Important Grant Program Information

Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation is among the few foundations that accept unsolicited grant applications. As such, we receive a very high volume of funding requests. In an effort to be transparent and respectful of the time you invest in this process, we want to share the following information:

Each year WFF awards approximately four new grants for each of our three initiatives. Last year we received the following number of grant requests:  

  • International Initiative:  73
  • Youth Initiative: 52
  • Sustainable Forestry and Communities Initiative: 13

Because we received so many requests, organizations and programs that are not well-aligned with our guidelines are immediately disqualified from consideration. In order to help you decide whether or not to invest your time and effort in completing a grant application please carefully review our Guidelines and consider whether your organization is a strong fit with WFF’s requirements and restrictions.

Program Goal

The goal of the International Initiative is to advance opportunity, equity, and well-being for women and girls in developing countries by helping them overcome hardship, reach their full potential, and help their families and communities to flourish.

The Foundation funds programs that deliver or promote:

  1. Economic Opportunity: Skill building, entrepreneurial and employment training, and access to capital and markets.
  2. Education: High quality and relevant education in an environment in which girls feel safe and encouraged.
  3. Health: The physical and psychological well-being of girls, and women and their children.

Program Requirements

In order to be considered, programs must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Be a new program for the organization currently in development or within its first year (from the date of application submission) or implementation. The Foundation will consider funding the replication of an existing program in new regions or countries.
  2. Propose program goals and outcome metrics that relate specifically to increasing opportunity and well-being of women and girls. Grantees will be requried to report on the program's success by providing metrics on qualitative and quantitative outcomes.
  3. Include an evaluation plan through which one can measure not only outputs, but also the magnitude of change in the lives of the beneficiaries as a result of the program.

Program Priorities

The Foundation gives priority to programs that have one or more of the following characteristics:

  1. Community-informed: Actively engage and seek input from the communities served, thus ensuring activities are culturally responsive and appropriate to the needs of women and girls in that local context.
  2. Women-led: At a local level, women are taking leadership roles in the planning and implementation of the program.
  3. Address Systemic Barriers: In addition to helping individuals, where possible the program seeks to address systemic (e.g., family, social, cultural) obstacles faced by beneficiaries.
  4. Address Psychological and Emotional Barriers: In addition to providing technical assistance and education, the program helps beneficiaries overcome limiting beliefs and increase their agency and resilience.
  5. Contribute to Environmental Sustainability: Seek to maintain or improve the quality of water, land, air, and biodiversity in the program design and implementation.

Multi-Year Funding

The Foundation intends to support new programs for up to three years.  While the Foundation will not commit funds for the second or third year without an annual review, it is the Foundation's intent to continue funding successful programs.  Because programs will not be funded for more than three years, you are encouraged to plan for the long-term sustainability of the program.

Organizations requesting second- or third-year funding for programs approved the previous year must continue to submit an abbreviated Stage 1 Application by March 1.  Organizations seeking second- or third-year funding and have submitted a Stage 1 Application, will automatically be requested to submit a Stage 2 Application.  Organizations seeking third-year funding must also have submitted a grant report for the first year of funding by the required due date stated in the Grant Agreement to be considered for funding.

Outcome-Based Assessment

The Foundation has a particular interest in measurable outcomes. Applicants are asked to clearly state program goals on the application and include a plan for an outcome-based assessment of the program activities. Applicants will be required to report on the program's success by providing metrics on the qualitative and quantitative outcomes at the end of each grant period.

Organization Eligibility

  • The International Initiative funds only international programs implemented by organizations registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) for seven years to apply for a grant.
  • Applications from an organization acting as a fiscal sponsor will be considered when a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement has been signed by both parties and submitted with the application. Fiscal Sponsor's must be able to demonstrate substantial and direct fiscal and program oversight. The foundation does not accept applications from fiscal agents.
  • Organizations must have a U.S. bank account in applicant's name which grant funds can be deposited.

Grant Size

  • The average grant size for the International Initiative is $30,000 or less.
  • WFF will not consider a grant request that is greater than 15% of an organization's current annual budget.

Restrictions

The Foundation will not consider proposals in the following areas:

  • Relief and rescue programs.
  • Ongoing projects or general operating support.
  • Programs whose purpose is to create specific media, film, photography, or books.
  • Capital projects, including land acquisition or the construction of buildings.
  • Grants or scholarships to individuals.
  • Programs that attempt to change behavior by education of the general public.
  • Camps or cultural exchange programs.
  • Lobbying prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Conferences.
  • Endowments.
  • Start-up costs for new organizations.
  • Research projects.

Get Started Today

The Foundation has a two-stage application process. The Stage 1 Application requests information about the organization and the program that funding is being requested for. The Stage 2 Application asks follow-up questions to the Stage 1 Application. You will be able to view the Stage 1 Application, but not make edits at the Stage 2 phase of the application process. A Stage 1 Application must be submitted to advance to Stage 2 and be considered for funding. Submission of a Stage 2 Application is by invitation only. 

2023 Program Guidelines PDF How to Apply Contact Us