Cause Grant Cycle

The Business Women of Fayette & Coweta County (BWFC) invites eligible nonprofit organizations to participate in our annual Cause Grant selection process. Each fall, BWFC members in good standing have the opportunity to nominate causes that will be considered for support in the upcoming calendar year. Selected organizations will be asked to submit documentation to confirm eligibility, demonstrate financial stewardship, and outline their partnership commitments. Nonprofits are welcome to join the BWFC to get to know our members and to share about their cause throughout the year.

Grant Application Checklist

The 2026 Cause

Grant Recipients

We are proud to announce the 2026 Cause Grant Recipients selected to receive a portion of the proceeds from our three 2026 fundraising events. We encourage you to explore their websites to learn more about the incredible work they do in our community.

Clearwater Academy – Connect and Conquer Recipient (8/2026)
River Life – Music Bingo Recipient (12/01/2026)
Southside Support – Denim and Diamonds Recipient (4/17/2026)

Cause Selection Process

Selection Committee

The Causes will be selected by a Selection Committee which will consist of at least two (2) Advisory Board members, 2 current Executive Board members, and two (2) members in good standing. The Selections Committee shall not consist of more than ten (10) members; in addition, the Selection Committee shall not have any Cause Champions as members.

Selection of Causes – The Annual Grant Cycle

a) October 1: Grant application window opens.
b) November 1 (Midnight): Deadline for grant application submissions.
c) December: Formal announcement of selected Causes at the End of Year Connect meeting.
d) Allocation of proceeds: shall be determined within 90 days of event conclusion and submitted for Board approval. Awards will be formally presented to the non-profit organizations at a subsequent Connect meeting, subject to the recipient’s availability to attend.

Cause Guidelines & Requirements

To be considered for a BWFC Grant, organizations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Status & Location: Must be a registered 501(c)(3) headquartered in Fayette or Coweta County, GA.
BWFC “Cause Champion”: Every applicant must have a dedicated Champion who is a BWFC member in good standing. This member acts as the primary liaison and is required to serve on the Fundraising Event Committee for the grant year.
Documentation: Applications must include a current State Solicitation form, the most recent IRS Form 990, and a detailed project/operations budget.
Financial Sustainability: Applicants must provide a breakdown of expected income sources and other funds contributing to the project to demonstrate how the mission will be sustained regardless of grant totals.

Recipient Responsibilities

Selected organizations are active partners in our fundraising success. Recipients are expected to:

Event Support: Provide active volunteers and a representative presence at the specific event benefiting your organization.
Marketing: Actively promote the fundraiser to your own network via email and social media.
Impact Reporting: Submit a report detailing how funds were utilized within 6 months of expenditure.

2027 BWFC Cause Grant Application Checklist

Click HERE for the downloadable PDF

Fundraising Event Leadership

The Executive Board appoints a Fundraising Event Committee Chairs annually in November. If the positions are unfilled, leadership responsibilities are assumed by the Board.
Committee Selections: Each Event Chair (or acting Board leadership) selects a committee annually to execute the event’s fundraising goals.
Mandatory Participation: All Cause Champions are required to serve on this committee to ensure the success of their specific event.

Questions

If you have any questions about the process, or the requirements of the nonprofit and cause champion, feel free to reach out to us at BWFCVP@gmail.com.