Nebraska nonprofit organizations striving to address critical community needs or wishing to make a significant local or state impact may now submit funding ideas to Women Investing in Nebraska (WIN).

For information and to submit an online letter of inquiry for consideration, go to womeninvestinginnebraska.org by March 1.

WIN will award two grants this year of equal value. One grant will be awarded to a Nebraska charitable organization and another grant will be awarded to an organization or group directly affiliated with the University of Nebraska. Each grant award will be $65,000 or greater.

More information about the call for inquiries:

• Qualifying Nebraska organizations must be designated as nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities.
• Organizations and groups affiliated with the University of Nebraska are also encouraged to submit inquiries.
• All organizations must submit an inquiry by March 1 and will be notified about eligibility to submit a formal grant proposal.

WIN was established in 2011 by the University of Nebraska Foundation and its women in philanthropy committee to connect women and involve them in local philanthropy. Members of WIN pledge to make a gift each year for three years. Its members then grant 50 percent of their combined annual contributions to a Nebraska nonprofit organization and 50 percent to a University of Nebraska organization or group.

“Each of us involved with Women Investing in Nebraska is looking forward to our inaugural grant funding year,” said Lisa Smith, chair of WIN’s executive committee. “We especially hope to hear from Nebraska organizations with bold, innovative ideas or ventures.”

WIN is also seeking new members. To learn more about membership and upcoming events, go to womeninvestinginnebraska.org or call Tracy Edgerton at 402-458-1160 or 800-432-3216.

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that has connected the dreams and passions of donors to the mission of the university for more than 75 years. In 2011, donors gave a record $172 million in gifts for scholarships, academic programs, medical research and other priorities at the university. The foundation’s $1.2 billion fundraising initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, concludes in 2014.