The University of Arkansas Women's Giving Circle is now accepting proposals for programs and initiatives supporting the campus and community. Projects should include work that falls within the scope of the Women's Giving Circle's funding priority areas:

• Support and promote scholarship, research and service
• Enrich the quality of life of women and children
• Encourage outreach and engagement in Arkansas

Please visit the Women's Giving Circle website to download the proposal application, review the process and see a list of past funding recipients. Proposals will be accepted from now until 5 p.m. on Monday, May 15. Grants will be awarded during the fall voting event on Oct. 20. Please contact your unit's development officer with questions, clarification or assistance in preparing your proposal.

The application process is paperless, and a budget report in Excel is an application requirement. The template should be strictly followed and is available online with the application materials. The Submission Cover Sheet should be submitted with your proposal and signed by the director of development and dean or vice chancellor of your college, school or unit.

Beginning with the 2016 Grant Cycle, the Women's Giving Circle instituted a two-year funding rule. No applicant may receive funding for the same project for more than two consecutive years. After a third year has passed, projects or programs are welcome to submit another application. For the first time this year, the maximum funding for any grant will be capped at $20,000.

The Women's Giving Circle was created by the founding members of the Women in Philanthropy Committee of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. Since 2003, the circle has awarded over $1 million in funding to faculty and staff members from various departments and academic units at the university. This year marks the 15th year of funding for the circle.