Applications are now open for the 2013 grant cycle for Women’s Fund El Dorado.

This philanthropic organization is based on the principal of collective giving and operates under the umbrella of the El Dorado Community Foundation.

Each donor member gives $200 or more annually, and each has an equal vote in deciding how to distribute the year’s grant money. The organization’s Grants Committee researches various nonprofit and educational requests to fund specific programs and then determines which will appear on each year’s ballot.

This group in its first five years of existence has granted $200,000 to local nonprofit organizations in El Dorado County.

This year, the donor members of the Women’s Fund have chosen the following categories to focus on:

• $40,000 in Youth Development Grants

• $10,000 divided three ways to programs and/or services for Women & Children, Senior Support, and Physical Health & Mental Health/

Complete guidelines and application forms are available at the office of the El Dorado Community Foundation, 312 Main St., Placerville. All proposals must be received by noon March 20.