Join us for our Spring Signature Event!

Women & Wisdom
Learn How Collective Action Impacts Social Capital

Meet six women who are making a difference
in Charlotte in each of our grant focus areas.

Monday, March 4, 2019
6 :00 - 8:15 pm

Reception at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art 
at Levine Center of the Arts 
Program at Wells Fargo Auditorium at Levine Center of the Arts
430 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202


Sponsored by:
Click HERE for all upcoming events...
Member Profile: Kathy and Kailey Izard
by Meg Seitz

"Every single time I hear her speak, I cry. It is just unbelievable, to me, everything she's done; you can only describe her as Super Woman."

That's 28-year-old Kailey Izard speaking about her mother, Kathy Izard , last fall from a front table at La Belle Helene in Uptown Charlotte.

The elder Izard sits across the table, taking it all in before responding, "Now, you're going to make me cry."

This mother-daughter connection is truly special. It's a connection deeply rooted in selflessness - in giving, qualities that started early in the Izard home.   Read more....
Social Capital in Action

Monica Thomas from Renaissance West Community Initiative  (RWCI) shared her knowledge as part of the panel at WIF's Social Hour for Social Issues (SHSI) where social capital was the topic.  Sitting in the audience at SHSI was new member Michele Dudley, Executive Director of Fashion & Compassion.  After the event, Michele reached out to Monica to learn more about the Life Navigation program at RWCI.  The result: a beneficially rewarding relationship .

Michele offered the opportunity to a couple of RWCI residents to participate with her organization and they have absolutely loved it! Since participating, one of the residents found full time employment, but negotiated Thursdays off so that she can remain involved with Fashion & Compassion. The other is a mother who didn't have intentions of returning to work, but wanted to stay busy. She has also re-enrolled in the program. They have continued the partnership and referred two additional residents to participate. According to Monica, "This has turned out to be a very fruitful partnership."
Making an Impact: Tutor Charlotte
by Arrington Mixon

Last year, Women's Impact Fund awarded its inaugural $50,000 Spark grant to Tutor Charlotte. The Spark grant allows us to be more agile, responsive and collaborative, and adds flexibility for identifying and funding projects outside of - and in addition to - our traditional high impact grantmaking process.


Tutor Charlotte is a startup collaborative led by Read Charlotte and United Way of the Central Carolinas to provide trained reading tutors to kindergarten and first grade CMS students. In addition to the grant, WIF agreed to "staff" a full kindergarten class at Billingsville Elementary School. Every Tuesday at 11:15, fifteen WIF members arrive in Ms. Anderson's class and greet their reading buddies. Read more...

Give, Get or Get Off
by Jayna Altman

"I use the phrase give, get or get off when referring to the financial impact of a board member because setting a giving parameter can limit the diversity of a board," said Laura Clark, United Way of the Central Carolinas. She expanded her comments advocating the need for board diversity to advance nonprofits.

Clark was one of three dynamic panel speakers including Alison Houser, Augustine Literacy Project, and Valecia McDowell, Moore & Van Allen who participated in the Board Leadership series, 'Upping Your Game'. The panel speakers provided real life experience and insight on sustainability, board recruitment, board skills, and funding to a packed room. Read more... 
Staff Update

We are excited to announce that Fielding Williams has joined the Women's Impact Fund staff.  As founder and owner of The Scone Shop over the past 12 years, and previously a preschool art history teacher, Fielding brings a unique combination of business perspective and creative talent to our organization.   Please look for Fielding at one of our next events, or stop in the office at C3 Labs to meet her!

Congratulations to former Operations Assistant, Sophia Rossell, who recently joined former grantee, Communities in Schools, as Donor Relations Data Associate.  While we are sad to see Sophia go, we are excited that she was able to expand her part-time experience with WIF into a full-time role at CIS.  
Member News
  • Jayna Altman is the newest member of the board of Charlotte Speech and Hearing. She is living proof that the Women's Impact Fund's nonprofit leadership training program is a runaway success. It's her "nonprofit board dream come true."
  • Jonell Logan was profiled in Scoop Charlotte's January Women to Watch issue. As executive director of League of Creative Interventionists, she is overseeing the League's programming to use art and culture to redefine neighborhoods and cities.
  • The WIF Women of LKN had a pre-Valentine's meeting at the home of Karen Anderson. Raising a glass to WIF were Cynthia Beiler, Pam Schneider, Laquinta Khaldun, Paula Goolkasian, Erica Schoen, Chris Ahearn, and Karen Anderson. There are 29 WIF members in the Lake Norman Area, extending the reach of our group "up north" to ensure nonprofit organizations are aware of our grants process. Those attending agreed to keep a North Group going.
Community Events

Program:   How Did Charlotte Get Segregated? with Dr. Tom Hanchett
Location:  Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse,  1507 Camden Road
Details: February 28, 2019: 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Location: Thompson Family Service Center,  769 N. Wendover Road
Details:  March 4, 2019: 8:00am - 9:30 am

Theme: Federal and State Policy Issues Facing Nonprofits in 2019
Details: March 15, 2019: 10:00am - 12:00pm at Foundation For The Carolinas 

Program: #ShapingCLT 
Theme: Where the Dollars At? Addressing the Gender Pay Gap
Details: Wednesday March 20, 2019: 6:00pm - 8:30pm, The Levine Museum of the New South

Program: HerStory Family Day
Details: Sunday March 24, 2019: 12:00pm - 4:00pm at The Levine Museum of the New South
The mission of Women's Impact Fund is to strengthen communities by maximizing women's leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education and engagement.
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