New sWIFT Masthead Dec2012
NEW MEMBERS

Enzinma Miller

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Recruitment Event
Monday, September 25
6-8:30pm
Ruth's Chris Steak House - SouthPark
6000 Fairview Road

Social Hour for Social Issues
Monday, October 2
6-8:30pm
Goodwill Opportunity Campus
5301 Wilkinson Blvd.
Register Now!

Intro to WIF Grantmaking Teleconference
Wednesday, October 4
12-1pm
Register Now!

Spark Initiative Teleconference
Wednesday, October 11
12-1pm
Click here to submit your question(s).
Dial In: 712-775-7031
Access Code: 299-315-264
Reminder!
Membership Dues are due by 12/31. Dues notices were emailed at the end of August. If you did not receive one, please let us know. (* Monthly ACH payors did NOT receive a notice).

The easiest way to pay is online! Not only is it convenient & fast, now it's free, too! Click HERE to pay your dues.

Please contact Jessica or Kathleen with any questions.

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Also, check out the WIF
MEMBERS FACEBOOK GROUP
A Letter from Our Board Chair
by Deborah Majewski

 I am humbled and thrilled with the opportunity to serve as the chair of the Women's Impact Fund this year. Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about this organization! I am fortunate to have an amazing Board of Directors to work with in executing against our strategic goals . We held our Board Retreat at the end of August and agreed on our priorities for the year. Here are a few things to be on the lookout for:
  • Our first Spark Initiative grant: In response to feedback from our members, grantees, and the community, we are piloting an additional grant that lets us be more flexible and collaborative in addressing critical needs in our community
  • An updated brand for Women's Impact Fund: We will be introducing a new logo and website to reflect a more contemporary look and feel
  • A new educational opportunity, the Board Leadership Training Program: For those interested in joining the next generation of Board leaders in the Charlotte nonprofit community, this offering will educate and engage members on best practices and practical tips for smart, effective Board leadership
  • Improved processes and systems for our members, prospects, and sponsors resulting from upgraded technology
Additionally, we have many opportunities planned throughout the year to allow members to become or stay engaged. Thank you for being a member of the Women's Impact Fund. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!  
Meet Our Board Chair: 5 Questions for Deborah Majewski

Since becoming a member of the Women's Impact Fund (WIF) in 2009, Deborah Majewski has served on five different committees and spent five years on the Board before this year's stint as Board Chair. Deborah, who has an MBA in Finance and Corporate Accounting, has worked at Bank of America in a variety of roles in the Finance Group since 2003, and before that worked for two other large banks and spent time as a financial services consultant.

The Buffalo, New York, native, who has lived in Charlotte since 1995, sat down with sWIFt to share more about her background, advice for WIF members, and her perfect weekend day.

What have you enjoyed most about the WIF? I've served on the following committees: Grants, Finance, Community Impact, Development, and Nominating. This is my 6th year on the Board - I've previously served as Treasurer (and Incoming), Grants Chair (and Incoming), and Incoming Board Chair.

It's tough to choose a favorite part, but if I had to pick three things: 1) The women I've met... READ MORE
Spark Initiative: Call to Membership
by Madi Palermo

The Spark Working Group is meeting now to identify possibilities for the initial investment of funds for the new Spark Initiative. Do you know of a current opportunity for the Women's Impact Fund to collaborate strategically with other funders or nonprofits to address a critical need or emerging issue in the community? If so, please email Susan Patterson with your idea by October 4.
 
 
Want to know more about the Spark Initiative? Check out our interview with Susan Patterson here .

Still have questions about Spark? Submit question(s) to be addressed by Susan and others on a conference call on Wednesday, October 11, from 12-1pm.
Click here to submit your question.
To participate in the call:
Dial In: 712-775-7031
Access Code: 299-315-264

Thanks to our Spark Working Group Members!: Chair Susan Patterson, Alli Celebron-Brown, Vida Harvey, Pearlynn Houck, Kathy Izard, Kathleen O'Bannon and Kathy Ridge.
Social Hour for Social Issues: Women, Race, & the Space Between Us 
by Melissa Hovey

Women's Impact Fund (WIF) will host our annual Social Hour for Social Issues on October 2, focusing on "Women, Race, and the Space Between Us." The
Dr. Karen Geiger
injustices in our society are becoming increasingly visible, and knowingly and unknowingly, we all grapple with race every day. As an organization, WIF joined with other community leaders to sign the #ThisIsOurCharlotte Statement of Commitment last fall, and we now need to strengthen our comfort with surfacing, discussing and acting on issues involving race, discrimination, privilege, and power.

The discussion, structured by Dr. Karen Geiger, will help us create space to reflect on our own racial awareness and more fully participate in these issues both as individuals and through our collective contributions to the community.

Sponsored by Moore & Van Allen, the program will also include a performance by the Charlotte-based nonprofit The Possibility Project-Charlotte.
WIF members are committed to the continuous work of building a community of justice, equity, fairness and opportunity for all.   Register Now! 
Grants Season is in Full Swing - Learn More!
by Melissa Hovey

After a successful kick off at Community Culinary School of Charlotte (the 2015 Human Services grantee), the grants team is in full swing for the 2017-2018 grants season. Currently, our work teams are taking on the "Discovery" phase (previously "Community Conversations") of our process, which allows them to determine their funding priorities through a process of thorough research, external and internal, and meetings with subject matter experts.

Concurrently, the Letter of Inquiry phase of the process began on September 6 and concludes October 4. Hundreds of non-profits were encouraged to participate in our process through an email invitation from WIF central.

Want to know more about how the process works? You're invited to join an hour-long Intro to Grants-Making Teleconference on October 4 from 12-1pm to get an overview of the process. Don't forget: We're all part of the Grants process, and each of us can - and should - vote on our grant recipients.

Register Here. Dial-in & access code information will be provided in the confirmation email.
Save the Date: This Year's First In-Home Social!
WIF Members Steph Howard and Susan Medina have graciously offered to host this year's first Women's Impact Fund In-Home Social in South Charlotte on Thursday, November 2, from 6-8pm. If you live or work in South Charlotte and would like to participate, please save the date! A formal opportunity to RSVP will follow!
We are also looking for additional in-home social hostesses! In-Home Socials are smaller, more intimate events organized in Charlotte neighborhoods designed to provide an informal opportunity for members to get to know each other better. If you enjoy easy entertaining and would be willing to host an In-Home Social, we would love to hear from you! Email Amy Jacobs and include your neighborhood and what month you would like to host. We will work with you to find the best date for you and our members.
WIF Me mber News

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]