The Women’s Foundation is proud to announce that the board of directors has recently approved grants totaling $645,500 to be invested in the Washington metropolitan area.  This brings our 2008 grantmaking total to more than $1.1 million.

See where and how we’re investing.

Our grants are made with gifts from people throughout our community who—through The Power of Giving Together—make their charitable investments go further by pooling their dollars to make grants that have a significant impact on local nonprofits that are changing the lives of women and girls.

At The Women’s Foundation, we give more, by giving together.

Join in The Power of Giving Together!

In the June 20, 2008 edition of the Washington Business Journal, Phyllis Caldwell, president of The Women’s Foundation, addressed the need to give–and to give strategically–in tough economic times. 

"In tough times, it’s easy to convince ourselves that it’s okay to look the other way," Phyllis writes. "The natural instinct is to hold on tight to what we have when all else is falling apart. Who can think about philanthropy in a time like this? Charity seems a luxury. It’s easy to convince ourselves to stop giving or to give less than we would normally the same way we might curtail going out to restaurants.  In fact, the reality is just the opposite. During rocky economic times, it’s even more crucial that we as individuals and businesses support the nonprofits and service organizations helping vulnerable individuals hit hardest by the economic downturn."

Check out the Phyllis’ full op-ed for more on the importance of giving, and how to stretch your philanthropic dollars by giving strategically in tough economic times.

Lisa Kays is Senior Communications and Marketing Officer at Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

No, really.  That’s what Kimberly Palmer advises in her column at U.S. News.

"While it may sound like a crazy time to talk about giving money away, with the economic pinch many of us are feeling, it actually might be the perfect time," she writes.  "As Brent Kessel, author of It’s Not About the Money, recently told me in an interview, acts of generosity can help us feel content with what we have. ‘The irony is…you can’t be giving money away and feel like you don’t have enough,’ he says. ‘The act itself changes the message you tell yourself.’

Kimberly cites some smart ways to make your philanthropic dollar go further, including giving circles and the Women Moving Millions campaign.

Not surprisingly, Kimberly’s column starts with an observation from a friend of hers, Lisa Philp, head of philanthropic services at JPMorgan Private Bank, that there was a gender shift happening in her clientele.  Instead of working primarily with men like she used to, her clientele is now two-thirds women.

There are now more women in business.  More women heading family foundations.  More women getting involved in women’s philanthropy at all levels–from giving to their local women’s foundation, to volunteering for organizations serving women and girls, to pooling their resources through giving circles.

"The women’s funding movement has grown by leaps and bounds," Philp says in Kimberly’s column.

Due in no doubt to the satisfaction that is gained from giving with greater impact by giving together–models and structures created largely through the advent of women’s philanthropy.

A rich tradition that doesn’t require a rich bank account to make a big difference.

Philanthropist Laurie Emrich, a "woman moving millions," and a founding board member and supporter of The Women’s Foundation, as well as many international women’s funds, describes how her journey from Denver to Africa to Washington, D.C. was an intellectual, spiritual and emotional one leading to her commitment to give back to her community and to "participate in the long-term building of an inclusive, community-based, multi-racial movement for justice."

Read more about Laurie’s journey to social justice and philanthropy in her own words here.

Laurie explains in her piece that she derives inspiration from the words of 1960s rhythm and blues singer-songwriter Wilson Pickett: "Ya gotta shake whatcha brought whicha."

Laurie’s story is one of transforming the gifts and abundance she has received into a true spirit and lifetime of giving back. 

She inspires us all to consider what we all "brought whicha," and how we can use it–whatever our gifts–to better our communities and the world.

Last Monday, I met with 12 other women for three hours and discussed our shared goal: improving the lives of young women in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

This might sound like wishful thinking, but it was much more than that.  We are members of The Women’s Foundation’s Rainmakers Giving Circle and have pooled our charitable contributions in order to make a bigger impact than we would by writing individual checks.

Our task on Monday was to review and sort through 34 proposals from nonprofit organizations seeking funding from our circle and narrow the field to those we want to consider further and visit.  It was daunting, but we were up for the challenge.

