Seeds of Strength Frequently Asked Questions
Membership
We welcome women of all ages and backgrounds who wish to participate in a dynamic charitable organization that seeks to enrich lives in our community through grants to nonprofit organizations serving the greater Georgetown area.
Please contact our Membership Committee at membership@seedsofstrength.org, or contact us at info@seedsofstrength.org. More information is available at our website seedsofstrength.org.
Every member’s contribution goes to the grant fund for the coming year plus a $50 operating fee to offset expenses including postage, web hosting, event costs, and other management expenses. 100% of member donations are tax deductible.
All member contributions are due by the date stated in the most recent membership form, in order to be eligible to vote for grant awards in the spring of the upcoming grant year.
Membership forms and payment options are available on our website. Click here to go to the Membership page.
Membership Meetings
Seeds of Strength hosts four member events annually—in February – Wine/Women/Chocolate & Giving; in April or May – finalists presentations to membership, voting and grant awards ceremony; in September – an Annual Luncheon; in November – a Fall Social.
Guests are welcome at almost all Seeds of Strength events, which will be shown in the event’s invitation sent to all members. However, the annual April/May meeting with finalists presentations to membership, membership voting and the announcement of grant awards is limited to Seeds of Strength members.
Committees
Seeds of Strength has five standing committees: Membership, Grants, Compliance, Communication, Events and Technology. Committee descriptions can be found on the website in the ABOUT US pull-down menu.
Please feel free to contact any committee chair directly, or if you do not have her contact information, contact info@seedsofstrength.org or membership@seedsofstrength.org and you will be put in touch with the appropriate committee chair. (Although we show committee chair names on our website, we do not publish personal email addresses on the website.)
All members are invited to share their unique skills and talents within a committee, if they choose to do so. Members are under no obligation to join a committee.
Grants
Nonprofit organizations submit grant proposals to Seeds of Strength at the start of each new grant cycle. Members of the Grants Committee read and evaluate the proposals and submit their findings to the board which determines the finalists. In April, finalists make a brief video which is presented to the membership, members vote, grantees are notified, and awards are presented in May. The number and dollar amount of the annual grants are determined each year by the number of Seeds of Strength members.
Sign up to serve on one of the committees related to grants. Prior to grants being awarded, the Grants Committee reviews grant proposals in order to determine the finalists. After grants have been awarded, the Compliance Committee works with the grant recipients, reviewing progress against the grant proposal.
Key dates for the grant cycle are posted on the website in early October. Nonprofits may obtain application information and materials from the website at that time. Letters of Intent are due in November on the date and time specified on the website. Eligible applicants are invited to submit a Grant Application, which is due in February. The Grants Committee reviews grant proposals February through April. Finalists are announced to the membership through virtual presentations, member voting takes place, and grants are awarded.