While January 2026 doesn’t seem that long ago, as I reflect back on what we’ve achieved together as an IWCF membership since then, it is quite inspiring!
Our membership grew and members continued to actively engage to support the heart of what we do: Pooled-Fund Grants.
Our members gave generously this year–confirming the collective impact of giving together and responding to the funding gaps experienced by many nonprofits serving our communities.
Our members also had fun working together this year…
As we kick off our 25th year of IWCF grants and celebrate throughout the coming year, I hope you are inspired by the work we do together at IWCF. Whether you participate only through your annual membership and grants ballot vote, choose to attend events, or participate as a volunteer, we value YOU!🩵 It’s not the amount of your contribution–financial or time–that matters. It’s that when we all give together, we strengthen IWCF’s membership and the communities we serve.
Nicole Patterson
IWCF Board President
In this newsletter, find news about:
We are excited to welcome the following new and returning Blue Ribbon Members who have joined between January 1, 2026 and August 1, 2026
Ruth Adler
Darci Balius
Crystal Banka
Deborra Bohrer
Joanna Bork
Cynthia Brownsmith
Mary Burns
Nancy Chadderdon
Cathy Colman
Katherine Dow
Katie Farrell
Tasha Fermantez
Theresa Grant-Narasimhan
Cheryl Haas
Robin Hanford*
Jane Hardison*
Gillian Horn
Kathy Hosack
Nikki Hyer
Jamie Jacobson
Lorna Jorgensen
Doug Keeney
Margaret Kemp
Dawn King-Menzner
Lynn Kosowicz
Jen Liposchak
Cyndy Lounsbury
Debbie Maffuccio
Lori Mann
Deborah Martell
Heidi Metzger
Karen Monier
Theresia Muli
Robin Navert
Cecilia Necochea
Nicole Nimmons
Bonnie Noonan
Krystal Patel
Helene Peterson
Katy Rodgers
Ashley Rundle
Kate Sampson
Amy Schaecher
Carol Sevier
Melissa Shane
Elise Slattery
Britiney Slaughter
Marilyn Stoddard
Kendelle Sundell
Neetu Talreja
Madeline Turnock
Susan Tuszynski
Paulette Velazquez
Linda Worden
Our Membership Committee set a goal to welcome 70 new members—while retaining every current member! The more members we have, the greater our impact on the nonprofit community through our grants and service.
Together, we can grow our membership, strengthen our organization, and increase the support we provide to our nonprofit community.
We’re excited to introduce our New Member & Guest Corner at IWCF events! When you see our 9-foot tall blue banner, please stop by to say hello, introduce yourself, and help us welcome new and prospective members into the IWCF community. A friendly conversation can make all the difference in helping someone feel at home.
Experienced members are invited to participate in our Buddy Program. Serving as a buddy is a simple yet meaningful way to help new members feel connected, answer questions, introduce them to others, and even share a table at events. If you’re interested in volunteering, we’d love to have you join us!August 11, the Membership Committee hosted an outreach table at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. This was a great opportunity to introduce more women to IWCF, share the impact of our organization, and connect with potential new members. If you have an idea of other places we could host outreach, let us know.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been inviting friends, colleagues, and neighbors to learn more about IWCF. Your enthusiasm and personal outreach are helping our membership continue to grow and strengthen our community. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming many new faces in the months ahead! – Maria Lee, Membership Chair
IWCF created a Belonging Scholarship program for the 2026 Membership Cycle. This scholarship program helped increase economic diversity by reducing financial barriers to membership and increasing IWCF’s pooled fund. This program is funded by IWCF members passionate about sharing the IWCF experience with all!
For the 2026 year, we are happy to report that there were 11 IWCF members participating in the scholarship fund. This is a $625 membership. The $500 pooled-fund amount is paid from the scholarship fund and the scholarship recipient pays the $125 Administrative fee. In other words, a financial gift to the Belonging Fund is effectively a gift to the Pooled-Fund that also grows IWCF’s membership.
These 11 members voted during the IWCF grant process, joined committees, attended IWCF educational events, shared about IWCF, and participated in special projects/focus groups.
In fall of 2027, we will share more information on the scholarship process and how to become a 2027 scholarship recipient. Members can also make a gift to the Belonging Fund at any time: IWCF Donation Form. For questions, contact Evin at Scholarship@iwcfgives. org
Join us on September 9th at the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights for an evening of “Story, Programs, Purpose”. We’ll begin with a social outside at 5:30 pm followed by a tour and the program. Guests are welcome at this past grantee experience!
