The recorded history of philanthropy can be traced back to the 1600’s. People have been finding ways to give of their time, talents and treasures for as long as we can remember.

So, what is the enigma called philanthropy, really?

Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, time, or effort to support a charitable cause, usually over an extended period of time toward a specific goal, or to achieve a specific aim.

In its most fundamental sense, philanthropy may encompass any altruistic activity intended to promote public good or improve the human quality of life. Such a simple and attainable concept really. Yet, somehow the definition of philanthropy has been increasingly narrowed and the term “philanthropist” has been a title reserved for the wealthy.

The truth is that philanthropy is not only a privilege for the Gateses, Buffets, Fords and Carnegies.  Anyone can be a philanthropist!

At The Women’s Foundation, we encourage people of all ages and incomes to think about how you can be a philanthropist right where you are today.  How can you harness your own philanthropic spirit to improve the human quality of life?

As you watch TV or read the paper, you are bombarded by reports of people facing difficult circumstances all over the country, and the world. But how often have you stopped to think about the people right in your own backyard that really need the assistance and support provided by our area nonprofits?

So, I ask you again…a little differently…how can you, through your own philanthropy, become a better steward of your community?

One great way is through The Women’s Foundation’s giving circles! Giving circles are a wonderful way to meet wonderful people, get involved, and transform a small contribution into funding with a big impact!

As we speak, the Rainmakers are poised and ready to make a total of $45,000 in grants to organizations in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia that support programs to empower and encourage the healthy development of young women and girls.  (Proposals are due on April 28th.)

But the Rainmakers circle is already out of the gate you say?  How astute you are!  But you can be thinking about your participation for the next cycle to begin in 2009.

For the more eager among you, you are not without options!

The African American Women’s Giving Circle is in the process of recruiting new members right now!  To find out more, come to a gathering on April 30th.  If you interested in attending or becoming a member, contact me.

We are continuing to welcome new members to the 1K Club and the Washington 100.  And, let’s not forget, the Leadership Awards Program is looking for volunteers for the next award cycle!  If you are interested, please contact me.

So whether it is with one of these wonderful groups of women (and men), or with another organization that has been near and dear to your heart, take the leap!

Unleash the philanthropist within you.

I dare you!

This is my very first blog ever, and I can’t think of a better entré into this wild world of blogging than to reach out to all of you from my new position at Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

As the new philanthropic education officer, I will have the pleasure of working with The Women’s Foundation’s giving circles – the African American Women’s Giving Circle and the Rainmakers – working on the Leadership Awards, crafting and implementing the Philanthropy 101 work around donor education, and in general finding more ways to strengthen and expand this great body of work.

Though I may be new on staff, it feels as though I have been part of The Women’s Foundation for many years.  About 5 years ago, I had applied for a position at The Women’s Foundation.  However, when I got the call to come in to interview, I had literally just gotten off the phone accepting another position! 

However, as luck would have it, Anne Mosle – then president of The Women’s Foundation – was on the board of directors for Women & Philanthropy, the organization where I just accepted a position!  And, as the chair of the committee for our centerpiece program, the LEAD Award, for three years, the connection was solidified.

As I watched The Women’s Foundation grow over the subsequent years through our common connections, and developed relationships with the staff, I was increasingly intrigued and impressed with the work and talent that lay within.  I knew that it was just a matter of time and opportunity before I found my way there.

Fortune smiled on me this year, and here I am.

So who am I, and where do I come from? I was born in Barbados, raised in Canada and the West Indies, and transplanted to the United States after completing my undergraduate degree. I am a serious goof, a realistic optimist, a laid-back work horse, and an analytical doer! I am someone who has realized that this work is full of contradictions and complexities, so it is better to stop resisting them – for therein lie the many opportunities for change!

From the time I was in university, I was drawn to the women’s movement.  Perhaps it was my roommate’s enthusiasm on the first day of class in my freshman year; she had just come from her first Introduction to women’s studies class and could not stop talking about it. The next semester, I signed up for that very same class and I have been hooked ever since!

From then on, everything I did from volunteering to my professional pathways was driven by my desire to work on behalf of women and girls.

After completing my graduate degrees, I relocated to Washington, D.C., where I accepted my first post-graduate job with a burgeoning patient-led advocacy organization – the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.  I can say that this was some of the most difficult and most rewarding work I have ever done. But losing friends and colleagues to this disease took its toll. And I knew that I needed to step back and embrace some bigger picture issues for a while.

