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 Beacon House, Maya Angelou Public Charter School, The Child and Family Network Centers, The MusicianShip, Bright Beginnings, Inc., Calvary Women’s Services, 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 2023-2024, grant opportunities include:

  • Innovation Grant
  • Capacity Grant 
  • Pathway Grants
  • Community Assistance Grants

At this time all grant opportunities for the 2023-2024 League year (June 2023-May 31, 2024) have closed. Please check back in Summer 2024, to find grant opportunities, applications, and deadlines for the 2024-2025 League year. 

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. 

For additional questions about Junior League of Washington grants please email grantsandvolunteers@jlw.org.

Community Assistance Fund Grants: APPLICATION CLOSED

Community Assistance Fund grants of up to $5,000 each are funded through the generosity of donors to the Little Black Dress Initiative. All organizations that are applying for funding for unmet needs are eligible to apply for the Community Assistance Fund grant. This year, preference will be given to applications from organizations that are aligned with this year’s Community Assistance Fund Grant focus area: Stable Housing builds Stable Communities. This includes requests for support for unmet needs in areas such as case management; support to obtain vouchers and convert vouchers into housing; safety net support including access to basic health care, nutrition and personal care supplies; temporary supportive housing with job training programs; and eviction prevention support, such as emergency funding to make rent payments, utility bill assistance or direct cash to meet family budget shortfalls. 

Pathway Grants: APPLICATION CLOSED

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 area. 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.

Capacity Grant Application: APPLICATION CLOSED

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 area. 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.

Innovation Grant: APPLICATION CLOSED

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 area. 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.