I recently had a chance to meet Rebecca Goldcrump, a second-year Fellow with ninety-nine girlfriends. I walked away inspired, hopeful and grateful. Inspired not only by what Rebecca has already done but also by her desire to learn more. Hopeful because she reminded me how many amazing women there are working to create a better world. And grateful that ninety-nine girlfriends created the Fellows Program.
When she moved to Portland from the Bay Area eight years ago her career was centered around accounting and finance. Intent on using her skills to help bridge the gap between nonprofits and big business, she started her own human-centered consulting firm and completed her MBA at Portland State University in 2018.
While she loved her work, it was a little isolating. Rebecca started to explore how she could both connect with more women and build a stronger connection to Portland. This brought her to ninety-nine girlfriends and led her to co-found a new business.
Rebecca had looked at agencies she could join in Portland. She couldn’t find the right fit, and was wary of being put in a “box.” She wanted to be part of a female-led company that holistically helped organizations increase their community impact, employee engagement and accomplish their strategic goals.
Instead of settling or giving up, she decided to create something. She connected with three other women who shared her values and goals and had complimentary skills. In the midst of COVID, they started The Impact Collective.
What struck me is how similar the values of the organization are to the values of ninety-nine girlfriends.
Collective impact is greater than individual impact.
People are at the heart of everything.
Every organizations is unique and with some support it can accomplish amazing things
Rebecca reminded me that the impact of ninety-nine girlfriends goes beyond our collective grants to nonprofits. Each of us is making the world more equitable and sustainable through our work, our volunteering, our caring for family and friends, and our conversations with others.
Kaye Gardner-O’Kearny