I left the meeting feeling overwhelmed by the vast needs of so many at-risk populations in this area but, at the same time, exhilarated by the circle’s collective energy and humbled and inspired by the good work of the 34 organizations we reviewed.

This is my fourth year as a Rainmaker, and the proposal review meeting is my favorite part of the grantmaking process.  I love the free flowing sharing of ideas, as well as the dynamic and organic nature of the discussion. The conversations take unexpected twists and turns, are always lively and sometimes intense, but never contentious.

Many questions are raised, discussed, partially resolved, discussed again and sometimes even left unanswered.

Do we want to find the “diamond in the rough” where our money will help a program get off the ground?  Or should we support an established organization with a strong track record and add our name to a reputable list of funders?  Should we decline a prior grantee organization that seems to be having managerial problems?  Or stick with it so as not to abandon the organization at a fragile time?  Does a particular issue push our buttons, tug at our heartstrings and compel us to say, "Yes!…Let’s keep that organization on our list"?  Or, should we ignore our emotions and just look at the statistics?

These questions and many others make the review process exciting, frustrating and, ultimately, rewarding.

The Rainmakers have a few requirements for the proposals, such as the age of the target population and a specific geographic focus, but we have a lot of discretion in reaching our decisions—and that discretion generates rich debate.  I have learned that grantmaking is an art,  not a science, and the life experiences of each member as well as the “pulse” of the circle as a whole make a tremendous impact on the decisions that we reach.

By the close of our meeting, we had narrowed our 34 organizations to eight that will remain on the docket and receive site visits in the next phase of our grantmaking process.

We didn’t raise our hands to vote or record our preferences on pieces of paper that were tallied.  Instead, we reached our decisions by consensus, ultimately selecting a slate of organizations that likely does not match any one individual member’s dream list of organizations, but represents the collective thinking of our giving circle.

Since we have joined together to leverage our charitable giving, I can’t think of a more fitting or satisfying result.

Debbi Lindenberg is co-chair of the Rainmakers Giving Circle.  In her professional life, she is an attorney working as a grantmaking consultant to foundations.

On Saturday afternoon, I was invited to join three of our board members–Deb Gandy, Donna Callejon, and Rachel Kronowitz–to see the Washington Mystics women’s basketball team take on the Los Angeles Sparks.  The Mystics didn’t end up winning, but what struck me was that regardless, a local nonprofit did.

For every three pointer the Mystics score this season, a $100 financial gift will be made to Girls, Inc. of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.  The Mystics made 163 three pointers last year, so Girls, Inc. could receive about $20,000 this season.

This struck me not only because Girls, Inc. is a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation, and I was thrilled to see their work and investments in girls highlighted in such a big public forum, but also because it got me to thinking about the interaction in our society between celebrity and charity.  As the big name players took to the court before the game to announce their team’s gift, they spoke passionately about the importance of giving and why they were investing in women and girls.

Many of the players also have their own personal philanthropy.  Nikki Teasley gives her time and talent to the American Kidney Fund.  Members of the team participate in a partnership between the Mystics and Sibley Hospital to raise money and awareness for underserved and uninsured women in D.C. facing breast cancer.  Sheila Johnson, president of the Mystics, is a major philanthropist in her own right.

Whether as individuals or together, because of their place in the public spotlight, they have the ability not only to give of themselves but to get others to give, too. 

It got me to thinking about what we expect from celebrities in terms of their giving and charity.  Oprah has become nearly as famous for her philanthropy as she has for her talk show.  Bono, and recently  Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have significantly increased public interest in Africa as a giving priority.  Last month, at the Women’s Funding Network Conference, Angela Bassett offered a keynote address as part of her role as spokeswoman for the Good Deed Foundation. 

These celebrities have given of their time, talent and treasure in their philanthropic endeavors.  Many would say that having a celebrity behind a cause or issue–even if they just lend a name, and no dollars–could be more valuable than a gift of millions. 

And for some celebs, like the Mystics, gifts of millions aren’t realistic.  The average WNBA player makes between $46,000 and $60,000, not the millions made by professional male players.

