Community Action Grant

AAUW’s approach is rooted in the belief that when girls are immersed in supportive, engaging STEM environments — where they learn from relatable role models — they develop lasting interest, confidence, identity, and skills. This foundation not only helps them persist in STEM education and careers but also breaks down stereotypes, strengthens self-belief, and fosters the diverse leadership needed to close the gender gap.

Becoming an AAUW grantee means joining a community committed to driving systemic change in STEM through gender equity. This opportunity extends beyond financial support, offering evolving pathways for collaboration, visibility, and growth. Grantees become part of a forward-thinking network that fosters shared learning, elevates voices shaping the future of STEM, and builds capacity for long-term impact.

AAUW recognizes that impact manifests differently across communities and program models. Rather than imposing rigid metrics, we look for organizations that: 

• Demonstrate meaningful change: Show us how your program influences girls’ relationship with STEM in ways that matter to your specific community. 

• Focus on quality engagement: We value the depth and quality of girls’ STEM experiences over simply reaching large numbers. 

• Build community capacity: We’re interested in how you strengthen local ecosystems that support girls in STEM beyond your direct programming. 

• Center participant voice: We want to see how you incorporate feedback from the girls you serve to continuously refine your approach. 

Organizations must: 

• Be incorporated as a nonprofit with a federally designated tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code or be fiscally sponsored by an organization with 501(c)(3) status. Educational institutions such as K-12 schools are also eligible to apply. 

• Be U.S. based. 

• Have a proven track record of designing and delivering programming for girls in grades K-12, or for emerging organizations, demonstrated organizational capacity and commitment to the proposed project. This may include: 
  • A well-developed plan that outlines how the project will be implemented, measured, and sustained 
  • A team with relevant experience, skills, or background that supports successful project execution 
  • A clear record of designing and implementing programs specifically for girls 
  • Ability to share specific examples of past programming, including insights and lessons learned 
  • Evidence of community trust and relationships with participants and their families 
  • Demonstrated support or collaboration from stakeholders, including community groups or other organizations 

• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. This may include: 
  • Established systems for gathering and responding to feedback from participants 
  • At least one concrete example of how programming has been adapted in response to insights gained  
  • Openness to ongoing refinement based on participant experiences 
  • For emerging organizations, a clear and intentional plan for incorporating learning into future program development 

• Reflect the communities served. This can take different forms: 
  • Having leadership and staff with lived experience in the communities served 
  • Authentic community engagement through advisory groups, listening sessions, or co-design processes 
  • Transparent practices for incorporating community input into decision-making 

• Demonstrate sound financial management. All applicants must demonstrate all three of the following requirements: 
  • Basic financial systems appropriate to the organization’s size and stage 
  • Ability to track grant expenditures and provide reports on fund usage 
  • Transparency about financial challenges or needs 

Organizations or educational institutions that include members of the AAUW Board of Directors, AAUW employees (including paid, unpaid, part-time, temporary, consultants, interns, and contract employees), AAUW review panelists, or any of their immediate family members who hold significant roles in decision-making or financial management are ineligible to apply.

AAUW seeks programming that directly serves girls in grades K-12 in at least one of these areas: 

• Skill-building in science, technology, engineering, or math 

• Confidence-building and identity development in STEM 

• College and career preparation focused on STEM fields 

• Mentorship and role model exposure featuring women in STEM 

Programs should be designed based on evidence about effective strategies for dismantling barriers for girls’ participation and interest in STEM, while also incorporating innovative ideas. 

AAUW looks for programs that create meaningful change within specific community contexts. Grantees define what success looks like. 

What makes reviewers excited: An organization that can articulate why their outcomes matter in their community. For example, if six girls pursuing advanced math represents a significant shift in your rural community, help us understand that context and why it’s meaningful.  

AAUW values deep understanding of a community’s specific needs around girls’ access to STEM. 

What makes reviewers excited: Programs that demonstrate meaningful community engagement to understand local needs — for example, by utilizing thoughtful research methods to identify specific barriers to girls’ STEM participation and then designing tailored activities that directly address those barriers. Effective approaches prioritize listening to community voices, employing culturally responsive methods, and centering the experiences of the girls being served. 

AAUW values organizations that learn and grow. 

• For established organizations: Share an example from the past two years where data, evaluation, or participant feedback was used to adapt or improve a program. 

• For emerging organizations: Show planning and commitment to building learning and evaluation capacity during the program period. 

These qualities strengthen applications: 

• Potential to affect policies, practices, or perceptions beyond direct participants –Possibility to collaborate/partner with AAUW National and/or local Policy team 

• Use of teaching practices and materials that honor and incorporate participants’ cultural backgrounds and experiences in their learning  

• Willingness to test new approaches to persistent barriers in STEM education for girls

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For step-by-step guidance on completing your application, refer to the Application Instructions.

To help us understand if your work aligns with our funding priorities and to potentially save time on a full application, we begin with a Letter of Interest. LOIs must be submitted via AAUW’s application portal at aauw.fluxx.io. Organizations may only submit one Letter of Interest each.

LOI’s should include: 

Introduction 

• Begin with a brief executive summary that clearly introduces your organization and project. 

