Over the past 20 years, through the generosity of hundreds of women and men like you, the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) has blossomed into one of the leading women's foundations in the nation. With the collective power of the investments of so many, we have been able to provide the resources needed and the skills necessary to transform lives in our community.
We proudly announce our Vision 2020 initiative, a carefully envisioned pathway to the reduction of poverty in Memphis. WFGM has established a five-year strategic plan targeting 38126, concentrating our efforts on the area of highest need in order to make the greatest difference.
What Inspires You About the Women's Foundation?
"In a world that is dominated by men and doing the work that they do, it's always good to have women promoting and uplifting each other." -
Dorian S.
"They [WFGM] enable women to lift themselves up and better themselves." -
Linda T.
Ruby Bright, Executive Director and CAO
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PHILANTHROPY
Choice Neighborhood and Zip Code 38126
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Toby Sells, Memphis Flyer
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The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis serves a backbone organization, aligning resources and coordinating community-based services with Urban Strategies Memphis HOPE. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Memphis Housing Authority and the City of Memphis a 2015 Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant for $30 million. Memphis was one of five cities to receive the award. The initiative, Memphis South City, will focus on developing three components in zip code 38126 - neighborhood, people and infrastructure. The Memphis South City initiative aligns with WFGM's Vision 2020 Strategic Plan that focuses on reducing poverty in zip code 38126 by one percent per year over the next five years.
Female Warriors: Armed and Delicious
The Women's Foundation thanks Female Warriors: Armed and Delicious for supporting our mission and vision.
The inaugural event united restaurateurs, purveyors and culinary thought leaders to become champions for the women of Memphis. Held on Dec. 1 in the lobby of Brinkley Plaza, Female Warriors: Armed and Delicious featured live music, fun cocktails and delicious food from local female culinary warriors.
"There are so many women in food doing amazing things who understand that everything starts in the kitchen. They are in restaurants cooking food; they are writing about food, or are growing food. We want to empower these people to pull together to build a support system that in turn supports the bigger community." - Felicia Willett, owner of Felicia Suzanne's
Join United Capital Memphis in Supporting the Women's Foundation
You can help improve the lives of those you care about and help The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis win up to $25,000! Learn more ...
Holiday Tribute Cards Are Now Available
The holiday season is a time for joy and giving. What better way to express the generosity of your heart than by honoring those who make a difference in your life. The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis offers you the opportunity to celebrate those on your gift list with a Holiday Tribute Card that will make a lasting impact for women and children in Memphis! Order your cards today ...
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 Paths to Equity - Women's Funding Network Annual Conference
WFGM was asked to participate in the Women's Funding Network (WFN) Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA. WFGM Executive Director and CAO Ruby Bright was a panelist for a presentation entitled "Innovation in Action." Bright focused her talking points on the Vision 2020 plan. The overarching purpose of Vision 2020 is to reduce poverty in the 38126 zip code area by one percent (1%) per year over five years.
To view more about the speakers and topics, click here.
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ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Prosperity Together
The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis Joins the Partnership to Demonstrate the Collective Power of Women's Foundations in Effective Grantmaking.
The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis, a member of
Prosperity Together
, a nonpartisan partnership of public U.S. women's foundations, announced a collective five-year, $100 million funding commitment by women's foundations to create pathways to economic security for low-income women and their families in America.
T
he partnership will fund local programs with a proven track record in providing women with job training and child care, among other supports.
Prosperity Together
made the announcement at the
White House Summit on Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color
, which
focused on a wide range of issues including the
barriers and solutions to economic security confronting millions of low-income women living in America.
In partnership, The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis has committed to invest $9.5 million over the next five years to secure economic prosperity for women and thier families through the
Vision 2020 Strategic Plan.
Prosperity Together
made the announcement at the
White House Summit on Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color
, which
focused on a wide range of issues including the
barriers and solutions to economic security confronting millions of low-income women living in America.
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RESEARCH
Asset Funders Network Strategy Spotlight
The Racial Wealth Gap: Narrowing the Racial Wealth Gap through Business Ownership
The Asset Funders Network (AFN) is a membership organization of national, regional and community-based foundations and grantmakers that are strategic about using philanthropy to promote economic opportunity and financial security for low and moderate income Americans.
AFN recently published
"The Racial Wealth Gap: Narrowing the Racial Wealth Gap through Business Ownership." This research provides a guidepost for strategic philanthropic support aimed at addressing the barriers that African Americans and Latinos face in using business ownership as a means to generate wealth. The growing racial and ethnic wealth gap presents a challenge for funders striving to build assets and tackle inequality in the United States.
Washington Center for Equitable Growth
The Washington Center for Equitable Growth recently published a report analyzing the need for universal Pre-K programs. If the United States invested in public, voluntary, high-quality, universal prekindergarten starting in 2016, it would take only eight years for the overall benefits to exceed costs, according to a new reports.
Below are a few statistics for Tennessee:
If a universal prekindergarten program were to start in the United States in 2016,
Tennessee
would see more than $
5,827
million in total benefits in 2050, amounting to savings of $
690
per capita that year. Here's how these total benefits break down:
- $185.83 per person is attributed to savings to government.
- $234.85 per person comes from increased compensation.
- The remaining $268.96 per person is accounted for by savings to each individual from better health and less crime.
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INSIDE WFGM
Welcome to the newest members of our team.
 Damarius Coleman-Everett
Coleman-Everett serves as a VISTA volunteer. Her responsibilities at the foundation will be to support workforce training development strategies and to assist in placing low-income women in living wage employment opportunities. Coleman-Everett comes to the foundation with over seven years experience in working with low-income families. We look forward to sharing her knowledge and commitment to helping families move toward economic security.
 Patria Johnson
Johnson
is our new Grants and Programs Manager. She is working closely with our Grants committee and grantee partners to measure outcomes and impact. Patria is also working closely with other city and national partners on the Memphis South City initiative led by the City of Memphis and Memphis Housing Authority. Patria offers over 10 years of experience in grant making and program management.
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SAVE THE DATES
Modern Day Woman's Conference
Friday, March 18 and
Saturday, March 19, 2016
2016 Annual Tribute Luncheon and Symposium
Legends Award Reception
Thursday, April 21, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
The Columns at
One Commerce Square
2016 Annual Tribute Luncheon
Friday, April 29, 2016
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Memphis Cook Convention Center
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KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS
Kroger is committed to helping
communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations earn millions of dollars through Kroger Community
Rewards®. WFGM supporters can earn rewards for our organization every time you swipe your Kroger Plus Card!
Log on to Kroger Community Rewards
and create an account
if you have not already done so.
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WFGM is a Proud Partner of
WHEREtoGIVEmidsouth
WHEREtoGIVEmidsouth
is a directory of nonprofit organizations in the greater Memphis area. Discover organizations that are working on issues important to you. You can not only find information about their mission, staff and board, major programs, and finances, but also donate to support their work.
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| HOW TO GET INVOLVED - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Join us as a volunteer with Vision 2020. We have several areas of focus within
this strategic plan, including: Early Childhood Education Job Readiness Financial Literacy Volunteers are also needed for: Administrative Support Clerical Work Communications & Marketing Data Entry To volunteer, complete the online form
or call 901.578.9346. |
WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU!
Each month we receive information about incredible women doing incredible things.
If you have a story about a
phenomenal woman who is impacting the community, transforming women's lives and the face of poverty and supporting the work of the
Women's Foundation, we want to
hear from you.
Please make suggestions or submit information regarding potential
e-news stories to
Brittany Tuggle
or call 901-969-2399.
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