US Chess Women's Program Applications Open

US Chess is delighted to open up the grant application for Women's Programs, funded by a generous $100,000 donation from the Saint Louis Chess Club. We aim to support non-profit affiliates (501 c3) with a proven track record and desire to promote chess to girls and women via projects planned any time for the summer of 2019 through spring of 2020. Applicants are encouraged to be creative-they can apply for anything from funding a tournament or community chess day to a series of adult women's classes. Please do not view our suggestions as limitations, but to trigger your imagination. Find the application form here.  This process is part of our ongoing efforts to bring more women and girls into chess. Our criteria will include some of the following considerations:
  1. Track record of applicant
  2. Intent to attract 50%+ participation of girls in proposed project
  3. Benefits a small or large group, rather than targeting specific individuals
  4. Project promotes intended goal to empower and promote girls and women in chess
  5. Efficiency
  6. Creativity
  7. Capacity to carry out program, including appropriate insurance
  8. Potential intersections with other US Chess goals (such as reaching a more diverse population, or encouraging people with disabilities)
  9. Need
  10. Geographic and organizational diversity (we are less likely to choose multiple projects submitted by the same organization.)
Selected projects will be funded for $1500 to $7500. The initial submission deadline is May 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Applications will be reviewed internally by US Chess staff leadership. Accepted applicants will be required to
  • Submit a report within 45 days after the end of the project, including testimonials/stories and photos (with an indication of whether we can use for publication and press). Awardees with multi-week projects will be encouraged to update US Chess via email or social media as their projects progress.
  • List US Chess and STL Chess Club as co-sponsors on fliers and promotional emails/posters. Select programs will be encouraged to use US Chess Women boards.
  • Send a demographic and summary report to US Chess within 45 days of the end of the project, including the number of people served, % of females served and summary of activities, including lessons learned. Please describe what Future efforts aimed at women and girls in chess you envision that were seeded by this grant project.
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