• Theory of Change: 
  • Explain the specific change you seek to create for girls in STEM. 
  • Outline key connections between your activities and expected outcomes. 

• Explain how your organization’s mission aligns with AAUW’s commitment to gender equity in STEM. 

Community Need 

• Briefly describe the specific barriers to STEM participation your project addresses. 

• Include relevant data or community insights that illuminate this need. 

Program Approach

• Outline your key activities and implementation timeline. 

• Describe how you’ll engage participants and measure success. 

• Explain how community input has shaped your program design. 

Organizational Capacity 

• Share relevant experience and qualifications of your team. 

• Highlight previous successes or lessons learned. 

Budget Summary 

• The total project budget and amount requested from AAUW (Specify the amount of funding you are seeking (up to $75,000)). 

• A brief description of how the funds will be used. 

• Any other funding sources (if applicable). 

LOIs will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and organizations whose work aligns with our current funding priorities will be notified by November 2025 and invited to advance to the full application stage. 

How We Evaluate LOIs 

Letters of Interest are reviewed through a lens of equity and potential for impact. Specifically, reviewers look for: 

1. Alignment with AAUW’s mission and theory of change: Does the program address the root causes of gender disparities in STEM in ways that could create meaningful change? 
2. Community-centered approach: Is the work grounded in an understanding of the specific community served and their unique barriers to STEM participation? 
3. Potential for scaled impact: Could the approach, if successful, benefit more girls or influence broader systems over time? 
4. Learning mindset: Does the organization demonstrate openness to adaptation, reflection, and continuous improvement? 
5. Organizational readiness: Does the organization have the foundational capacity to implement the proposed program effectively? 

LOIs are reviewed by AAUW staff. 

Successful applicants will be invited to complete a more detailed application. This application will include: 

• A comprehensive narrative application providing further detail on the organization, project, timeline, workplan, and impact 

• The organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (for nonprofit applicants) 

• The organization’s most recent Form 990 

• A copy of the organization’s budget from the prior fiscal year 

• A copy of the organization’s current fiscal year budget 

• The organization’s current fiscal year statement of financial position (balance sheet) 

• The organization’s current fiscal year statement of activities (profit-and-loss statement) 

• A detailed line-item budget for the project, along with a narrative justification explaining each budget item and its connection to project goals 

The following expenses are not eligible for funding: 

• Higher education scholarships for students and participants 

• Building funds, construction, or renovations 

• Previous expenditures, deficits, or loans 

• Creating or providing grants to other organizations 

• Fundraising activities 

• Political or lobbying activities 

Proposals will be reviewed by a diverse group of women in STEM, nonprofit leaders, business management experts, and AAUW alumnae. Every application gets scored by two reviewers, then discussed as a group before making final selections.

Reporting is viewed as a learning opportunity, not just a compliance exercise. The goal is to understand grantees’ journeys to support their work and learn alongside them. Specific requirements will be detailed in grant agreements, but may include: 

• Participation in cohort-based learning sessions with other grantees 

• Mid-term narrative and financial reporting  

• Mid-term check-in conversations to discuss progress and challenges 

• A final grant impact report at the end of the year 

• Documentation of outcomes and lessons learned 

These processes are designed to be valuable for all parties involved. 

Are co-ed programs allowed to apply for funding?

Co-ed programs are eligible to apply for the Community Action Grant, provided that the applicant is able to demonstrate that AAUW funds would only be used to fund girls’ participation in the program.

What is the difference between Community Action Grants and Community Action Branch Grants?

Community Action Branch Grants are only available to AAUW Branches and Affiliates. The ceiling for Branch Grants is $10,000. When registering in Fluxx, if you are not applying for Community Action Branch Grants, select “No” to the question “AAUW Branch?”.

Is there a character or word limit for the Letter of Interest?

Yes, there are character limits for each question in the Letter of Interest form. Once you start an LOI in Fluxx and click “Edit” in the top right hand corner, the character limits for each question will display.

When I click on “Apply for funding” I get a blank page. What is happening?

Try these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Click on the drop down menu which says “All” on the top left hand corner and click on “Connect to Org”
2. Enter the EIN for your organization and click “Connect”
3. The person who is associated with your organization’s account in Fluxx will approve your request to connect. If this person does not have access to their Fluxx account, please write to awards@aauw.org.
4. Once you have been approved to connect to your organization, you should be able to see the option to apply for the Community Action Grant under the “Apply for funding” page.

I registered under the incorrect organization, what should I do?

1. Click on the drop down menu which says the incorrect organization name on the top left hand corner and click on “Connect to Org”
2. Enter the EIN for the correct organization and click “Connect”
3. The person who is associated with that organization’s account in Fluxx will approve your request to connect. If this person does not have access to their Fluxx account, please write to awards@aauw.org.

If I am applying for the Community Action Grant, should I register as an Individual or Organization?

If your organization is already in AAUW’s system (i.e. you are a former grantee), you should register as “Individual registering under a previously registered Organization/Project/AAUW Branch.” If not, you should register as “New Organization.” You should not register as an “Individual applicant” if you are applying for the Community Action Grant program.