In Washington state, grants are available through nonprofit, or 501(c)(3), organizations such as the United Way, Children's Home Society and Washington Women's Employment and Education. State-level grants to women and their families, by community-level nonprofits, are designed to facilitate the availability of resources for people in need. Community resources are allocated specifically to prevent sexual assault and protect crime victims. The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy assists victims with identifying opportunities and resources necessary for recovery.
United Way
The local United Way chapter can serve as a resource for women and families looking for grants. The United Way in Washington state does not administer grants, but it partners with several grant-making nonprofits. It serves as an umbrella to groups such as Second Harvest, YWCA and Hospice, and it runs an information hot line called 211, which provides information about available services in your area of the state.
Apple Education Foundation
The Apple Education Foundation grants apply to communities and schools in Washington state. These grant recipients benefit specifically through the scholastic success of farm and agricultural workers and their families. In 2010, the key priorities were to reduce high school drop-out rates and improve achievement rates for at-risk students; to improve access to effective early education programs; to increase economic self-sufficiency; and to improve cross-cultural communications. (see reference 2) Grants applications are accepted annually.
Children's Home Society
Children's Home Society provides services for women and their families. The nonprofit has served Washington children since 1896. Its nonprofit, grant-funded services include adoption, advocacy, child and family counseling, early learning and family support. These services are specifically tailored to low-income families with children. Foster care is available with CHS for Washington children who are unable to stay with their birth parents. These services have satellite locations in Spokane, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Walla Walla and Vancouver.
Employment and Education
Washington's Women's Employment and Education is a 501(c)(3) organization providing job-readiness training with housing services to low-income residents of Pierce and King counties. Participation in these grant-funded programs requires an income level between $18,374 and $49,710 depending on family size. Other requirements may also apply to programs through this nonprofit.
Crime Victims Protection
Many nonprofit organizations registered as 501 (c)(3) are required by the grant funding to provide service to women and children. Their grant monies are allocated to serve only women or women's families. Domestic violence and child sexual abuse victims can contact victims services for support. Sexual abuse or sexual violence victims are given additional resources through grants by the state of Washington. The Office of Crime Victims hot line is 800-822-1067.
