Community Action Grants
The Morgan Hill Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) is committed to providing local and national support for AAUW’s mission, promoting equity for women and girls. The growing success of our annual Morgan Hill Wildflower Run fundraiser enables AAUW Morgan Hill to expand our philanthropic activities, and we are now awarding discretionary grants of up to $1000 each to local charitable organizations.
We are accepting grant applications for the 2021-2022 year. Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2021.
GRANT APPLICATIONTimeline
Completed 2021-2022 grant applications must be submitted (AAUW Morgan Hill, Attn: Community Action Grants, P.O. Box 1528, Morgan Hill, CA 95038) and postmarked no later than November 15. Alternatively, they may be emailed to grants@aauwmh.org. Successful candidates will be notified of their selection by December 15, 2021. Funding must be used before the end of the 2022 calendar year.
Application Criteria
Grants for up to $1000 each will be provided to local non-profit organizations requesting funding for a specific program or expense that is in alignment with AAUW’s mission. An organization may request funding for more than one project or program, but separate applications are required for each.
2015-2016 grant recipient Community Solutions took teens to see Maccario by Teatro Visión
Priority consideration will be given to grant requests in support of:
- A local non-profit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue code.
- A specific program or expense that is in alignment with AAUW’s mission. Examples include:
- Broad based education programs, for any age group.
- Education programs targeted at under served segments of the population.
- Programs specifically targeted at equity for women and girls.
- Events, programs, or projects that have a broad reach or impact, with the opportunity to create long-term value.
- Programs that support individuals from the Morgan Hill community, as defined by the boundaries of the Morgan Hill Unified School District.
- Programs that charge minimal or no fees to participate.
We do not anticipate awarding grants to:
- Benefit individuals or families. (Note: we also offer a separate scholarship program; see details on the scholarship page of our website.)
- For-profit entities.
- Support political or religious purposes.
- Cover costs already incurred.
- Support fundraising events (door prizes, raffles, auctions, etc.).
- Cover operational expenses (except perhaps in the case of a start-up proposal).
- Programs or organizations located outside of the South Bay area.
2020-2021 Recipients of $12,000 in Grants:
| Recipient | Project |
|---|---|
| Gavilan College Student Emergency Fund | A one-time special contribution of $5,000 was made to the Gavilan College Foundation to support students with emergency needs (food, transportation, utilities, lodging) due to the pandemic |
| Britton Middle School | Purchase of a remote-learning program that encourages online student interactions; Purchase of digital drawing tablets to enable math teachers to more effectively communicate with students both in the classroom and remotely |
| P.A. Walsh Elementary School |
Gift cards to encourage regular student attendance and participation in remote learning |
| San Martin Gwinn School | Increase the number of Spanish-language books in the school library Host motivational speaker Lilyan Prado Carrillo for a Zoom assembly |
| Paradise Valley Engineering Academy | Furnish its new library space and build its book collection |
| Literary Legacies and Poppy Jasper International Film Festival | For connected projects to support a youth writing workshop and film program to enable girls to explore their identities and find their place in the world as well as encourage girls to enter filmmaking |
| BookSmart Community Advantage | Buy books for its “Diverse Books for Our Community” program to broaden the range of books available in school libraries |
| Discovery Counseling Center |
Support of its Bold Journey and Boldly Me programs to build self-esteem and mentoring in elementary and middle school students |
2019-2020 Recipients of $7,000 in Grants:
| Recipient | Project |
|---|---|
| Community Solutions | Liberated: Self-Sufficiency for Survivors of Interpersonal Violence |
| Morgan Hill Peace Project | Funds to complete a 10-foot basalt peace column |
| Literary Legacies | “We Are Ourselves,” a gender identity workshop for South County youth between the ages of 10 and 18 |
| BookSmart Community Advantage | The Gift of Reading Morgan Hill |
| Learning & Loving Education Center | Supporting “English Now!,” a national program to help, locally, 20 women to form Learning Circles |
| Discovery Counseling Center | “Bold Quest” mentor program and “Bold Journey” elementary program, to teach teen mentors and elementary school students how positive self-image and healthy self-esteem affect their ability to build successful relationships. |
| Poppy Jasper International Film Festival | “See It and Be It 2020,” a workshop for high school girls on positive female representation in film |
| Britton Middle School | to support girls’ participation in recess and lunchtime pickup basketball & soccer games |
| PA Walsh Steam Academy | Positive Behavior Intervention funding + beautification funds for the campus |
| Advent Group Ministries | First Aid Art Groups for Brighter Trauma-Free Futures (training for facilitator) for young women in the MH residential treatment facility |