The primaries aren’t the only elections where women can really make a difference. 

Starting today and going through February 15, anyone interested can contribute their voice to an online vote for one of eight nonprofits that they think is doing the most to improve the health and safety of women and girls throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

The eight organizations are The Women’s Foundation’s 2007 Leadership Awardees, selected for $10,000 awards because of their effective, innovative work on behalf of women and girls.

The winner of the online vote will win an additional award of $5,000 to support their work.

It’s all part of The Women’s Foundation’s efforts to make philanthropy accessible to everyone, much like The Case Foundation is doing through its new experimental online fundraising contest.  The Case Foundation is hosting the contest largely to raise awareness about different online fundraising tools.

We’re doing it to make you aware of the excellent work being done by organizations right here in our community, and to inform and gather feedback about the strategies and approaches viewed as the most effective in improving the lives of women and girls.

So, what do you think will make the greatest impact on the health and safety of women and girls? 

Providing mental health services to low-income families?  Training to help identify and assist children that have been coerced into prostitution?  Support for women affected by cancer or HIV/AIDS?  Empowering women through training and seminars in self-esteem, health, effective parenting?  Providing funding to help women who couldn’t otherwise afford to have an abortion?

Read about the realities of the health and safety of women and girls in our region, and then have your say today in our online vote, and help support work that you really believe in.  That, after all, is what effective philanthropy is all about!

Anyone can vote!  Vote now through February 15, 2008! 

And, if you’d like to share your thoughts about what strategy you support and why, email me (lkays@wawf.org) to discuss being a guest blogger or leave a note in comments! 

Also, drop me a line if you’re interested in volunteering to serve on the next Leadership Awards Committee.  Not only do you get to support and learn about awesome organizations like these, but it’s fun!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 4:23 pm and is filed under Blog, Grantee Partner, Health, Leadership Awards, Our Foundation, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.