Grants will be awarded to low-and moderate-income women willing to work with and provide 25 hours of community service to a local non-profit agency of her choosing over a 12-month period. Sponsoring non-profit organizations provide administrative support and serve in a mentorship role during the term of the desired educational experience. This requirement encourages connectivity to community resources and communicates the importance of giving back or “paying it forward” and building strong support systems. Grant applications will be accepted from single mothers, career and other women in search of educational advancement and leadership development. Requests for tuition, books, fees, dependent care and transportation (bus fare only) are welcomed. A local educational institution may recommend a candidate for a scholarship, but the candidate must identify and pursue a local non-profit sponsor with whom she would like to work throughout the duration of her funding period.

The grant application is available in a downloadable format at www.womensfundofelpaso.org. Please read through the Application Procedures very carefully. Applicants and the Non-Profit Sponsor will need to review the entire application packet together prior to submitting the packet for Selection Committee review. If the Non-Profit Sponsor should have any questions, a message line is available at 915.532.4673. The sponsor is asked to kindly leave a clear and detailed message with their contact information. A member of the Selection Committee will return their call. Applicants are NOT encouraged to contact any member of the Selection Committee.

Educational Advancement Grants will be awarded to women who qualify in areas related to the following criteria:

• A citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States in good standing
• Low-to moderate-income according to the federal income guidelines (please refer to 2006 Median Family Income by Size Chart below). Only women who fall within these income guidelines will be eligible for consideration
• A woman who exhibits strong desire, ability, and determination to complete a specific training and/or academic program
• Sponsored by a local non-profit agency of her choosing that is willing to provide administrative support and serve in a mentorship role throughout the granting period
• Grant recipients must be willing to set up and engage in initial, mid term and final evaluation meetings with her non-profit sponsor
• Grant recipients must be willing to provide 25 hours of community service as directed by recipient’s chosen non-profit agency and performed over a 12-month period
• Referred by a local educational institution
• Referred by a local non-profit agency
• Self-initiated application
• Officially accepted into a training program or course of study at an accredited institution that will upgrade the student’s earning potential upon graduation
• Pursuing job training or course work toward technical or vocational certification, GED, or first degree
• Women living in the Empowerment Zone are encouraged to apply if they are not already receiving Empowerment Zone funding.
• Pursuing educational advancement for business or professional opportunities
• Pursuing leadership training from an official program with a detailed plan to strive for leadership advancement or contribution in the El Paso community
• Able to maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain eligible for renewal and is in good standing with the educational institute in which she is currently enrolled
• Willing to remain in contact with the Board of Directors of The Women’s Fund of El Paso and participate in the Profiles section of the organization’s website and ENewsletter, which will document the progress and personal advancement of our grant recipients
• A member of The Women’s Fund of El Paso Network for Women. (Membership is free and available on-line at www.womensfundofelpaso.org.)
• Special consideration will be given to applicants proving how their education will be used to further the rights of and advancement of women and girls in El Paso

Educational Advancement Grant Application Guidelines
Applicants may download an application from The Women’s Fund of El Paso website www.womensfundofelpaso.org. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all required documents are sent to The Women’s Fund of El Paso, P.O. Box 221374, El Paso, TX 79913. Be sure that your sponsor reviews your application prior to mailing in and include the sponsor’s signature with contact information. This is an important step in developing the strong support system that helps women achieve success and the connectivity that leads to economic growth and well-being. Should your sponsor have any questions about completing the application, call the message line at (915) 532-4673. A Selection Committee will respond to the inquiry. Scholarship candidates are not to contact members of the Selection Committee. If a Charitable Adjunct Assistance Award is requested for dependent care or transportation, the candidate must provide the business contact information, business tax identification number, and literature about the business with the application request. The application must be typed or written neatly in black ink. Please adhere strictly to the guidelines of the application. Any materials submitted, other than those requested, will not be considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the committee.

Guarantee
The Women’s Fund of El Paso does not guarantee all applications will be funded. Applicants are encouraged to seek other funding sources, as well.

Interview
An interview may be requested of the candidate and/or sponsor.

Notification
Each candidate will be notified in writing of the Women’s Fund of El Paso Board of Directors’ decision.

Each candidate selected to receive financial assistance must notify The Women’s Fund of El Paso in writing whether or not she will accept the offer. She must complete and return the Funding Contract and Collaboration Agreement within 10 days of notification.

Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Women’s Fund of El Paso does not discriminate in its selection policy, programs or activities on the bases of race, color, creed, disability, national/ethnic origin, age, religion, sexual orientation or disabled veteran/Vietnam era veteran status.

Awards
Grant recipients may be awarded no more than $5,000 during a 12-month period. Applications will be considered for requests under the $5,000 limit.

Scholarship Awards
First Priority: Awards for direct educational expenses (tuition, books, and fees), are paid directly to the educational institution.

Charitable Adjunct Assistance Awards
Next Priority: Awards that assist in reducing indirect financial barriers to education (for dependent care or bus fare) will be paid directly to the sponsoring agency on behalf of the recipient. If a Charitable Adjunct Assistance Award is requested for dependent care or transportation, the candidate must provide the business contact information, business tax identification number, and literature about the business with the application request.

Renewals
The Women’s Fund of El Paso Educational Advancement Grants are paid by semester/term. At the end of each semester/term, scholarship recipients submit a Renewal Application. This one-page form will be sent to scholarship recipients in time for the next semester/term. In addition to this form, the following are required for scholarship renewal: transcript showing current GPA; school invoice and financial aid statement; updated financial information; 1-page typewritten personal narrative about how fund’s have improved grantee’s economic status and well-being; and the non-profit sponsor’s report on how previous funds were used.

Communication
Applicants are NOT to contact the Selection Committee. If questions arise regarding the application, a Selection Committee member will contact the scholarship candidate.

Important Checklist
Please use this checklist to be sure your application is complete. We will not consider incomplete applications or applications with additional attachments. Please make three copies of your application before submitting.

Please include in your application packet:

• Part A: Completed Application
• Part B: Collaboration Agreement
• Part C: References

Please choose from the following:

• Employer
• Teacher
• Former Teacher
• Case Manager
• Counselor
• Former Counselor
• Mentor
• Parent
• Guardian
• Director of Program for which you have volunteered

Part D: Attachments

1. A copy of transcripts from previously attended educational institution
2. Letter of acceptance from the educational program you plan to attend or are attending
3. A copy of your school invoice (as soon as it is available) showing charges for the session you are planning to attend
4. A copy of your financial aid award letter (as soon as possible) showing Federal PELL grant, Texas Public Education Grant, or other scholarships or Federal Work Study monies the candidate is receiving or will receive
5. A copy of your official academic plan as prepared by the institution
6. A copy of the first page of the Federal Income Tax returns filed for your family for the past two years, along with your W-2’s or 1099’s.