The deadline to apply for WISH (Women Investing in Shepherd) grants is March 1.

Applicants submitting an inquiry by March 1 will be notified about their eligibility to submit a formal grant proposal. WISH will award four equal grants of $20,625 to two local nonprofits and two Shepherd University learning projects.

Qualifying nonprofit organizations must be designated as 501(c)(3) public charities. Organizations and groups affiliated with Shepherd University must be university sanctioned.

Last year, WISH awarded two grants, each equaling $26,250, to Panhandle Home Health, Inc., a local nonprofit organization and the Seeding the Future Initiative, a learning project at Shepherd University.

Panhandle Home Health, Inc. received the grant for its Wound Care Initiative program, which provided wound care certifaication for six nurses, who served the areas of Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties in West Virginia.

Seeding the Future Initiative used the grant to host a one-day conference for middle-school-age girls and monthly seminars open to all high schoolers.

WISH, a women’s giving circle comprised of both alumnae and community members, was established in 2014 by the Shepherd University Foundation and a volunteer steering committee from Women for Shepherd University to educate, engage and empower women to achieve their philanthropic goals.

For information about how to submit a letter of inquiry, go to shepherduniversityfoundation.org/get-involved/women-for-su/women-investing-in-shepherd/apply-for-grants.