Dear Members,

The Center for Women's Philanthropy continues to see great success in its overall work during this start-up phase. The Advisory Board is so excited with all the progress!

We do have fabulous news! Member Lyn Bereslman and her husband Dave have generously provided a multi year gift that will enable us to have a dedicated part-time staff member for 100 Women Strong and our related activities! As you know, by holding our funds at the Community Foundation of Central Florida, all of our accounting, grantmaking, and logistical assistance is provided through the foundation's infrastructure. As a volunteer-driven venture philanthropy project, most of our day-to-day work is spearheaded by our volunteer members. Now, we'll have a dedicated person to help keep us all on task and improve our ability to communicate more frequently. Lyn and Dave's gift will also provide the capacity for us to have more opportunities to gather as a membership and build our philanthropy. We cannot thank Lyn and Dave more for their commitment to our work and women's philanthropy.

We have contracted with Pennisu Richardson to become our administrator. Pennisu was our event planner for the Power of the Purse and before launching her own business, she worked for Ticketmaster. Pennisu did a fabulous job with the Power of the Purse and we are thrilled that she will continue to work with the CWP and its members. Welcome aboard, Pennisu! She can be contacted at cwp@cfcflorida.org or 407.540.1140.

We have had great media coverage. Member, Jeanie Linders, and the staff at Menopause the Musical regularly produce the "Me" Magazine which is distributed at every show nationally and internationally. This edition is dedicated totally to women and philanthropy and contains an article about our work. The Orlando Business Journal did a great article on our work in December. The news about women's philanthropy is spreading across Central Florida!

The 100 Women Strong is continuing to grow and work. Unfortunately, Kyle Miller has had to step aside this year as chair due to a family illness. Cynthia Wood has stepped forward to become the Chair and Kyle has taken the Vice Chair position. Thanks to both women for their commitment to the work and success of 100 Women Strong.

Over the holiday season, I was thinking about our work. Usually we are mindful of those less fortunate than us during the holidays. I am so proud to be part of a movement that is focused on giving and is concerned about the less fortunate not only during this time of year but all year long. Thank you for your commitment.

Here is to 2007 and the 100 Women's Strong first grant round!

Sydney Green

100 Women Strong Update

I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as the chair of 100 Women Strong in its inaugural year. Please notice that we are now 100 because our membership to date is 105 and each month we continue to grow. This phenomenal growth is a testament to the women of Central Florida who have embraced the concept of collaborative gift giving.

In October, our membership voted on our focus areas. The results showed a clear pattern of interest and our chosen focus areas are:

• Domestic Violence
• Child Abuse
• Women's Health
• Adolescent Health

Our Grants Review Committee is already hard at work. They have developed a request for proposal and are preparing to review completed requests for recommendation to the membership. Debby Manuel is chairing the committee and Kyle Smith has an update in this newsletter.

Finally, if you have any friends who are interested in joining, we still are accepting new members. Susan Bright is our recruiting chair and will provide membership information and assistance to you. Requests for information can be made to the new Administrator, Pennisu Richardson, at cwp@cfcflorida.org.

This is going to be an amazing journey as we have the opportunity to share our $100,000+ to enrich the lives of women in our community

Cynthia Wood

Grantmaking Committee

The Grantmaking Committee with Debby Manuel as chairperson met during November and December to discuss the various grantmaking models available for our use. Jeff Pickering and Aida Millan joined the group as liaisons from the Community Foundation to assist in guiding us through the selection process. The grantmaking models considered included:

• Competitive Grantmaking
• Portfolio Grantmaking
• Initiative Grants
• Awards for Excellence

Keeping in mind the outcomes desired as set forth by the larger 100+ Women Strong group and after lively and constructive debate, the group voted to utilize the Portfolio approach to grantmaking.

This process begins with portfolio criteria describing the funding focus, in our case, Violence against Women, Girls Health, Women's Health and Child Abuse. Non profit organizations then collaborate to submit applications in response to the RFP that address the issues described in the Portfolio. Typically there are organizations that on their own are addressing some of the issues identified but in collaborating with other non profits would be able to make more of a difference by partnering.

In this setting, grants are usually awarded as a single grant to fund collaboration that addresses portfolio focus, in our case, the four issues. Or alternatively as a group of grants to fund individual nonprofit organizations that can work collaboratively to address our four issues.

With that task out of the way, Chairperson Manuel worked with the group to develop a timeline for the RFP issue, as well as the grant submission and grant award dates.

The committee has released the RFP and plan to make a grant award decision by 4/30/07. To meet the timeline, an RFP work group was formed with Gloria Richards as chair. Other members of this group are Sherry Bremer, Sharon Hunt, Laurie Labensky, Lynda Mays and Kyle Smith.

The next meeting of the Grant Review Committee will be held at the end of January.

Kyle Smith

The Mission of the Center for Women's Philanthropy is to be a Center where women can engage in, become educated about and be inspired to carry out philanthropy in Central Florida.

2006-2007 Center for Women's Philanthropy Advisory Board

Sydney Green,
Chairman

Suzie Allen
Susan Arkin
Joyce Bates
Susan Blexrud
Donna Dowless
Joanne Grant
Jenna Hess
Ann Manley
Susan McKenna
Beverly Paulk
Pam Peters
Kay Wolf
Cynthia Wood

If you would prefer to receive the newsletter via EMAIL, please leave a message at 407.540.1140 or email cwp@cfcflorida.org

CONTACT
Pennisu Richardson,
Administrator
cwp@cfcflorida.org
407-540-1140