Have you ever wondered how the magic happens when you log into your directory or who processes your contribution? Well, the answer is the incredible duo of Lori and Ann. Every organization needs a strong, dependable foundation and these two Girlfriends are part of that foundation. We thought you might enjoy learning a little more about them…
Our Fellows program, launched in 2017, invites young women ages 20-35 to bring diverse voices and perspectives to our collective grant-making. The three-years-long program is for women residing in our four-county region (Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, and Washington counties) who demonstrate a commitment to learning about philanthropy and deepening their awareness of our region’s needs. A Fellow’s membership contribution is partially subsidized, at decreasing levels over the three years. Fellows receive complimentary access to all ninety-nine girlfriends' events, a mentor, and a professional development series created just for them. The application is open for only six weeks. Additional details can be found HERE.
Help us reach our goal of 100 girlfriends by December 31, 2021! Our overall goal is 500 Girlfriends and if we stay on track with 100 renewals or new Members per month we can get there. To encourage you to help us reach this first goal, we have an incentive for you. It’s a raffle for a basket overflowing with goodies from all around PDX. Coffee, doughnuts, pilates, flowers, plants, fly fishing and more!
If you missed the Awards Celebration and Membership Kickoff we invite you to view it here. Coty Raven Morris was inspiring and we got to learn how our impact partners are already putting their awards to work in impactful ways. What a wonderful opportunity to learn more from them about how our grants are truly creating positive change.
Does your employer have a matching gifts program? Employer matches have made such an impact in our work. They are applied to our general fund and have been used to increase the funds disbursed through our Impact Awards, help fund our Fellows Program, and more!
If your employer does have a matching gifts program (Check this list to find out), please be sure to check the box about this when renewing your membership.
Questions? Contact Tammy.
Don’t miss the live performance by Coty Raven Morris from 3-3:15 pm and then we’ll hear from our new Impact Partners before kicking off 2022 membership!
To honor our volunteers and to uphold the period of rest that comes with winter, ninety-nine girlfriends will be taking our annual “winter break” beginning in the middle of December. You can expect one more Member Update for the year. Member Updates, along with the rest of ninety-nine girlfriends’ operations, will pick back up in February. We look forward to hearing from you via the annual member survey (coming soon) and picking up in the new year with all of the excitement that the restarting of the calendar brings.
Ninety-nine girlfriends is piloting a new program to welcome members for whom $1,100 is a barrier to participation. Instead, the individual pays $550 and requests $550 from the Girlfriends Fund. This program is made possible by the generosity of members who are able to contribute to the fund. $550 helps one Girlfriend but donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated. And, of course, contributions are tax-deductible, as allowed by law.
We are thrilled to share that our 2017 Impact Partner Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) has been awarded a $2.5 million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant! Click here to learn more about the great work PHFS continues to do through “investing wrap-around services to help families end their homelessness for good.”
In case you missed the news and the big event, we couldn’t be more excited to share our 2021 Impact Partners!
We invite you to learn more about the inner workings of ninety-nine girlfriends as we recruit for three board positions that will be open in January 2022. We seek individuals who bring to our governing structure commitment to and understanding of our mission, diversity, and commitment to integrating racial equity in our collective action.
Check out Philanthropy Together’s Racial Equity Community of Practice Offering here.
Do you have a photo that you’d like to share of a committee, team, task force or more doing our collective work? Please send it to the Communications Committee with a brief description of who is in the photo and what they are up to. Have an idea for a news piece? Send that too! Have feedback for us? Our ears are open. We look forward to hearing from you!
As you have likely heard, we are well on the way to shifting to trust-based philanthropy in our grantmaking and education at ninety-nine girlfriends. This shift is weaving its way through all that we do including events like Meet the Finalists. In the past, we have asked our finalists to make presentations to us about why we should choose them to be funded. We’ve had a lot of conversations about how we might be able to do this differently or better with the goal of centering fairness and equity for each of our finalists.
The Racial Equity Committee is seeking members to help us embed racial equity in all that we do by being integrated with our Coordinating Council and collaborating with all of the other committees to systemically embed practices that encourage equity and inclusion. If you read these volunteer expectations and would like to learn more, please contact Tammy.
Work together to build the content for our signature learning events based on our annual learning question. Help organize and implement the programs and engage members in sharing their expertise for the benefit of our collective. Sound like something you’d like to help with? Contact Jayni Kosoff, our Member Education Co-chair, for more details.
The Communications Committee is looking for Girlfriends to help keep members and the community at large up to date on events and news about our philanthropic efforts and grantee partners. Is graphic design your speciality? Help us look good while we get the word out! Have connections with local news outlets? We’d love to chat PR! Do you have social media skills? We got just the gig for you! If any of this sparks your interest, contact Sammy for more details.
The Membership Committee oversees recruitment and retention. Although we all do our part to recruit new members, Membership is responsible for organizing World Cafes and guiding all of the committees in recruitment and retention. One exciting thing Membership will be working on this year is developing new and creative approaches to attract a diverse new group of members. Another really important thing Membership will be doing this year is finding ways to help retain existing members. Sound like something you’d like to help with? Contact Kaye O’Kearney, our Membership Committee Co-Chair, to express interest. More detailed information for the opening as a co-chair of this committee can be found here.
Member Liaisons play a very important role in the trust-based philanthropy tenet of support beyond the check. They help us build relationships with our grantee partners and are a conduit of information between the partner organization and ninety-nine girlfriends. The Liaison Coordinator helps coordinate the Member Liaisons and keeps them connected to one another and to the organization as a whole. If you think you would be a good fit for this position, please review the description below and contact Van with questions or to express your interest.