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Enough With Commentary On Bad Economic Times
by Kate Lee
December 19, 2008
I
’ve noted before that women are controlling more of the nation’s wealth and becoming more
involved in philanthropic decisions. Not just the garden-variety $25 responses to direct
mailings by nonprofits, but the significant donations and grants that are the life-blood for
nonprofit organizations.
Women tend to be more motivated than men by the results and emotional connection with an
organization, too.
As a result, some nonprofit organizations have begun to address this trend by melding it
with a version of the old-fashioned quilting bee or garden club. These gatherings of women,
which brought women together to achieve charitable acts, also provided a sense of community and
connection.
The American Red Cross created their Tiffany Circle Society of Women’s Leaders in the same
mold. Women who donate $10,000 to a local Red Cross chapter are designated Tiffany Circle
members. Over $3 million was raised in its first year by the original eight chapters.
The Tiffany Circle Society has expanded and now includes Metropolitan Atlanta chapter.
Two local organizations have initiated similar efforts, deserving recognition and
support. The WellStar Foundation created Women in Philanthropy to help support the
not-for-profit WellStar Health System. The minimum donation is $1,000 and more than 50 women
have already made the commitment, providing funds to pay for genetic risk assessment for low-income
women who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. By working with the Foundation
and the WellStar hospitals, the organization will continue to identify and fund needs that are
closely related to issues of women’s and children’s health.
Improving education achievement in Georgia is an issue for women. Creating Pride, an
Atlanta-based nonprofit that works with educators to integrate arts into the core curriculum, has
established its ArtsNOW Ambassadors program. Like Women in Philanthropy, this group has a
threshold donation of $1,000. Gathering monthly to hear from advocates in the arts and
education, the group also serves a networking function for its members – much like the sewing
circle of years past.
Sometimes, the old-school ways are still the best ways.
Want to connect with these three organizations? Local contacts are:
Tiffany Circle Society of Metropolitan Atlanta Red Cross chapter, 404-575-3730 ext 6
Dianne Weeks, Director of Development at WellStar Foundation, 770-956-6673,
www.wellstar.org
Anne Ostholthoff, Executive Director, Creating Pride, 404-688-2480,
www.creatingpride.org
If you know of any more great organizations, let us all know by making a comment below.
