About Together Women Rise:
Together Women Rise (formerly Dining for Women) is a US-based nonprofit that provides funding to organisations empowering and supporting women and girls in low-income and marginalised communities in the Global South. Through their Featured Grants Programme, they feature a different organisation and project each month, providing extensive learning materials on the project and the issue being addressed, and promoting it through their nationwide chapters, website, newsletters, and social media. This means grantees receive not only funding but also significant visibility and educational promotion across Together Women Rise's member network.

Featured Grant Programme Details:
Grant size: $35,000 to $50,000 paid over a 24-month (2-year) period. Payment schedule: 60% upon signing the grant agreement, 30% upon receipt of interim report, and 10% upon receipt of final report. At least 12 Featured Grants are awarded per calendar year. Each grantee is assigned a specific month to be featured based on issue area and geography. The programme supports capacity building, new programmes, or expansion of existing programmes. Capacity building grants (covering technology, strategic planning, M&E, staff training, and all operational aspects) are available specifically for organisations with operating budgets between $100,000 and $1 million. Organisations may receive no more than one Featured Grant per four-year period.

Five Thematic Areas:

• Economic Opportunity — supporting women's livelihoods, income generation, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment.
• Education — advancing girls' education, women's learning opportunities, vocational training, and educational access for marginalised women and girls.
• Women's Health — including safe and full scope of sexual and reproductive health services and education. Together Women Rise recognises that gender equality requires equitable and consistent access to quality healthcare.
• Climate Justice — addressing how climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, supporting women-led climate adaptation and resilience.
• Safety and Security — preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors, promoting women's safety and security in communities and online.

Guiding Principles:
Gender equality means all individuals have equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender. Funded organisations and projects must create lasting change in the lives of women and girls. Solutions must be identified by the women and girls being served, with their perspectives actively included. Grantees must demonstrate direct impact and have methods to monitor and evaluate. Grantees must be sustainable organisations with multiple funding sources. Together Women Rise maximises educational opportunities for their members through grantee stories and materials.

Eligibility Requirements — All Must Be Met:

• Must be a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation OR have a US fiscal sponsor which is a US 501(c)(3). Registration documents from any other country are NOT accepted. Equivalency determinations (ED) or foreign equivalency certifications are NOT accepted. If using a fiscal sponsor, must have a verifiable present relationship that has been in existence for the past 12 months.
• Minimum $100,000 operating expenses annually for the most recent fiscal year.
• Must demonstrate capacity and on-the-ground operations in low-income communities in the Global South for a minimum of 3 years.
  
• Must provide data regarding direct impact of the programmes the grant would support.
• Women must make up the MAJORITY of the organisation's leadership (board of directors AND staff) at the time of application.
• Must demonstrate fiscally responsible and sustainable practices.
• Must have a website in English (unless using fiscal sponsor).
• All application materials must be submitted in English.
• Must provide additional information as needed for grant decisions.
• Must not have received a Together Women Rise grant within the past 4 years.
• If previously funded, must have satisfied ALL reporting requirements.
• Must adhere to Together Women Rise's Religion Policy — no exclusionary practices based on religion/politics, no conversion activities.
• Must align with Together Women Rise's Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.
  
  

What Together Women Rise Will NOT Support:
Debt reduction. Grants to individuals. Endowments. Lobbying or political activities. Election campaigns. Government entities. Building funds or campaigns.

Application Process — Three Steps:

• Step 1: Complete brief online eligibility questionnaire — immediate notification of eligibility.
• Step 2: If eligible, complete organisation profile via online application site (secure and confidential).
• Step 3: If invited, submit full application including IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter (or fiscal sponsor's), current fiscal year operating budget, Form 990 or 990-EZ for two most recent consecutive years (or fiscal sponsor's), and fiscal sponsor certification if applicable. Applicants may be required to participate in an online site visit before final selection.

