American Association of University Women
/OVERVIEW: This funder makes grants to women academics and supports women and girls through activism and empowerment.
IP TAKE: While this funder prioritizes women academics in STEM, it does make grants in other fields, including film. Grant seekers just need to make sure that their project in strives to break down educational and economic barriers for women. This is a highly competitive grant space, so have your proposal read by colleagues who understand your field.
There has been some public push back against the AAUW’s lack of racial equity both within its ranks and without, reflected in its grantmaking. Look for developments here down the road.
PROFILE: Founded in 1881, The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is based in Washington, DC and supports women academics. It seeks to “advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.” Through its work, the foundation aims to reduce or eliminate the gender pay gap, promote equal opportunities in education, and advocate for laws and policies that enable women’s success. While grantmaking is not the association’s main focus, it offers Fellowships and Grants to support women in the United States and abroad.
Grants for Women and Girls and Higher Education
AAUW supports women and girls through all of its grantmaking programs, many of which are aimed at giving them access to more lucrative careers. AAUW’s American Fellowships program is its oldest grantmaking vehicle, dating back to 1888. It goes to support women who are “completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication” at institutions in the United States. Applicants are evaluated not only based on their achievements and academic qualifications, but also on an “active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.”
AAUW’s International Fellowships support women who are not American citizens, but are working towards a Master’s degree, Doctoral degree, or Postdoctoral studies at accredited U.S. Institutions. Grantees who return to their home countries to apply their studies may be eligible for the foundation’s International Project Grants.
The foundation’s Selected Professions fellowship was established in 1970 to promote women’s access to male-dominated professions such as law and medicine, but has expanded to target a range of technology-based fields. The fellowship is aimed at women pursuing a full-time graduate degree in one of the designated fields. Currently, all applicants are eligible for fellowships for master’s programs in architecture, computer science, engineering, or math/statistics, while only “women of color” may apply for fellowships covering the second year of a master’s in business administration, the third year of a law degree, or the third or fourth year of a doctorate in Medicine.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
The foundation’s Career Development grants support women who “preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce.” Grantees must hold a bachelor’s degree received at least five years prior to application. These grants prioritize women of color and women seeking their first advance degree.
Community Action Grants support “innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. This program generally prioritizes K-12 education and community college, but generally promotes women’s achievement in STEM fields. In addition to individuals and AAUW affiliates, these grants may also go to local, community-based nonprofits. Grantees include PowerPlay NYC, WriteGirl, and Hidden Herstory.
International Project Grants are aimed at previous recipients of AAUW’s International Fellowship who have returned to their home countries. These grants are intended to help international fellows “build on their academic work and implement community-based projects that will improve the lives of women and girls.” The foundation has supported alumna projects such as “Enhancing Aspirations toward STEM subjects in School Girls in M Ward, Mumbai, India,” Women Cooperatives in Cassava Business in Ghana, an “Yongji Oganic Farmer Video Network Training Program, China.”
Grants for Science Research
AAUW’s grants for Research Publication in Engineering, Medicine, and Science support women who have already completed their doctoral degree and are conducting “basic research in engineering, medicine or the physical or biological sciences.” The grantee must publish their research as a primary author within six months of the end of the grant term. Tenured faculty or any previous recipient of an AAUW fellowship are not eligible.
Important Grant Details:
Grants and Fellowships generally range from $10,000 to $35,000. While there are no geographical restrictions on grantmaking, applicants should note that these grants are targeted at women, and that women of color tend to receive priority in the application process.
AAUW accepts applications for all of its grants online. Deadlines and requirements vary by program. Applicants should review the guidelines carefully before applying to make sure that they are eligible.
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