New & Returning Members
Raleigh Anne Blank
Whitney Brooks
Mariah Dwyer
Deborah Fenderson
Kari Halkyard
Tiffany Jones
Patricia Laystrom
Madi Palermo
Sonjia Parker
Courtney Payne
Louisa Sartorius
Jolie Short
Jean Sullivan
Kathleen Turner
Lori Wilson
Joan Zimmerman
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Referring Members
Shannon Acks
Mary Lou Babb
Dianne Bailey
Christy Bostic
Lisa Farley
Kathy Izard
Arrington Mixon
Sonja Nichols
Patty Norman
Alane Paraison
Anne Predieri
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A huge thank you to the members of the Grants Task Force for doing an amazing job!
Ann McMillin Allen (co-chair)
Pearlynn Houck (co-chair)
Christy Bostic
Jill Dinwiddie
Gina Lawrence
Deborah Majewski
Lisa Miller
Kathleen O'Bannon
and
Susan Patterson
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A special thank you to our incredible WIF staff
Jessica Klasinski
and
Kathleen Bambrick Meier
Their hard work, enthusiasm and passion have played a key role in our success this year!
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Women's Impact Fund Page
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If you are on LinkedIn,
please ask to join the
Women's Impact Fund Group
by clicking on the "Join Group" button.
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Celebrating our Collective Wins:
A Message from Outgoing Board Chair Anne Essaye
As my term as Board Chair comes to an end, I wanted to thank you for being members. Thank you for your passion and your desire to move the dial on critical needs in Charlotte. YOU are our most valuable asset.
Here are some of our
big wins for the year:
- $5 Million in Cumulative Grants - We hit a major milestone of $5 Million in total grants made since inception.
- Goal of 500 Members - We have 480 members! Please help us reach our goal of 500. There's no one better to tell our story and encourage others to join.
- Spark Initiative - Our exciting new grant initiative is intended to spark positive change in the community and allow us to be more agile, responsive and collaborative. Given the recent release of the Opportunity Task Force's recommendations, we believe the time is right.
- Community Impact Analysis - We engaged UNC Charlotte's Urban Institute to do an independent assessment of the impact of our first 10 years of investments made in the community. The findings were fascinating. Among other things:
- Multiplier effect - WIF's support was described as "transformative" and "a game changer" by adding visibility and credibility to the non-profits funded, leading to additional funding and resources to serve the community
- WIF grants and our grant process enabled operational improvement and innovation within the nonprofits themselves (i.e., better data collection & analysis, proof of concept)
- Issues haven't changed but the approach has - shift to holistic, quality vs. quantity/depth vs. breadth
- WIF educates and empowers its members to be philanthropic leaders in our community
- 2017 WCGN Spotlight Award - We received a national Spotlight Award from the Women's Collective Giving Grantmakers Network for our transformative grant to Pat's Place. We are so proud of Pat's Place and the important services they provide to sexually and physically abused children.
- Accessibility - We moved our offices to C3 Lab, a co-work space and art studio in South End. We also hosted an excellent program with record-breaking attendance at Johnson C. Smith University about the Opportunity Task Force's work.
- Rebranding - We just started a rebranding process, coupled with a new website and technology overhaul. We plan to create a brand that unmistakably builds external awareness of the organization and its impact and also attracts and retains members.
- Being Brave - It's clear to me that our leadership, staff and members have strived to "be brave, not perfect" this year. I am proud of us. My hope is that we will continue to be brave in order to be bold leaders on community issues.
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Boomerang Members
by Suzan Becker
Goodbye doesn't have to be forever! Women's Impact Fund (WIF) loves it when members come back after a break or letting their membership lapse. This past year, there have been at least six women who have rejoined after some time away from the organization. Some of their stories might make
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Returning member Deborah Bosley |
you smile or surprise you, but all are a testament to the strength and enduring importance of what WIF is, does and who we are.
Deborah Bosley answered her phone several months ago to hear Anne Essaye, our 2016-2017 Board Chair, inviting her to lunch. Deborah had been away from WIF for about five years.
"I wanted to move my philanthropic dollars to something else and I was in the midst of retiring; I had to reassess my financial commitments," Deborah said. As a result, when she finished her five-year commitment to the organization, she just didn't sign back up.
Anne's phone invitation was to a WIF gathering. Deborah has always respected the organization. She likes to give back, and she likes the convenience of writing one check that gets put into a pool of money...
READ MORE
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WIF Member News
Jean Miller's literacy endeavor
Read a Book, Earn a Book is celebrating supporting over 80 CMS students this year and is looking forward to expanding from four to six locations by the 2017-18 school year. Learn more at
rbebtutoring.org.
Dress for Success has announced it will award
Jill Dinwiddie the Paradigm Award at the Dress for Success "Ultimate Power Lunch" on September 26, 2017, at The Fillmore Charlotte. The theme is "Circle of Impact."
WIF members, we want to hear from you! WIF Member News depends totally on you! Please send us news of a new job, new volunteer leadership role, a new addition to your family, a big move or anything else you'd like to share with your family of WIF friends. Email:
[email protected]
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