So our expectation of celebrities to give isn’t necessarily based on means, but on their status as a celebrity.  Because they have the power, through their public prestige, to encourage others to do the same.  To be models for the behavior we’d like to see in others and ourselves–not only on the big screen or on the court–but as neighbors, community members and concerned citizens.

So it would make sense that we view it as a bit of an expectation that celebrities will give.  Not only because they can, but because their doing so can motivate so much more giving from others.

But really, don’t we all have the power to be celebrities in our own right? 

We all have friends, colleagues, family and associates who rely on us, trust us and listen to us.  If we model giving, if we reach out and show by example that we give, wouldn’t at least some of those around us do the same?

Based on my observations and experiences with our giving networks and giving circles at The Women’s Foundation, many of which are comprised of friends of friends of friends, it seems that even if we’re not Angelina or Brad, that we all have the power to inspire giving.  As Barb Strom Thompson, co-chair of our Washington 100 network, often says in explaining the rapid success and growth of our leading giving network, "When you hear about something good, the first thing you want to do is tell your girlfriends!" 

So while we may not be Mystics players, I’d say we’ve all got the ability to score a few points for the causes and issues we care about. 

Phyllis Caldwell is president of Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

Got an old, unused cell phone around gathering dust?

Do a good deed by keeping it from a landfill and helping generate funding for work benefiting women and girls around the United States and the world.  For every cell phone you recycle, you’ll also save an estimated 66 pounds of carbon dioxide–the cause of global warming. 

Visit the Good Deed Foundation to learn more, request a postage-free envelope and get that cell phone out of the closet and put to good use.

Or, if you’re coming by The Women’s Foundation’s office or to a meeting, bring your used cell phone to the front desk or a staff member and we’ll ship it off for you.

It’s never been easier to do a good deed and help out the world’s women and girls and the environment.

To request a postage-paid envelope to use to mail in your phone, click here.

Questions?  Contact Lisa Kays at lkays@wawf.org.

As you head into your Memorial Day weekend, here’s a little tidbit you can ponder in the car or while you’re waiting for the weather to warm up and act like summer.  It’s courtesy of Sean at Tactical Philanthropy, who asked today, "Why do people really give to charity?"

Sean takes the position that people give in order to find meaning in their lives, and because helping others is basically to help ourselves.  That the narrative that says that people give for "selfish" reasons–tax breaks, to feel good, to ease guilt–are false.

Because the very act of raising up another is to better oneself, and the community around you.

We hear a lot of reasons for why people give in the course of our work. 

Because they see impact.  Because it makes them feel good.  Because they learn more about their community.  Because they like giving with others. 

But I’d have to say that at the core of all of this is a sense that what Sean is saying is true–that by giving, by making our community better, we all benefit. 

For we are all connected, we all walk around bumping into one another in one way or another.  I’m reminded randomly of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s statement that, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

We don’t work to eliminate injustice or poverty or disease because it feels good.  We do so because we know that in their absence our lives and everything around us stands to be stronger, brighter, better.

And that’s it’s not selfish.  If anything, it’s smart.

I couldn’t help but pass along some of the words of inspiration I gathered at last week’s Women’s Funding Network Conference.  I thought these might be a great way to brighten up a rainy Friday and to wish everyone an awesome weekend!

Words of wisdom and inspiration:

"Know that you have women in the halls of Congress committed to moving millions…billions of dollars to improve the lives of women and girls."

"Repeat after me… a simple act… a world of good."–Angela Bassett

"I wasn’t trying to start a movement; I just wanted to plant trees."–Dr. Wangari Maathai

"The best criticism of the bad is a practice of the good."

"Provide grants that build wealth and worth."

"Foundations are really good at overwhelming people with data…. too much information; we need to meet people where they are."

"All things that are measured are not of value, and all things of value are not measured."

"The right to live with dignity applies to everyone."

"For real change, you need Optimism + Strategy + Communications Tools."

Happy Friday everyone! 

