Network News: January 2010
Register Online Now to Take Advantage of Early Bird Rates for Conference
Online registration is now up and running for our 2010 Conference -- Investment, Influence, Impact: Seizing the Moment. This year's Conference is co-hosted by Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Jewish Women’s Fund of Colorado, Chambers Family Fund and Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights.
Never before has there been so much interest, money and promise to create a more balanced world for all by investing in women and girls. We are eagerly anticipating an action-packed gathering to capitalize on this opportunity, secure cross-sector commitments and partnerships, and gain lasting results. Take advantage of Early-Bird Rates and seize the moment by registering online now!
Get more information on Conference 2010 on our Website at www.womensfundingnetwork.org/Conference. View the Conference Program, find out Rates, get Hotel Information and learn about our host city Denver!
News Digest Keeps Women's Funds on Top of Key Issues
Stay on top of the stories and issues impacting your work with our daily news digest. Delivered to your inbox is a daily synopsis of the news with links to articles on women's leadership, economy, philanthropy, human rights and more. Marjorie Hutter, Director of Development for the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts says, "Thank you to Women's Funding Network for realizing what a wonderful resource this is to our women's funds. These articles not only keep our staff and board abreast of key issues but also provide useful news links for our various social networking tools."
To sign up, e-mail Megan Jones or visit our daily news roundup online any time to access a full archive of news articles.
WESC in Action Webinar: January 11, 2010 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET
Join us to learn what your fund can do to create greater economic security and opportunity for low-income women and their families in the new green economy. Hear what women's funds can and are doing in this arena through strategic grantmaking, direct advocacy, research, coalition building and increasing public awareness. Share your success stories and plans for the future.
This conversation is open to all members, particularly those who have already signed-up for the Women's Economic Security Campaign and/or those who are interested in doing so in the new year. E-mail to RSVP.
Comprehensive Media Directory Now Available for Member Funds
The Women's Funding Network's Communications and Marketing Department now has Bacon's 2010 media directories for newspapers, magazines, radio, television and cable. These comprehensive directories contain circulation figures, contact information for reporters, lead times, editorial profiles, and more for both national and local media outlets in the United States. E-mail Megan Jones to learn more about how your fund can use them to increase your media coverage.
Miami on Board: Making the Most of Your Connections
As a business consultant whose clients include Fortune 500 companies around the world, Rhonda M. Smith knows the value that building and maintaining relationships has on the bottom line. In her role as Chair of the Board at Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade, connections have proven extremely important.
Women’s Funding Network spoke with Rhonda to get her input and suggestions for how board members at women’s funds can play a pivotal role in creating sustainable, long-term growth.
WFN: How can board members leverage connections to grow a fund?
Rhonda M. Smith, President Rhegal Consulting and Board Chair, Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade: I live in a very relationship-driven community and who you know is so crucial.
For us in Miami, we are embarking on a new era for the fund in terms of leadership and where we’re going in the next five years so relationships with economic sector, government and other areas are of paramount importance in growing the fund in this community. In the past our primary relationships have been with donors who have been core supporters for 16 years. We are looking to expand partnerships to a larger sector. We are trying to get the entire community to support our mission and work.
We are resource limited at this time so to accelerate our organization we have to leverage connections and bring resources that don’t exist internally. There are so many connections we can take advantage of that will strengthen our grantees, build our donor base and expand our visibility.
The fund recently released a portrait study showing the status of women in Miami-Dade and problems they face. Now we need to get the resources together to target and solve those problems.
There are programs that exist that are headed where we want to go but they need our perspective and gender lens. We want to have a more integrated offering for education, leadership development, entrepreneurship and financial literacy for women and girls. We need to connect with what’s out there and provide them with our gender lens and our women-led expertise.
WFN: How do you apply your professional acumen to your duties as a women’s fund board member?
RS: I have connected my contacts with people from my professional circle who can strengthen the fund and accelerate our CEO’s ability to make connections.
