February 2017 Newsletter

The WRWF Board Approves the Formation of an Endowment

The size and scale of the WRWF, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization with nearly 300 members, have brought to the forefront the importance of building a longer-term financial plan that considers the real costs to operate and sustain us in perpetuity.

The Board believes that the time is right to form an endowment fund in order to help support our operating costs, and most importantly, to help insure our organizational sustainability and impact for the grantees in our community. We have several members who have made major financial commitments to enable us to launch the initiative now, and the governance work on the implementation is underway. An endowment leadership team, the President’s Council, will be led by Barbara Thrasher, working in conjunction with the governance committee.

We are writing to share this exciting news now, and in upcoming News Briefs we will be including much more detailed information.

 

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Grants Finalists to Be Announced Soon for Presentations March 7th!

After many committee meetings and site visits to the 28 non-profits who are in the running for approximately $240,000 this year, the Grants Committee will soon announce the finalists whose requests will be considered and voted on by our entire membership. –

PLEASE NOTE: Finalists who are requesting over $10,000 will present their projects to our membership on March 7th, 1:00 to 5:00 PM at Light on the Mountains south of Ketchum. The presentations by all the finalists will be live-streamed and recorded so that all voting members can make informed decisions about their priorities for funding. Members will rate their priorities for funding on a ballot soon to follow the March 7th meeting. 
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Don’t Miss “Power of Purpose: A workshop for WRWF Members” — March 1st Winter Educational Forum

Christine Grumm, our dynamic and accomplished guest presenter, is a leader in the world of women’s collective philanthropy. She was CEO of the Womens Funding Network for 11 years, growing the network from 75 to 160 members with assets of over $500,000,000. Prior to WFN she was the Executive Director of the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Since 2011, Chris has been consulting through her company, Chris Grumm Consulting Group (CGCG), working with organizations and leaders from around the world committed to scaling up their organizations for social change and community organizing. This includes strategic work focused on programmatic impact, fundraising, evaluation, and staff and board leadership. The CGCG works with organizations with local, national and/or global commitments as well as social enterprises interested in deepening their social change impact.

The workshop’s goal is for members to better understand the impact of their personal giving through the use of tools focused on social change and the development of an individual philanthropic mission statement. Wednesday, March 1st at the Valley Club from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Doors open at 1:30. For members and their guests; cost to participate will be $20. To register, click here.

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Grantee Spotlight:Rotarun Ski Club

LASAR After School Program for Children to Alpine Ski and Race- WRWF $7,000 Grant

 

“The generous support that the Wood River Women’s Foundation has given to Rotarun has enabled us to provide this venue to 72 kids this year this year. The mountain with its wide slope and progressive grade allows a progression for kids to learn to ski. The strategic progression moves kids from learning basic turns in the open area to accelerating the learning curve through the use of gates. Learning to ski is more than just about making a turn; it’s also learning to control the body through varied terrain such as powder. The kids also have to learn to work with each other, take turns while waiting for the lift or their turn on the course, and to be patient.“ 

— From Jesse Foster, President of the Board

Grantee Spotlight: NAMI Sustainability

Marketing and Office Equipment Upgrade- $25,000 Grant

“NAMI-WRV has moved into the 21st century with professional printing capabilities! We were able to print professional-looking program guides for our Golf Tourney during Suicide Prevention Month, and are publishing training manuals and our newly designed brochures. This is allowing us to save time and money, and direct more resources to programs that serve the Wood River Valley community. The multi-talented copier/printer not only helps support NAMI’s work, but also provides convenient inexpensive printing capabilities for our suitemates, Girls on the Run and Planned Parenthood. We are so grateful to the women of the Wood River Women’s Foundation for making all of this possible!”

— From Tamra Thrall, Executive Director

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Social Media and You           

The Social Media Committee is always looking to feature our members on our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts! If you have received an award or acknowledgment, traveled somewhere unique, had a special event occur in your life, or have just gone for a hike or ski with a fellow member, we would love for you to snap a photo and tell us about it. Please send it to: Terri Bullock at dltlbullock@msn.com. Everyone is invited to share on our social media!

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Member Spotlight – Dina Madsen

Dina Madsen is a socially conscious business owner in Ketchum. At Madeline and Oliver, her retail store, she chooses her products with the aim of empowering women across the globe. For example, she curates Sudara Punjammies from a group of women in India who wish to remain free of the sex trade and escape economic poverty. She also sponsors hand-woven towels from Creative Women Co-op Textiles crafted in a very poor community in Mexico. This co-op supports the health, education, and economic stability of the women’s families. Dina cares deeply about and promotes conscious consumerism, in which the act of buying is also one of giving and effecting social change.
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Member Events: Apres Ski Tea

 

Old and new members gather in Renata Beguin’s home for Après Ski Tea

Renata Beguin graciously hosted the Après Ski Tea for new members and guests on February 16th. New member events occur quarterly and are always open to all members.

The next Meet & Mingle will be March 8th at Michel’s Christiania on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum, 5:00 – 6:30. All are welcome.
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President’s Closing Statement

A hearty “thank you” to all who have worked on grant reviews and site visits to applicants in the last two months. Our organization thrives because of the contributions of so many members. The impact we have through collective giving is felt throughout our community.

In gratitude,

Joanne Wetherell
President-WRWF