Information Sessions and Office Hours:
Information sessions covering the same material: April 28, 2026 (8–9:30 AM ET) and April 30, 2026 (12–1:30 PM ET). Registration links available on the guidelines page. Office hours: May 19 and June 1, 2026 (times and registration TBA).

Requirements for Grant Recipients:
Sign a funding agreement before any announcement. Provide 5 high-resolution photographs, a 4–5 minute video about the organisation and project, and 1–3 impact stories over the two-year period. Participate in 1–2 check-ins with Rise staff during the two-year period. Participate in a monthly national webinar to share information with Rise members during the designated month. Submit interim and final reports.

Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is geographically eligible — the Global South includes Asia, and Together Women Rise has funded projects across the region. However, the key barrier for Nepal-based organisations is the US 501(c)(3) requirement. Nepal-registered nonprofits CANNOT apply using their Nepal registration alone. Equivalency determinations are NOT accepted.

Pathways for Nepal Organisations:

• Pathway 1 — US Fiscal Sponsor: A Nepal-based organisation working on women's and girls' issues can apply through a US 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. The fiscal sponsor relationship must have been in place for at least 12 months before application. The fiscal sponsor provides fiduciary oversight and financial management. Together Women Rise cannot provide a fiscal sponsor — organisations must arrange their own. Several US-based organisations serve as fiscal sponsors for international projects (e.g., Global Fund for Women fiscal sponsorship, NEO Philanthropy, Tides Foundation, and others).
• Pathway 2 — US-Registered Organisations with Nepal Programmes: US-registered 501(c)(3) organisations that operate programmes in Nepal can apply directly. Examples include US-based Nepali diaspora organisations with 501(c)(3) status running Nepal programmes, international women's rights organisations with Nepal operations, and US-registered nonprofits partnering with Nepal-based organisations.

Nepal's Women's and Girls' Issues — Strong Alignment with All Five Areas:

• Economic Opportunity: Nepal's women's economic participation rate is low — limited access to credit, markets, land ownership, and formal employment. Programmes supporting women's cooperatives, micro-enterprises, skills training, and financial inclusion align well.
• Education: Nepal has made progress but gaps remain — girls' secondary school dropout rates, child marriage interrupting education, limited access to higher education for women, and quality concerns in rural schools.
• Women's Health: Maternal mortality remains a challenge, particularly in remote areas. Sexual and reproductive health access is limited outside urban areas. Menstrual health and hygiene stigma persists. Uterine prolapse affecting hundreds of thousands of women due to early pregnancy and heavy labour.
• Climate Justice: Nepal's women are disproportionately affected by climate change — they are primary water collectors, food producers, and fuel gatherers. Climate-induced disasters (floods, landslides, drought) impact women's livelihoods and safety. Women are underrepresented in climate decision-making.
• Safety and Security: Gender-based violence remains prevalent — domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and harmful practices including child marriage, dowry-related violence, and witchcraft accusations. Chhaupadi (menstrual exile) persists in some western districts despite legal prohibition.
• Potential Nepal Applicants: US-registered Nepali diaspora organisations with Nepal women's programmes (with 501(c)(3) status). International women's rights organisations with Nepal operations (e.g., Women for Human Rights, Women's Rehabilitation Centre if they have US fiscal sponsors). Nepal organisations with existing US fiscal sponsor relationships. US-based organisations partnering with Nepal women's organisations such as WOREC, FWLD, WHR, Tewa, SAATHI. Any US 501(c)(3) running programmes empowering women and girls in Nepal.

Key: If a Nepal women's organisation is considering this grant, the FIRST step is to establish a US fiscal sponsor relationship NOW — the 12-month requirement means planning ahead for the 2027 cycle if not already in place.

