqualification for future Mini-Grants, the final report must be submitted by each successful applicant within 45 days of completion of the project; sent via email to the Mini-Grant Committee at programsupport@wilpfus.org.

The reporting forms can be found below. 

If you have questions or need help with the application or the reporting, send an email to the committee at programsupport@wilpfus.org and give your contact info. A committee member will respond as soon as possible.

Support, Advice, and Potential Project Adjustments: Mini-Grant Committee members are available to provide support to grantees in their applications, including recommendations for potential project adjustments. Such assistance can continue during the project’s duration, as well as to help evaluate the progress and outcomes of the projects receiving award.

Eligibility:

All WILPF US issues committees and branches in good standing may apply for Mini-Grants.
For info on issue committees see Our Work. For a definition of “branch”, go here.

If an individual member has an idea for a project and wishes to check to see if it could be eligible for consideration for funding through the Mini-Grant Program, that member should contact the Mini-Grant Committee to discuss the idea and potential/possible of participation in applying for a Mini-Grant through the Program. 

Projects ideally should include a component that encourages new memberships.

As of September 2024 the Mini-Grant program policies and guidelines have been updated from the prior 2019 policies and guidelines. See Mini-Grant Policies and Guidelines above and Proposal Factors and Funding Restrictions. 

Forms

Mini-Grant Application Form:Word | PDF

Ready to report on your Mini-Grant experience?

Narrative Reporting Form:Word | PDF
Financial Reporting Form: Excel | PDF

For all inquiries, contact: the committee at programsupport@wilpfus.org  
 

We are WILPF!

The international organization of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), headquartered in Geneva was founded in April 1915, as was our WILPF US Section, and embodies the mission of advocating fundamental changes in economic and social relations to minimize the conflicts that erupt into war. For more than a century, WILPF members worldwide have worked to end war and to confront and challenge oppression in all its forms. WILPF addresses a broad range of issues and engages in study and education, direct action, and advocacy at the local, national, and international levels, including, since 1948,  through our Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. Our WILPF US Section.