Member News
Issue: April 2022
Our Vision
Making a difference in the Lowcountry through the power of collective giving.
Advisory Board
Elizabeth Loda
Chair

Lesley Gilbert
Vice Chair, Finance Chair

Mary Stuart Alderman
Grants Chair

Kaye Black
Membership Cultivation Chair

Betty Irby
Governance Chair

Gigi Maxfield
Communications Chair

Martha Anne McDonald
Membership Records Chair

Rosalie VanDam
Events Chair
Upcoming WIP Events
May 7, 8:30 a.m.
Pinckney Nature Walk by Returning Naturalist Carol Clemens & Tailgate Breakfast
Free, Guests Welcome

May 10, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Spring Luncheon at Colleton River Club Guests Welcome


New events will resume in September. Have a wonderful, relaxing summer ... See y'all in the fall!
A Letter from Your WIP Chair
Dear WIP Ladies,

In all my 18 years of membership in Women in Philanthropy, I don’t remember a time that our organization was so active. The enthusiasm for the way we evaluate, support and monitor our grants is as great or greater than at any time in the past. 

In the past month, our membership chairs, Martha Anne McDonald and Kaye Black, have convened three informational gatherings. This has led to new and interested women, with many joining our organization. Martha Anne and Kaye are planning new member coffees for those new members to learn even more.

Events chair, Rosalie Van Dam, is organizing events every month, offering the opportunity to meet and socialize with other members. Our communications chair, Gigi Maxfield, is putting out an interesting newsletter every month without fail.

Mary Stuart Alderman delivered the conclusion of six months' hard work by the Grants Committee in a concise, thoughtful report at the last Advisory Board meeting. Governance chair, Betty Irby, keeps our operating guidelines in good order, and chair-elect, Lesley Gilbert, watches our finances like a hawk. 

My point is that everyone is working toward our goal, growing our membership in rewarding and enjoyable ways. Sharing is our way to help others in our community who need our support and our resources. 

In addition to Advisory Board members, our membership has been exemplary in their willingness to open their homes and invite their friends to make the membership gatherings successful. And Lisa Hodge at the Community Foundation has been our indispensable back office.

So, to all of you I say, “Thank you all so much”! You have made this COVID recovery year very successful for Women in Philanthropy. 

May 10 is our Spring Luncheon at the beautiful Colleton River Club. We will report on this year’s completed projects and reveal what the projects funded for next year will be. It will be huge, so mark your calendar and don’t miss it!

Proud to be leading this wonderful organization,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth Loda
Advisory Board Chair, 2020-2022
Women in Philanthropy

843-422-3587
Quote of the Month

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark … Professionals built the Titanic." 

-Unknown 
Welcome Our New Member: Jessi Gerlach!
Get to know our new member Jessan (Jessi) Gerlach:

Jessi grew up Winona, Minnesota, a beautiful college town on the Mississippi River. From there she went to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and began a career in computers. Having started as a programmer, she ended up a consultant in the industry, specializing in banking, new design and development. It was the beginning of the “personal computer era” - both exciting and challenging. It also allowed for extensive travel.

Jessi was involved in many professional groups associated with her career in banking, computers, and women in business. She is also a long-time member of the DAR. 

After 25 years in banking, Jessi chose to make Hilton Head her place of “semi-retirement.” After taking five years off, she spent the next 10-plus years working locally in the hospitality industry.

Not being on the road, she became more involved in charity work. She chose Operation R&R - a charity offering vacations on Hilton Head to active-duty military and their families at no cost. For the last eight years, she has been on the Board of Directors. 

Now, Jessi is “fully retired.” As more involvement in the community was one of her objectives upon my retirement, WIP is one organization that will further this personal goal.

"I appreciate being part of a group that has such a positive impact on the Lowcountry," says Jessi.
Save the Date!
Back by popular demand!

Join us for a walk with naturalist Carol Clemens to learn about birding and nesting on Pinckney Island.

May 7 at 8:30 a.m.

RSVP: 843.422.3587
Prospective Members Gatherings!
Thirty-two prospective members were introduced to Women in Philanthropy over the past few weeks. After two years of relative isolation, we were ready for some social interaction with women who share our love for this community.

Thanks to WIP members Linda Ellis, Rosalie VanDam and Mary Stuart Alderman for inviting friends into their homes (three separate events) to learn about what WIP does to help our local nonprofits make life better for those they serve. We are happy that so many of these women have opted to join WIP. Please welcome them when you see them at one of our upcoming events. And let us know if you would like to host a recruitment gathering in your home. 
 
Kaye Black & Martha Anne McDonald 
Membership Co-Chairs 
Can You Spot the WIP Members?
The WIP membership reach is broad...

Windmill Harbour women organized a Luncheon Fashion show to benefit Volunteers in Medicine in March. Women in Philanthropy was well represented. How many of these WIP women can you name? 
Secret Garden


It was a sunny, breezy, Saturday afternoon. Member Adriana Liebeskind kindly opened her spectacular yard for us. 


There were beautiful flowers and plants of all types to interest master gardeners, as well as those of us who just love color and fragrance. 


Lemonade, cookies, friends and flowers, what could possibly make a more enjoyable day!
Join Us at Our Spring Luncheon!
We hope you will join us at our annual spring luncheon, which will be held on May 10 at the Colleton River Club. Click here, or the image below, for full details and RSVP information.
WIP Overview of Investments & Fund Performance
In April, we welcome our gardens, the RBC Heritage and getting past our taxes. It seems like a suitable time to update our members on Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Funds and the Fund Evaluation Group (FEG) - as well as our WIP Funds.

First, FEG partnered with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry in 2006 and shares the Community Foundation’s commitment to care for their donor’s investments. FEG has a long history of partnering with nonprofits to enable sustainable grantmaking that has a positive impact on the communities that rely on these grants.

FEG takes their guidance from the Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee, comprised of experts in the field of finance and investment, which advises the board of directors. As reported by the Foundation, “we invest our assets judiciously, ensuring thoughtful and effective grantmaking today, while ensuring assets are available for grantmaking in the future.”

By practicing deliberate giving and smart investing, the Community Foundation increased its assets from $20 million in 1994 to over $70 million at the end of 2021. All this while distributing more than $82 million into the community. 

We all know 2021 was a difficult year, and the current year will be as challenging, which is why the governance that we have within the Community Foundation and our WIP Board should be reassuring to our donors. The portfolio returned 3.1% in the fourth quarter 2021 and 7.1% on a cumulative basis. Taking a long-term view, the five-year investment return at the fiscal year-end June 2021 was 11.2%. 

At the end of December 2021, the Women in Philanthropy Fund had net assets of $1.4 million, with $73.4 thousand available to spend. We have since added significantly to that so that at the end of February - when we made the determination for the amounts for grants - WIP had $91.3 thousand in the spendable category. 

A special thank you to all our donors for making WIP a significant force in our community. Should you have any questions or want additional information, contact Lesley Gilbert, Finance Chair. 
Please remember Women in Philanthropy when you update your wills and estate planning documents.
Women in Philanthropy is a Fund of