KEY DETAILS

• Grant: Together Women Rise — Featured Grants
  
• Organization: Together Women Rise (US nonprofit)
  

• APPLICATION WINDOW:
  — Opens: May 5, 2026 (9 AM ET) — 20 DAYS
  — Closes: June 5, 2026 (5 PM ET) — NO EXCEPTIONS
  — One cycle per year
  

• INFO SESSIONS — REGISTER NOW:
  — April 28, 2026 | 8–9:30 AM ET
  — April 30, 2026 | 12–1:30 PM ET
  

• GRANT: $35,000 to $50,000 over 24 MONTHS
  — Payment: 60% → 30% → 10%
  — At least 12 grants per year
  — Featured monthly to Rise's nationwide chapters
  

• FOR: Organisations empowering WOMEN AND GIRLS in GLOBAL SOUTH
  — Asia included — Nepal geographically eligible
  

• FIVE THEMATIC AREAS:
  — Economic Opportunity
  — Education
  — Women's Health (incl. sexual/reproductive health)
  — Climate Justice
  — Safety and Security
  
  
• ELIGIBILITY — ALL MUST BE MET:
  — US 501(c)(3) OR US fiscal sponsor (12+ months relationship)
  — Minimum $100,000 annual operating expenses
  — 3+ years on-the-ground operations in Global South
  — WOMEN = MAJORITY of leadership (board + staff)
  — Data on direct impact
  — Fiscally responsible, sustainable, multiple funding sources
  — English website + English application
  — Nepal registration alone NOT accepted
  — Equivalency determinations NOT accepted

• NEPAL PATHWAYS:
  — Nepal org WITH US fiscal sponsor (12+ month relationship required)
  — US-registered 501(c)(3) with Nepal programmes
  — US-based Nepali diaspora org with 501(c)(3) + Nepal operations
  
  
• WILL NOT FUND:
  — Debt reduction, endowments, building funds
  — Individuals
  — Lobbying, political activities, election campaigns
  — Government entities
  — Religious conversion activities

• GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS:
  — Sign funding agreement
  — Provide 5 photos + 4–5 min video + 1–3 impact stories
  — Monthly national webinar presentation
  — Interim + final reports
  — 1–2 check-ins with Rise staff

• NEPAL WOMEN'S ISSUES — ALL FIVE AREAS RELEVANT:
  — ECONOMIC: low women's participation, limited credit/land access
  — EDUCATION: girls' dropout, child marriage, rural quality gaps
  — HEALTH: maternal mortality, SRH access, uterine prolapse, menstrual stigma
  — CLIMATE: women disproportionately affected, underrepresented in decisions
  — SAFETY: GBV, trafficking, child marriage, chhaupadi, witchcraft accusations

• CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS:
  — For orgs with budgets $100K–$1M
  — Covers technology, strategic planning, M&E, staff training
  — Same application process

• BEYOND FUNDING — VISIBILITY VALUE:
  — Featured MONTHLY to Rise's nationwide chapter network
  — Extensive LEARNING MATERIALS produced about your project
  — Promotion via website, newsletters, social media
  — This educational/visibility component is a major non-financial benefit

• IMPORTANT NOTES:
  — Application opens May 5 — only 1 MONTH application window
  — ONE cycle per year — don't miss it
  — REGISTER for info sessions April 28/30 NOW
  — US 501(c)(3) or fiscal sponsor is NON-NEGOTIABLE
  — If Nepal org needs a fiscal sponsor: start the relationship NOW for 2027 cycle
  — WOMEN-LED requirement — majority of board + staff must be women
  — $100K MINIMUM budget — smaller organisations don't qualify
  — 4-YEAR gap between grants for repeat applicants
  — Online SITE VISIT may be required — be prepared
  — Form 990 required — ensure your US entity has filed

• TIMELINE:
  — Apr 28 & 30: Info sessions
  — May 5: Portal opens
  — May 19: Office hours
  — Jun 1: Office hours
  — Jun 5: DEADLINE (5 PM ET)
  — Nov 2026: Approved grantees notified
  — Dec 2026: Unsuccessful notified
  — 2027: Grants awarded and featured

• CONTACT: grants@togetherwomenrise.org
  
• SOURCE: https://togetherwomenrise.org/featured-grant-guidelines/