OUR HISTORY
What began as a conversation between two women on a Sun Valley, Idaho chairlift in 2005 has transformed into a thriving, vital resource for women and nonprofit organizations of the Wood River Valley. Soon after that lift ride, founders Barbara Thrasher and Jo Murray held a gathering where they and several other interested women talked about how they could make a powerful difference in the community
Together, they realized that by giving collectively their individual impact would be greatly amplified.
OUR IMPACT
With further guidance from the Washington Women’s Foundation, assistance from the Idaho Community Foundation, and contributions from a handful of inspired women, the Wood River Women’s Foundation (WRWF) was launched.
Since then, WRWF has grown to more than 350 members and is now one of the largest collective giving circles in the country.
Wood River Women's Foundation Has:
- Awarded nearly $3 million dollars through more than 100 grants to nonprofit organizations across our community in an array of areas including Arts, Education, Environment, Health & Recreation and Social Services.
- Launched an Endowment Fund in 2017 to ensure sustainability well into the future.
- Emphasized and offered philanthropic education to help members become more effective donors.
Wood River Women’s Foundation is a certified 501(c)3 organization and an affiliate member of Philanos, a network accelerating philanthropy through women’s collective giving.
Click the below image to view the 2020 Community Report
OUR GIVING
WRWF is a collective giving organization for women. Here’s how it works:
- Each member contributes an annual minimum of $1,100. Of this, $100 helps fund operating costs.
- $1,000 goes into the Pooled Grant Fund. This fund is the focus of our grants process and is what enables us to support significant improvements in our community.
- When joining or renewing, members may designate a portion of their contribution to self-selected nonprofits.
- The amount we are able to award each year depends on how many women have contributed and whether their full $1,000 went into the collective pool.
OUR PROCESS
Members are key to our annual grant process which begins each autumn when applications from area nonprofits are received.
Over the winter, our grants committee, made up of volunteer members, thoroughly reviews all grant applications, conducts site visits, works to narrow the number of applicants, and makes recommendations to the full membership.
All members are eligible to vote on the final slate of grant applicants. Voting results are announced in late winter/early spring.
Every woman is welcome to become a member.
Your membership is your contribution and your participation is warmly welcomed. Join others who turn their $1,000 into hundreds of thousands of dollars.