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Nonprofit Organization

Community Partner

Nonprofit Organization

Lumena Foundation supports a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. If you have a need and think the fit is right, reach out. Let’s start a conversation.

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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about our funding process.

How can I apply for a grant?

We do our best to keep this process simple so you can focus on the true work of your nonprofit. Lumena grant applications are available online through our website:

Applications for the Moon and Star funds are open to the public and become available on February 15th and must be received by March 31st.
Applications for the Sun fund are by invitation only and are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

What are the criteria for eligibility?

Your organization is eligible to apply for a Lumena grant when:

Your organization is a 501(c)3.
Your headquarters are based inside the US.
The target constituents of your organization are inside the US.
Your organization is either a women-focused nonprofit or you are a nonprofit seeking funding for a women-focused project.
Your organization supports one (or more) of the five dimensions of well-being for women—health, education, economic empowerment, personal safety, legal rights.

Can my organization apply for more than one grant this year?

Yes! If you’ve applied for a grant from our Moon fund, or have been invited to apply for a grant from our Sun Fund, you can also choose to apply for a scholarship grant from our Star fund.

What do we mean by all Women?

When we say all women should have a right to self-determination, we place the emphasis on all. This is about total inclusion—cis, trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or any marginalized genders—everyone.

When is the application period?

Applications for the Moon and Star funds become available to the public on February 15th and should be received by Lumena by March 31st. Applications for the Sun fund are available by invitation and are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

Applicants to the Moon and Star funds can expect to hear from Lumena within 60 days of the application deadline. Applicants to the Sun fund can expect to hear from Lumena within 60 days of submitting their full rolling application.

Who reviews my application?

Our small team leans into curiosity. We welcome the opportunity to learn about your work, your challenges, and your points of pride. All applications are reviewed by our board of trustees.

How does Lumena determine whether to issue a grant?

Our mission is to invest in courageous individuals and organizations who advance a woman’s right to self-determination. We work towards our mission by finding ways to support the five dimensions of well-being for women (health, education, economic empowerment, personal safety, legal rights). When reviewing grant applications, we look for organizations that focus on one or more of these dimensions of well-being. We also search for a point of connection that will spark joy, vulnerability, and learning for all of us.

What is the typical duration of Lumena grants?

Lumena embraces trust-based philanthropy. To us, that means that the majority of our grants are multi-year and unrestricted use. Specifically:

Grants from the Moon fund have at least a 1-year commitment from Lumena.
Grants from the Sun fund have a 3-year commitment from Lumena.
Grants from Star fund have a 1-year commitment from Lumena if this will be the first year of your internal scholarship program.
Grants from Star are available for up to a 3-year commitment if your internal scholarship program has been operational for one year or longer.

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How much money is allocated to grantees?

Grants from the Moon and Star funds are available for $10k–$50k/year.
Grants from the Sun fund are available for $50k+/year.

How are potential partners notified?

Lumena will contact potential partners by email.

What types of organizations are ineligible?

Lumena is an inclusive organization. The following groups do not align with our mission:

Groups that seek to deny the rights of women, girls, and trans or intersex people, based on who they are, the work they do, or their position in society.
Groups that are led by, or are structurally or economically dependent on, political parties or religious institutions.
For-profit businesses.
Organizations that are based outside the US.
Organizations whose target constituents are outside the US.

What is the relationship like between Lumena and grantees during the grant period?

During the grant year, we’ll meet periodically—virtually or over coffee—to learn about your challenges, your points of pride, and to understand how we might better support the work that you do. We value conversation and learning. We skip the written reports.