What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

I found out about ninety-nine girlfriends while perusing another member's website bio, and ended up going down a rabbithole reading more about the organization. That was back in 2016, and I joined as soon as membership opened in 2017. After years of grant writing in my professional life, it has been exciting being on the grant making side. I joined a Grant Review Team and loved getting to learn about organizations in our area that I'd never heard of before, and about all the great work they do. Plus, being on a Grant Review Team was a fun way to meet fellow members and get to the heart of what ninety-nine girlfriends does, which is getting impactful funds out into the community.

What keeps you engaged/interested/connected?

I've appreciated every ninety-nine girlfriends event I've ever been to. I always find them to be a thoughtful mix of connecting, learning, sharing and becoming more inspired. The member education events are definitely worth checking out, and it's exciting that we've gotten back to some in-person events as well. There are also volunteer opportunities, big and small. While I wasn't able to commit to being on a Grant Review Team last year, I have been able to help with some event planning tasks and other fun things that worked for my schedule.

What else would you like to share?

I've heard from some people that they can't commit time, and that's OK! Being able to leverage our collective giving and voting are key. Inviting friends to join our membership and spreading the word are also really helpful. We are an amazing group of women (as an encompassing term), that is hundreds strong. Use our membership directory to connect with other members. Have coffee or go on a walk with someone new. There's always wisdom to impart and learn, and everyone I've ever connected with has been very friendly!

Members! We’d love to spotlight you. Please contact Andra to learn more.