Whew, that was a whirlwind!  But alas, the 2008 Women’s Funding Network Conference has ended and those of us who aren’t attending the Council on Foundations Conference this week are back in the office, holding down the fort.

I’ll admit, I’m not generally a big fan of conferences.  I tend to develop short-term attention deficit disorder when trapped for too long in windowless rooms to mingle with strangers and listen to speeches.  I am an introvert, after all.  Meeting too many new people makes me tired.  I am also allergic to nametags.

However, I have to tell you, as far as conferences go, I thoroughly enjoyed this one–and left with lots of new ideas and extra inspiration to execute them.  A few highlights:

1.  Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai’s keynote speech about her accidental journey into starting an environmental movement, and the collective power of women to change the world.  She’s as inspiring, honest and wise as you can imagine, and funny as well.  She had us laughing and thinking, which is always a great combination.

2.  Meeting colleagues from throughout the international women’s funding movement–from Memphis to a unique group out of Boulder that provides emergency grants for human rights work on behalf of women throughout the world.  The diversity, intelligence and innovation behind all of the work being done throughout this movement is really awesome.

3.  Seeing what amazing work so many women’s funds are doing with very few resources.  Many have a staff of just one or two and are plugging along to continuously grow and improve their grantmaking and effectiveness.  I was struck by the determination and dedication of the women I met. 

4.  Taking tips, ideas and learnings from others from throughout the movement, and being able to offer support and advice in areas where The Women’s Foundation has been fortunate to get ahead due to our amazing pro bono supporters, board and volunteers.  I really took away an appreciation for how fortunate we’ve been to get the support that we have to improve our communications and development efforts, and overall infrastructure, along with everything else–and loved the opportunity to pass along much of what I’ve learned from our community of supporters to other women’s funds.

5.  Hearing Angela Bassett share her story of being raised by a single mother during tough times, and the influence her mother had in shaping her daughter’s very bright future.  Truly inspiring.  (Angela is now a spokesperson for WFN’s new Good Deed brand.)

6.  Seeing the Women’s Funding Network and our Stepping Stones initiative (along with two of our major supporters) in the Washington Post!

7.  Being there when Stepping Stones won an award for Changing the Face of Philanthropy!

8.  Hearing Dr. Geeta Rau Gupta, head of the International Center for Research on Women, talk about the latest research on women’s economic security, health and well-being around the world.  She also told her personal story through the experiences of her two grandmothers–one who was educated, married later, had fewer children due to access to birth control and one who was not educated, had many children, suffered health problems and died young.  Their stories and the impact they each had on their families tells the story of how the health, well-being and economic security of a woman greatly determines the future and health of her children and family. 

9.  Getting rid of a cell phone that had been just taking up space in my closet.  I recycled it through the Good Deed cell phone recycling program.  Sadly, I did not win the raffle attached to doing so because someone managed to collect and recycle 36 phones on her own, greatly improving her odds.  Still, I guess that’s okay, since all proceeds from recycled phones go to fund programs for women and girls.  Sweet!  (Got a cell phone to recycle?  Click here and they’ll send you a postage-paid envelope.  Or, if you’re near our offices in D.C., we’ll take it and send it in for you.  Just contact me at lkays@wawf.org.)

10.  The huge turnout at the Congressional Reception we hosted on Thursday to welcome the Women’s Funding Network and fill in policymakers on the importance and impact of women’s philanthropy.  Tons of people showed, including Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Christopher Van Hollen–who both offered remarks.  Everyone was psyched and energetic about the impact of Stepping Stones and women’s philanthropy here in our region and throughout the country.  It was very cool. 

11.  Hearing about new media and the future of the Interwebs as applies to nonprofits from the Budget Fashionista.  She’s hilarious, smart and just generally cool.   Anyone who can teach you how to use your computer and what shoes should go with your outfit is pretty genius in my book.

12.  Getting my picture taken with Angela Bassett and Dr. Maathai.  Yes, I’m a sucker for celebrity.  And it was just neat to meet them. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go start lobbying Phyllis for a chance to go to next year’s conference in Atlanta.