The Women's Fund
A component fund of the
Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.
Purpose
· To provide a permanently endowed source of funding to non-profit agencies that serve the needs of women and girls in Southern Wisconsin.
· To provide hands-on grantmaking and leadership experiences through volunteer opportunities for Fund donors.
Click here for the schedule of upcoming Fun(d) & Learning Sessions
Call Wendy at 608-758-0883 to become a Table Captain or reserve a seat!
The Women’s Fund seeks to reflect the population it serves in its make-up of donor-volunteers. Donors who wish to participate in grantmaking activities will be encouraged to do so regardless of their political views, sexual orientation, race, age, economic status, political or religious views.
What makes the Women’s Fund different from other funds?
The Women’s Fund is a ‘Field of Interest Fund’ that is held and managed by the Community Foundation. Like all other Field of Interest funds, the ultimate grantmaking responsibility lies with the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Women’s Fund has been established to allow donors to be actively engaged in the grantmaking process, and to make recommendations for grants. This is similar to the way ‘Donor Advised Funds’ work, but instead of an individual donor making recommendations, the advising will be by consensus from the involved donor pool of the Women’s Fund.
How does the Women’s Fund work?
The Women’s Fund is an organization within the Community Foundation. A small Advisory Committee is comprised of staff, current and/or former Board members, and community volunteers. The Grants Committee is open to all donors. Each grant cycle will have a Grants Committee chair or co-chairs who will work with staff to lead the group in becoming informed and educated on the issues that a particular grant cycle seeks to address. The Advisory Committee will help plan and host gatherings, presentations and celebrations.
A Task Force of the Women's Fund has been developed to compile the Status of Women in Rock County Report to include basic demographics, employment & earnings, social & economic autonomy, health & well-being. Click here to download the report.
Task Force Advisory Committee
Judy Adler Judith Adler
Carolyn Brandeen Carolyn Brandeen
Amy Golackson Judi Kneece, Chair
Marge Hallenbeck Kristin Koeffler
Judi Kneece, Chair Carol May
Andrea Lukowiak Ruth Ann Potts
Christine Lidbury Sue McGinniss
Angela Moore
Ruth Ann Potts
Coral Swanson
Sue Conley, CFSW Exc. Director
Jane Duesterbeck, CFSW Staff
Lunch & Learn Committee
Sue McGinniss
Madge Murphy
Camilla Owen
Is it OK to be just a donor if I don’t want to serve on a committee?Are you excluding men?
Men are invited to be donors (many thanks to those who have already given!), to share their knowledge and express opinions. However, leadership positions within the Women’s Fund are reserved for women, and grants from the Fund will be made specifically to benefit women and/or girls.
Why women & girls? Why not a fund for women and children, or women and families?
Forty years of research shows that social investments in women reduce poverty, raise productivity and accelerate economic growth. Encouraging women to build on their strengths increases self-worth. In addition, a higher level of self-esteem is passed along to future generations.
Investing in girls yields even higher returns in terms of the effect on women’s wages, the decisions better educated women make about having children, and their capacity to raise healthy, educated children who go on to make good wages, choose smaller family size and invest in their own children.
Support for women and girls ultimately benefits men and boys, too. By strengthening and enabling women, we can break the cycle of poverty in our community.
How can I contribute to the Women’s Fund?
All contributions are welcome. Send your check to: The Women’s Fund c/o The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, 111 N. Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545. If you would like to contribute appreciated stock or other property please call us at 608-758-0883 or 800-995-2379.
