Activating Leadership Grant Guidelines

Eileen strongly believes each of us has the ability to lead—in our personal lives, the workplace and our communities. There are many ways to lead, many styles of leadership and many kinds of effective leaders. Bold or introspective, outgoing or imaginative, we each have the potential to make a difference.

By activating the natural leadership qualities within ourselves, we are able to find our voices, build inner strength and develop the confidence to pursue what really matters. This is the essence of EILEEN FISHER's Activating Leadership Grant Program for Women and Girls.

For three years beginning in 2010, EILEEN FISHER will fund programs that activate leadership qualities in women and girls. We are particularly interested in programs that:

• bring about self-discovery and personal transformation
• help women and/or girls find their inner strength and trust their intuition
• address any phase of a woman's and/or girl's life

Grant Cycle

Our grant program will review applications from nonprofit organizations in three annual cycles along the following themes:

Year 1 (2010): Achieving Personal Transformation

Year 2 (2011): Applying Leadership Attributes

Year 3 (2012): Leading for Impact

What We Look For

Each year, grants of $5,000 or more will be awarded, including grants for general support and seed funding for grassroots organizations. Grants beyond Year 1 will be open to any applying organization, not just those who have received a grant in Year 1. Additionally, the receipt of a Year 1 Activating Leadership Grant does not automatically qualify an organization for a grant in Year 2 or 3. All organizations must reapply each year. In our search for 501(c)(3) nonprofit community partners: we will give preference to organizations that:

• show an innovative, holistic, effective and direct approach to activating leadership among women and/or girls
• form partnerships with other community organizations for deeper impact
• demonstrate the long-term sustainability and viability of the organization
• show a clear need for the funds and a plan for their use
• demonstrate a long-term commitment to their work
• establish resonance with the EILEEN FISHER company mission and leadership practices
• are located near the EILEEN FISHER offices, retail stores or showrooms or outside the United States (via U.S.-based charities only).

The Activating Leadership Grant cycle is now closed. For more information on our 2013 grant focus, please check back in late Spring.