Overview

After a deliberation process that begins with review of preliminary proposals, POW! will award an “Impact Grant” for a single program or project that improves the quality of life for Henderson County residents. The Grant should address the following:

• Commitment to long-range planning, financial stability and sustainability

• Sound plan to address ongoing or emerging issues that have been identified by research

• Solid, realistic plan for project evaluation

• Desire to promote collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services

• Project methodology utilizing a preventative approach to addressing the issue and solving problems

• Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management

• The project must be a new project/program or the grant application must clearly identify the community’s need for an existing project/program to be expanded.

Eligibility

Organizations in Henderson County, Kentucky, that serve residents of Henderson County are eligible to apply. This includes 501(c)(3) non-profits as well as governmental agencies including educators with school-based projects and other programs in Henderson County that have a 501(c)(3) non-profit designation fiscal sponsor. Previous recipients of the main grant are not eligible to re-apply for two grant cycles. Previous runner-up recipients are not eligible to re-apply for one grant cycle. To qualify for consideration, the minimum project/program cost requested must be $15,000. 

Project Areas Considered for Funding

• Community Development: Activities that benefit residents within all segments of the population

• Education: Activities that promote or strengthen educational attainment, both in and out of the classroom in Henderson

• Health: Activities that improve the health outcomes for Henderson residents

• Human Services: Activities that support public protection, employment/jobs, food and nutrition, agriculture, housing and shelter, public safety, disaster preparedness, and relief

• Capital Projects: Small capital projects that will be completed within two years from the date of the grant award

Project Areas NOT Considered for Funding

• Requests for funding to reduce or retire debt of the organization

• Projects that focus solely on the spiritual needs and growth of a church congregation or members of other religious organizations

• Political parties or campaigns

• Event sponsorships, annual appeals, and membership contributions.

• Travel expenses for groups or individual such as bands, sport teams (but funds can be used for professional development)

• Scholarships or other grants to individuals

• Requests for funding to maintain routine day-to-day operations unless the applicant clearly identifies the community’s need for an existing project/program to be expanded

• Organizations outside of Henderson County

The application process starts with completion of the this preliminary proposal questionnaire. The Preliminary proposal questionnaire helps in determining whether a funding request qualifies for consideration before the applicant invests time and effort in completing a full grant proposal. The preliminary proposal questionnaire must be submitted by May 31st at 11:59 pm. Upon completion, an email containing a copy of your preliminary proposal questionnaire will be delivered to the email address you provided.

Deliberation and Award

After review of preliminary proposal questionnaires, six selected applicants will receive a formal invitation to submit a full grant proposal which must be submitted by June 30th. The Advisory Board will also submit the names of the approved finalists to the CFH Board of Directors and the CFWK Board of Directors for verification of eligibility. Any finalist found to be not eligible will no longer be considered for a grant. Site visits will be scheduled within the month of July. All grant applicants will receive formal notification of the outcome of the deliberation process. Following the site visits, three finalists will be chosen. All semi-finalists will be notified. The finalists will present their proposal to the full membership of POW! at POW!’s annual dinner held August 13, 2026. Each organization will have seven minutes to present the night of the dinner. The presenters will be signaled when two minutes remain during their allotted presentation time. No audio-visual presentations or aids will be permitted. No more than three (3) representatives from any organization will be permitted to make the presentation. If the Organization does not allow site visits or does not present at the annual dinner, then the Organization will be disqualified from receiving a grant. The site visit must be open to all POW members who wish to attend. Grant finalists may not directly or indirectly contact or lobby the Membership at any time to influence voting or decision making, including but not limited to utilizing social media or other media outlets with regard to the grant application. If the Grants Committee determines that a Grant finalist has directly or indirectly contacted or lobbied the Membership in violation of this provision, the Grants Committee, in its sole discretion, will have the right to terminate the organization as Grant finalist and no funds will be awarded to the organization.

Distribution of Awards

In 2026, the successful organization will be awarded $15,000 and two runner-ups will receive $5,000 each. Grants checks will be distributed within thirty (30) days of the annual dinner. Additional information can be found at powfund.org. In addition, if you have any questions or issues with the form, please email powgrants@gmail.com.

Recognition and Rewarding

A brief report documenting impact of no more than two pages with any supporting information is required by August 31 of the following grant year in order to remain in good standing with POW! and the Community Foundation of Henderson. Not submitting a report could affect future grant award eligibility. The report must be signed by the project coordinator, executive director/CEO and board of directors chairman/president.

 The program/organization supported by a grant from POW! is expected to place a logo on all related materials and if a logo is not used the words POW! Partnership of Women (with and exclamation point) is expected to be used in this bold format. POW! is pronounced like WOW and not as individual letters if broadcasting its support. The recipient must also act as host for a press event to showcase the use of the grant or working plans to use the grant at the conclusion of the member drive and launch of grant cycle in June of the year following the grant.