Enter Women & Philanthropy.  In my five years working for the organization, I have had some incredible learning experiences both externally, and internally, including working on the organization’s transition from a stand-alone organization to becoming a project of the Council on Foundations.  I also had the opportunity to join the board of directors of Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues.  The organization had just made the bold move to incorporate gender, racial and economic justice to its mission, and it was a great match on many levels.

So here I am at The Women’s Foundation, and while the term “baggage” generally has a negative connotation, I feel like my set of professional luggage is well packed and I am looking forward to using its contents productively and successfully here at The Women’s Foundation.

Like so much of my professional career, I feel as though this was a path that was drawn for me without me even realizing it.  Like a moth to a flame.

I am just thrilled to be here, to be part of this great team, working under the leadership of Phyllis and Marjorie, and to be able to directly support the dedicated women and organizations doing phenomenal work on the ground to change the lives of women and girls, and indeed everyone!

There is such energy, passion and drive here.  For the first time in quite some time, Monday mornings aren’t quite so difficult to manage!

I am looking forward to the many opportunities we will have to work together.  In the meantime, don’t be shy! I can be reached at ncozier@wawf.org or 202.347.7737 ext. 203.

If you attended this year’s Leadership Luncheon, then you heard a lot about transformation. The work that The Women’s Foundation does really does transform so many lives. Not only do we help transform the lives of women and girls in the D.C. region, but we transform the lives of women who give.

I am one of those women.

My name is Jennifer Cortner, and I sit on the Board of The Women’s Foundation, and chair the communications committee. I became smitten with The Women’s Foundation about five or six years ago when I read an article in the Washington Post about the Rainmakers Giving Circle. I thought, what a cool idea to get women together to pool their resources, to make real change in our community.

I’ve become deeply engaged with The Women’s Foundation since then. My company, EFX Media, proudly supports The Women’s Foundation by offering pro bono communications support. This year, we designed and produced all the printed materials for the luncheon, and produced the video about one woman’s transformation.

Our video follows Laceiy Peay, a recent graduate of the Washington Area Women in the Trades program, which trains women to get into trade fields like construction, welding and cement masonry.  WAWIT is a unique program and is one of over 90 programs that are funded in part by Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

We taped Laceiy and her fellow students one very hot, summer day as they took a welding and carpentry class. The thing that struck me the most is the bond that these women had formed over the 12-weeks they had spent with each other. The WAWIT program is not easy — it’s physically demanding, and requires students to show up to class by 7 a.m. every day. A lot of women who sign up frankly do not make it. But those who do graduate, so so because of the support they receive from each other.

The WAWIT women really care about each other. When someone doesn’t understand something in class, her fellow classmate will help her out. When someone doesn’t show up for class, she’ll get a call from one of her colleagues. And the women who run WAWIT are there with them every step of the way.

After we finished the video, I asked if we could invite Laceiy and one of her fellow students, Sharan Mitchell, to speak at our luncheon.  After graduation, Laceiy accepted a job as a program assistant at WAWIT and Sharan is currently working construction at the Nationals Baseball Staduim (How cool is that?). I thought it would be a great idea for the women at the luncheon to meet them personally and hear their stories. They both graciously agreed.

Now there are two camps of people when it comes to public speaking: those who thrive on it, and those who rank it somewhere above the fear of death. But even the most seasoned speaker can be a little daunted by the notion of speaking in front of 1500 people.

If you were at the luncheon, then you know what happened:

Laceiy and Sharan brought the house down.

They took that stage with grace, poise and confidence. They graciously shared their story of how WAWIT and The Women’s Foundation transformed their lives.

In 4 short minutes, they helped transform 1,500 people in the room.

Including me.

If you were equally moved, I hope you become involved in The Women’s Foundation. You will become smitten just like I have. Help transform the lives of women and girls. There are lots of ways to engage. Join us!

Jennifer Cortner is the president of EFX Media and sits on the board of The Women’s Foundation.  She chairs The Women’s Foundation’s communications committee.  EFX Media donates services to foster The Women’s Foundation’s work.

The 2006 Leadership Luncheon convinced me that I needed to get involved with The Women’s Foundation.

I have never seen so many dynamic women — so powerfully and passionately committed to helping other women — all in one place at the same time!

Since then, I have joined The Women’s Foundation’s Rainmakers Giving Circle. Members of the Rainmakers learn about the needs of young women in our community and engage directly with organizations that support them.

The Women’s Foundation provides so many different paths for engagement in the community, and if you’re looking for ways to do so, the Leadership Luncheon is a great place to start.