Community & Philanthropy

,

Contributing to Our Community

,

Our 2022 grant-making cycle is now open and we are excited to announce that we are investing $450,000 in our community this year. We will grant one Impact Award of $70,000 and one Finalist Award of $15,000 in each of our five focus areas. Plus, all semi-finalists that don't advance to the next round, will receive a recognition gift of $2,500.

,

Our Equity Statement

,

We continue learning and embedding racial equity in all that we do, and would like to share our new Equity & Inclusion statement which was spearheaded by the Racial Equity Committee. In addition, the Outreach Team has connected with more nonprofits that identify as indigenous or Native American to invite them to learn about our grant opportunities and we are creating space for indigenous people to share their voices and perspectives with our members at our events as an addition to our land acknowledgment. We will continue to learn and incorporate inclusive ways that we can embed racial equity in our work. If this work interests you, reach out and learn more!

,

Another Great Group of Girlfriends!

,

We are thrilled to share that we have 379 members for 2022! In addition to the 312 Girlfriends who renewed, 67 new Girlfriends decided to join us. Welcome to all of you! (Although this number is smaller than last year, don’t be dismayed. Women’s giving circles have retracted a little bit nationally over the past year as a result of COVID and our model is to make the biggest impact we have with whatever number of Girlfriends join us in any given year.)

Passionate About Democracy

In the spring of 2015, six women gathered in a Southeast Portland kitchen and formed a regional giving circle, called ninety-nine girlfriends. A year later, Lisa Adatto and Laura Rogers met for the first time as co-leaders of one of the new organization’s grant review teams. While working together in pursuit of strongly held values, their friendship grew and after the 2016 grant-making cycle they continued to stay in touch. In June of 2021, they met to catch up. In short order, Rogers realized it was to be a consequential exchange “so I took notes and saved them.”

,

Six New Fellows Join Our Philanthropy Program for Younger Leaders

,

Since 2017, ninety-nine girlfriends has recruited women ages 20-35 into our Fellows Program, a three-year learning and networking experience. Ninety-nine girlfriends is thrilled to welcome our six new Fellows: April Jay Unterberger, Brianna Babbitt, Hanna Lilly, Josie Greer, Katrina Machorro, and Tuyen Ta.

,

2022 Grant Applications Are Open!

,

Ninety-nine girlfriends 2022 grant making cycle is now open! We are thrilled to announce that we will invest $450,000 in our community this year. We will grant one Impact Award of $70,000 and one Finalist Award of $15,000 in each of our five focus areas. Plus, semi-finalists that don’t advance will receive a recognition gift of $2,500.

, ,

Volunteer Spotlight

, ,

JEANETTE SWAFFORD

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

Five years ago I was getting my hair cut by Fahti and began chatting about a small giving circle that I was participating in. Fahti shared that she had just joined this amazing group of women who were also experimenting with giving, but on a larger scale with transformative amounts. I used to work in tech start-ups and that fresh energy of building something new was exciting to me. I didn’t know anyone aside from Fahti, but I loved the idea of change-makers out there stirring it up. These were women that I wanted to know!

, ,

Impact Partner Update: Constructing Hope

, ,

My visit with [2021 Impact Partner] Constructing Hope was a great experience. I spent a little over an hour there, got a tour of the facility, and had lots of time to chat with [leaders] Pat Daniels and Courtney Jenkins. They wanted to invite any and all Girlfriends to their events this year, which are posted on their web site, particularly their grand re-opening on 4/21 and their 15th anniversary celebration sometime this fall (TBA).

,

In-Person Reunion & Orientation and Virtual Orientation Coming Soon

,

Yes, the rumors are true. We are, in fact, planning our first in-person gathering since March of 2020! Save these dates and stay tuned to your Member Updates for more information. What we can tell you right now is that you’re welcome whether you are a new or returning member and we will have limited space for the in-person event due to the pandemic and our desire to do our part to keep everyone safe.

, ,

Volunteer Spotlight

, ,

KATHLEEN PORCELLO

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

I was volunteering as a grant writer for NAMI Clackamas when I first discovered ninety-nine girlfriends and the annual Impact Awards program. Months later, I saw a LinkedIn post about the young adult Fellows program, and I immediately applied for an interview! I was drawn to the opportunity to learn firsthand about trust-based philanthropy, grantmaking, and the diverse nonprofits doing incredible work in our region. Plus, I wanted to get to know the many amazing members of ninety-nine girlfriends!

, ,

Volunteer Spotlight

, ,

JEAN MALARKEY

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

In the first or second year of ninety-nine girlfriends’ existence, my cousin-in-law, Jinx Faulkner, invited me to an educational event on philanthropy, and I was immediately intrigued by the group and all the great women I met there. I missed the window to join the next year, but was excited to do so in 2018.

, ,

Volunteer Spotlight

, ,

GINA GESS TAYLOR

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends?

I was invited to attend a World Café by my favorite Yoga instructor, Ryan Crosby. I knew if Ryan was involved, it was worthwhile. As a former non-profit professional, I have always admired the giving circle concept. Most important; the giving priorities of this organization align with my own values. Specifically, the focus on equity, inclusivity and life-long learning.

,

Improved Language Acknowledges and Welcomes Gender Complexity

,

Women’s collective giving circles began because women had not historically had a seat at the philanthropy table and felt they could make an impact in their community by pooling their resources and learning together. Since our founding we have been learning about gender and its complexity and are making changes to welcome other individuals who may also not have historically had a seat at the philanthropic table.

,

Some New Ways to Share ninety-nine girlfriends

,

We love getting great ideas from our members! A couple of Girlfriends said they would love to have easy-to-use materials to talk to other women about ninety-nine girlfriends. So we created them. Check out Barbara Hilyer’s video sharing the magic of ninety-nine girlfriends. Pip and Tammy host a fireside chat providing a first glimpse of who we are and what we do for those new to the organization. The next Member Update will provide some links to graphics and an FAQ sheet so check back for that next time. You can use these materials to host a small gathering with prospective members and invite them to join or you can share them by email with an invitation to learn more. Whatever works for you. If you have any feedback or requests for additional materials, please let Kaye know.

, , ,

Volunteer Spotlight

, , ,

CAROLINE MCDONALD

What brought you to ninety-nine girlfriends? I first heard about ninety-nine girlfriends while hiking with a friend. She knew a woman who was a girlfriend and who raved about the organization. I wasn't in a financial position to fully contribute at the time but was intrigued by the concept of a women-led collective giving circle. I looked it up online and came across ninety-nine girlfriend's Fellows Program. I loved how the fellowship not only made the organization and its mission more accessible for young women but also included a mentoring and educational component. I applied a month later and was accepted!