Grant funding for International Women’s Day 2025
Applications have now closed
The Council is a long-standing supporter of gender equality and supports annual activities every March to promote and celebrate International Women's Day (8 March).
Manchester City Council is keen to continue the celebrations with an event on Saturday 8 March 2025, as well as smaller citywide events. As always, we want to empower community groups, not for profit and voluntary organisations to deliver great activities to celebrate the role of women in our society in support of our wider event. We would welcome applications which include activities for the event on Saturday 8 March 2025.
We are inclusive of all women including trans women and non-binary people. When we refer to women, we are inclusive of gender identities such as women, cis women, trans women, non-binary and gender-fluid people.
Application Scope
We want to make International Women's Day 2025 as accessible, participatory and enjoyable for everyone as possible. Funding is therefore open to community groups, not for profit and voluntary organisations, for anything that's going to contribute to a celebration of women, with a particular focus on this year's theme: #AccelerateAction.
Key eligibility criteria
You (or your organisation) must be based within or provide a service within Manchester City Council region to be eligible for funding (for example, you should pay your business rates or council tax to Manchester City Council).
We welcome all applicants who are carrying out activities and events across the city and within local communities.
- You can apply for funding to deliver a one-off celebration to take place on or around International Women's Day 2025 and this can be hybrid or in person.
- The event or activity must benefit a minimum of 10 people.
- Make sure you tell us how your event or activity will help people to #AccelerateAction.
- You need to ensure your event is fully accessible and need to explain how you will do this.
Any activities must not be religious or political in nature or promote religious or political affiliation. Please note that faith groups can apply but not for activities that are related to worship or the promotion of a particular faith.
Most of all get creative! Let us know your best ideas to deliver a celebration of International Women's Day safely - whether that's online, hybrid or in-person.
Funded groups will be required to send through content (such as photos and videos) in the run up to their events, talking about how they'll use the funding and how people can get involved.
Our funding priorities
All applicants will be considered according to these funding priorities. We will make our funding decisions on which projects most closely meet one or more of these priorities, and the eligibility criteria.
- Organisations run by women, including cis women, trans women, or non-binary people.
- Community based organisations supporting women as part of their work.
- Projects supporting underrepresented or marginalised women.
Funding Sums
The International Women's Day 2025 fund is £10,000, and we want to support as many applicants from this as possible. Each applicant is therefore invited to apply for funding up to £500.
Funding Decisions
Funding awards will be decided on by a funding review panel with an aim to support a broad spectrum of activity and recipients. Awards will be based on the relative merit of each application, not the sums being applied for.
Monitoring
All successful applications will be required to complete some monitoring and evaluation from their activity to help share successes and showcase the work that has taken place. Successful applicants should also be prepared to meet with Manchester City Council once they have delivered their activity to provide a verbal update and any useful feedback for future events.
For successful candidates
The terms and conditions form must be returned by 10 January 2025. If you do not return the forms in time, this will result in funds being delayed.
Please note: if you have not applied for Manchester City Council funding prior to this year, you will need to provide your full name, contact details and bank account details. If you do not provide your bank details by 10 January 2025, the funds may be delayed.
Applications have now closed