1. Who can apply for a grant?

Grants are only given to members of NFWFWF.

NFWFWF membership is defined as any self-identified lesbian that lives or rents within the boundaries of Southold, Shelter Island or Riverhead Townships. Membership is free. You can sign up on our website at nfwfwf.org/join, or you can send us an email with your full name, email address and mailing address, or call (631) 477-8464 and leave a message with your contact information.

The process begins with a request for assistance through our Grant Application form. Our program manager receives the completed Grant Application and forwards the request to our Grant Committee within 48 hours. The entire process is highly confidential without anyone on the committee knowing the identity of the requestor. Our program manager acts as a liaison between the grant committee and the grant applicant, keeping the name confidential from the committee.

Once the Grant Committee has completed their review, they will make a recommendation to the president. The president then presents a synopsis of the request to the NFWFWF board, after which a vote is taken to approve or deny the application.
If the application is approved, the program manager will notify the recipient and a check is mailed to the requestor.

The time it takes to process a grant is taken on a case by case basis, depending on urgency or the need for additional documentation. The average turn-around for a grant has been one-to-two weeks, but again, the application needs to reviewed first to decide on timing.

You have your choice of:

• Download the form to your computer at nfwfwf.org/services/grants. Fill out the application (the form is fillable). Send the completed application with any supporting documents to us by email or regular mail. Our contact information is below.
• Go to northforkwomen.org/services/grants, click on the form, print the form, fill it in by hand and mail it back to us at the address below. If you don’t have a computer or a printer, leave a message at (631) 477-8464 and request an application. Make sure to include your mailing address and will mail an application form to you.

Our contact information is:

• Email: admin@nfwfwf.org
• Regular mail: NFWFWF, Att: Grants, PO Box 804, Greenport, NY 11944
• Phone: (631) 477-8464 Leave a message, we’ll get back to you shortly.

We are able to assist with the payment of unexpected medical and wellness expenses that are not covered by insurance. For example, and not limited to, dental procedures and prosthetics, hearing aids and other medical devices. We are also able to assist with payment of annual physical exams, mammograms and dermatology screenings. We can also assist with the installation of in-home safety modifications that allow someone to stay in their home without fear, including LifeLines personal emergency response systems.

In addition to the items mentioned above, we can help with payment for non-medical expenses, such as car repairs, necessary home expenses, unexpected bills or other essential items. Of course, the new non-medical grants will follow the same procedures as our current medical grants. They will be reviewed by the Grants Committee and sent to the NFWFWF board for final approval.

A LifeLine is a button you wear around your neck (like a pendant) or on your wrist (like a watch). The button is connected to the LifeLine emergency center. They can speak to you via a small speaker that is set up in your home. If you ‘have fallen and can’t get up’, press the button and you can speak to the emergency technician, who will get in touch with either the local 911 people, or a person of your choosing. This is great for people who live alone and want the security of being able to contact someone should an emergency arise.

The LifeLine can be set up with a land line or a cell phone. You can have different add-ons such as fall detection. Contact admin@nfwfwf.org if you have any questions regarding LifeLine. All information is strictly confidential.

Yes, each grant is reviewed and awarded on a case by case basis with the understanding of its uniqueness and level of urgency.

Yes. Many health and wellness expenses are NOT covered by insurance and can be quite expensive causing a shortfall in savings and daily living cash flow requirements.

Yes. As long as you are a member of NFWFWF and own or rent on the North Fork for all or part of the year, you are eligible for a grant. Many of our members are second-home owners/renters and are eligible for a grant.