As a consultant, I work with corporations – Fortune 500s in the U.S. and abroad – and leverage what I see from a business standpoint that is successful and apply that to the fund. As a financial centered organization, there are best practices I share that make us more efficient and effective. I try to look at issues objectively with the women’s fund and look ahead to see what possibilities and opportunities exist. I want to push the organization forward and be in a place where we can achieve those objectives.
WFN: How does being part of Women’s Funding Network enrich your development as a leader and your fund’s ability to perform its mission?
RS: I was on the board for two years before I attended the Women of Color International Development Incubator (WOCIDI – read more about Rhonda’s experience here). After that, I gained a greater appreciation and understanding of what women’s funds are about. It helped me understand how to be a more effective board member and leader within my fund. It also helped me also make connections on a different level to bring in resources I learned about through Women’s Funding Network.
What I learned from Women’s Funding Network also helped us in our search for a new CEO (Debi Harris) and since Debi has joined she has also leveraged Women’s Funding Network. Being part of that global network, we have greater access to resources we wouldn’t normally have and learn from other women’s funds so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time we want to do something.
It’s amazing how women around the world with fewer resources fund raise and grant at the level they do. That’s something we stand to learn from and have learned from. We have been able to learn from that because of Women’s Funding Network – especially through WOCIDI, which gave me global connections. Out of the 18 participants, more than half were from outside the U.S. and about half of those in the U.S. were immigrant women and that enriched my experience as a leader.
Upcoming Retreat for Fund Leaders
Participate in the upcoming retreat for executive directors of large and mature funds that will be held from Monday, February 8, 2010 through Wednesday, February 10, 2009. The retreat is geared towards executives administering organizations in Smart Growth stage 6. These leaders are typically managing larger staffs and maintaining budgets over $1.5 million and making grants over $1 million a year.
Retreats provide a unique space for peers to gather for reflection, networking, skill-building and visioning. For additional information about participation criteria and logistics contact Amy Zucchero.
The success of our executive director retreats is supported in part by our official airline, Southwest Airlines. With our leaders flying in from all regions of the U.S., we are proud to have their generous partnership in transforming the lives of women and girls everywhere. Vouchers are available on a limited basis.
United by Faith: Building a Better Future for Women and Girls
January 26-27, 2010 at The Fairmont Dallas, Texas
Through inspirational speakers, group reflections and strategic conversations, United by Faith: Building a Better Future for Women and Girls will explore the values that unite us across faiths and sectors and the actions we can collectively take to improve the lives of women and girls in communities across America. If you are currently involved in or are interested in forming an interfaith partnership in your community this conference is for you! Learn more at:www.womensfundingnetwork.org/Women-Faith-and-Poverty-Initiative
Registration fee is $175
Registration and hotel group rate deadline is January 8th
Please contact Nicole Regalado at nregalado@womensfundingnetwork.org for information about scholarships.
Finance and Accounting Software Webinar
Join us Monday, January 11th at 8am Pacific Time for a Finance and Accounting Software Webinar. A key challenge for nonprofits is to effectively manage their net asset classifications. Learn best practices for Sage MIP, Blackbaud The Financial Edge, and Microsoft Dynamics GP. Join presenter Esther Ratterree, Consulting Partner at Armanino McKenna LLP and Women's Funding Network staff for a discussion of each product’s strengths in this area.
To RSVP or to request more information, please send an e-mail to membership@womensfundingnetwork.org.
Are You Using Skype to Communicate?
Skype is a free software program that allows you to send instant messages, share files, video message and make free or low-cost phone calls over your computer. The Women’s Funding Network and many women’s funds are already using Skype as a convenient and inexpensive way to communicate with colleagues around the world.
Click here to download your free copy of Skype
Let us know your username so we can Skype with you!
Job Openings and Upcoming Events at Women's Funds
Learn about events you can support and attend by going to our Events Page at the Women's Funding Network site. Go to the Jobs Page at the Women's Funding Network site to see the latest job openings at member funds.
