Women Give $1.8 Million in Business Grants

ARE YOU BEGINNING TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS FLOWING, YES! IN THIS ECONOMY, TO FUND ALL SORTS OF THINGS?

Alright! Another “Women giving their own money to give to the community” story. Their goal: to “help address emerging issues and meet critical needs in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Health and Human services.”

SO exciting.

Women’s Impact Fund, founded in 2003 and based in Charlotte, NC, is made up of over 400 women who agree to pool their resources to support the local community. Each year members contribute $1,200 each to the fund, for an agreed term of five years. So far they have given a total of just under $1.8 Million to education, the environment, health, arts, culture, all in their own community.

What amount are they disbursing to their 2009 grantees? just under …..

half a million dollars. Just in 2009 they are giving $409,000. These funds are going to businesses in the community that impact it for the better. Oh and picture yourself as the business owner (see Molly Barker’s story and the business she grew) doing something you love as you read this story. Makes it all the more fun.

How much was given? Who is on the receiving end this year?

1) $100,000 goes to Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) for extended-day academic programs.

2) $89,000: United Family Services offers legal aid to those involved in domestic violence.

3) $82,000: American Forests are asked to develop a plan for the city to become a healthy sustainable eco-system.

4) $78,000: North Carolina Dance Theater was given $78,000 to fund a 3 year program to bring dance to the under-served and poor in their community.

5) $60,000 goes to Community Health Services to pay for physicians to reach those with limited resources.

Why is this so dingy-dang exciting?

Because, my friend, because it is the will of the individuals with vision, gathered together to be stronger than just one voice, that gives the gift of dance to a child who would never otherwise have the opportunity, none; that gives potent informed content to those who want more academia after school; that gives help to those living in violent homes; that looks into the future to find the ideal development of their fair city as a green eco-center. And though not exclusively, the funds are going from women to women and children recipients, in the form of services and life enhancement. Women giving to other women and their children.

These members of Women’s Impact Fund did not wait until “somebody does something” about it or complain of how little social services get done. These women came together, put their close to a half a million dollar gift together (this year alone) and made a difference; THE difference; the change they want to see; using their own money. Now do you find it interesting to see, just what it takes to make dance lessons a thing that is a must-offer in a community, or Knowledge Is Power Program a must-do for school kids? It takes people like these ladies, like you , like me. (In that world you always dream of, doesn’t it offer, admit it, dancing in the streets? )

What about you? What about gathering up some people in your community, and seeing what you would want to fund? What fun, can you imagine?, to award large sums of money to programs you love and want to support; programs you see a genuine need for; programs that help in ways you could have used as a child, programs that give in ways that make you feel like: “THERE! finally! I can say it, I gave back”. And my guess is you will be adding to that statement, “And I had a great time doing it. ”

If you want to read how a women’s gifting organization helped a teen connect with the life of her dreams (didnt’ take much: $2k!), click here. If you want to read about a woman who saw the need (first), then got her dream funded (sponsorships, donations etc), click here . Or if you want to hear another story about a women’s gifting circle (this is one I was involved in) , click here.

Point being: there is so much, SO MUCH, that could use your help, and so much fun that could be had, as financial donor or donor of your time.

Listen to what the annual gathering is like:
” May 20, Wednesday – Annual Meeting, EpiCentre Theater Complex
210 East Trade Street
6:00pm – Social Hour
7:00pm – Program
The Annual Meeting, previously a luncheon, has become the Grant-Together, a social event at the new Epicentre Theater Complex downtown. Enjoy drinks on the terrace overlooking the city plus heart-warming presentations in the theater. ”

Treat yourself to some of that. Join something and help; or start something yourself, bring others on board. There is so much to learn when you get involved in giving. Look at this section of the Women’s Impact Fund’s Mission Statement:not only do the members donate, but they are educated and helped in growing as a philanthropist. What FUN. Written into their Guiding Principles is a clause of inclusion: no one who wants to join will be turned away. Join and you are one of us: that’s plain and simple. That’s a good feeling.

.. Ahem… (I heard that thought) NO. You do not have to be loaded to start a Gifting Fund. Think about it. Say you and 100 others agree to give just $10/month for a year. That comes out to be $12,000 by the year’s end. That’s plenty to give. Or if the monthly gift were $25 with 100 members, the year total would amount to $30,000. What if you chose to create a “most creative recylcing art” award? Create “the most beautiful self-expression in Jackson County” award for children under the age of 97.34359? …. What if you could fund a rocket ship building summer class for trial/error scientific discovery? Who knows what you see that you want to endorse… But I say, start looking. Grab a friend, a cup of coffee or tea,and just imagine: “what if we did raise some funds .. what might we want to do with it”?

Thank you Women’s Impact Fund for your gifts to your community. They are substantial. Thank you for your example: your actions inspire us to consider ourselves as the possible answer. How exciting. That’s powerful.

Want to contact these ladies? Click here.

Here’s a list of the grantees they have funded since 2004.