The 2019 Pooled Fund Grant Committee is learning a lot as we implement the following new grant criteria around increasing equity and reducing disparities this year, funding organizations that are: Focused on providing services to communities affected by inequity due to race, gender identity, and/or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination and/or exclusion. Accountable to…more
Each year, the Foundation’s Member Engagement Committee selects a book for all members to read. This year, in alignment with our new grantmaking criteria of increasing equity and reducing disparities, they invite you to read So You Want to Talk About Race by local Seattle author Ijeoma Oluo. In this New York Times bestseller, Oluo explores the complex reality…more
On Tuesday, February 27, 2018, Washington Women’s Foundation and Brighton Jones, a Seattle-based wealth management firm, co-hosted a dynamic conversation about women living richer lives through philanthropy. Our featured panelists included three long-time members of Washington Women’s Foundation, Leslie Decker, Kathy Edwards, and Stephanie Ellis-Smith, and Jean Johnson, who is a founding member of the…more
In fall 2016, 12 WA Women’s Foundation members signed up for our pilot “Leadership Institute” series. The Leadership Institute provided a “deep dive” into leadership training in the style of WA Women’s hallmark grant making curriculum – with hands-on, cohort-based, experiential learning. WA Women’s Foundation member Janet Boguch led our inaugural Leadership Institute on the topic of…more
“A mind that has expanded to the next dimension, can never go back.” C. Davida Ingram closed the first session of Discovery Days this year with this quote from one of her mentors. The quote describes the hallmark of participation at Washington Women’s Foundation – individual members become changed by new ideas and by each…more
July 21st was a beautiful summer day in Seattle. 30 WA Women’s Foundation members gathered at Seattle Center for the unique experience of visiting 3 past grant recipients on their home turf: Intiman Theatre, 2016 Merit Award Winner, hosted us for a lunch where members connected with Intiman’s diverse summer cohort of Emerging Artists. The Intiman Emerging Artists…more
“Criminal justice in America sometimes seems more criminal than just — replete with error, malfeasance, racism and cruel, if not unusual, punishment, coupled with stubborn resistance to reform and a failure to learn from even its most glaring mistakes.” – Bryan Stevenson in Just Mercy. On May 18, I gathered with a group…more
On May 5th, members of WWF visited our only two-time Pooled Fund Grant Award winner Amara’s brand new office space in South Seattle. Amara works to ensure that every child in foster care has the love, support and comfort of a committed family – as quickly as possible, and for as long as they need. John Morse,…more
Did you know that public speaking is thought to be as stressful as divorce?? Yikes! And yet, it is one of the most important professional skills that leaders can have. So how can we calm our nerves, reduce our stress and succeed as public speakers? Last week, we welcomed back Arden Clise, the Pacific Northwest’s resident expert in business etiquette, to…more
As a nonprofit board member, you are probably aware of your basic fiduciary and governance responsibilities. But how can you help your nonprofit protect one of its most valuable assets – its people – while protecting the organization and yourself from potential corporate – and personal – liability? Washington Women’s Foundation presented a special 3-part “Human Resources 101”…more