The Wassmuth Center, a 2020 IWCF grantee, provides education programs and resources that empower people of all ages to recognize, interrupt, and prevent injustice. We will visit their new Education Center and learn more about their mission, the inspiration to found the Center, and the impact they have on our community.
As part of our Anniversary Celebration on October 1st, we’re excited to offer learning opportunities during morning breakout sessions. Please see the 25th anniversary article for more information.
If these education events, or planning others, sound interesting to you, we’d like to invite you to join our team! Contact Jean Bishop, jeanb@iwcfgives.org. We are always looking for ideas for new topics, and people willing to help pull these events together!
One Person Can Make a Difference by Katheen Marion Carr
As IWCF celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary, we have an opportunity to not only reflect on how far we have come, but also to recognize how it all began.
Every organization has a founding story. Ours began twenty-five years ago with a gathering of a small group of women who shared a simple belief: by learning together, giving together, and serving together, they could accomplish more than any one of them could alone. Every one of us benefits today because they were willing to take that first step.
That is often how leadership begins. Rarely with a title or a formal role, but with someone who volunteers to help with a project, joins a committee, welcomes a new member, or simply says “yes” when an opportunity arises.
As I begin serving as Chair of the Leadership Development Committee, I have thought about what it means to celebrate this milestone. The best way to honor our founders is not simply to remember what they built, but to continue building upon it.
The Leadership Development Committee exists to help members find meaningful ways to become involved. There is no single path because every member brings different talents, experiences, interests, and availability. What matters is finding a way to contribute that is meaningful to you.
IWCF leadership is not about titles. It is about service. It is about being willing to share your time, your ideas, and your talents in ways that strengthen our organization and, ultimately, the communities we serve.
If you have ever considered becoming more involved, I hope you will take that next step. Join a committee. Volunteer for a project. Raise your hand when an opportunity interests you. You may discover new friendships, new skills, and a deeper connection to the mission that brings us together.
Twenty-five years ago, a small group of women took an idea and invited others to join them. Today, we celebrate what grew from that invitation.
As IWCF looks toward the next 25 years, each of us has the opportunity to shape what comes next.
One person can spark an idea. Together, we create a legacy. What difference will we choose to build together?
Interested in becoming more involved with IWCF? The Leadership Development Committee would be happy to talk with you! Please reach out to me (insert email) or complete the Volunteer Interest Form on the Members Only website.
“Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation congratulates Kathleen Carr on being named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Energy, recognized for Environment & Energy Regulation and Litigation expertise. The annual guide recognizes leading lawyers who are shaping the future of the global energy industry.
Kathleen was one of only four attorneys selected from Fennemore’s approximately 600 attorneys, the only woman from the firm included on the list, and the only woman practicing in Idaho recognized in this year’s Energy 500.” Please join us in congratulating Kathleen on this remarkable achievement. 
IWCF Member Milestones: Are you celebrating a milestone or do you know an IWCF member who is? We want to know! Share news with us about births, weddings, retirements, awards, celebrations of life, and more so we can acknowledge our members’ milestones. Email: office@iwcfgives.org or share a photo and details with us.
Thanks, Alicia Ritter, for helping Marti Agler revive the volunteer coordinator role and supporting IWCF’s efforts to engage volunteers for the last two years. Volunteering at IWCF is designed to give members opportunities to engage as little or as much as they want–and it can change over time as their interests and availability evolve. Alicia’s volunteer work is an excellent example of this. Now, due to some positive changes in Alicia’s personal life, she will be spending less time in Boise and stepping away from her role as one of IWCF’s two Volunteer Coordinators.
We’re excited to welcome Teresa Broadus, as our newest Volunteer Coordinator. Teresa and Marti Agler will partner to connect IWCF members with meaningful opportunities to use their time and talents to support IWCF’s mission.
Volunteering is a great way to not only support IWCF’s mission but to also connect with other IWCF members. Here are some current needs:
If you would enjoy making a new member feel welcome, complete the Signup Form or reach out to our wonderful IWCF Membership Chair, Maria Lee. Maria will pair you up and connect you with your new buddy via text (or email, if you prefer—just let her know!). Maria will also send you gentle reminders whenever there’s a good reason to connect.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can volunteer or would like to sign up to be notified about one-time volunteer needs (such as helping at an event or mailing support), email Marti Agler and Teresa Broadus at volunteer@iwcfgives.org.
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Help us celebrate this milestone anniversary! We have a special day of service planned to honor our founding date, September 12th, and would be thrilled if you’d like to volunteer, join us for lunch, or just stop by to say hello.
We’ll begin with morning service projects at past grantee sites, followed by celebration and a no-host luncheon at Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, or purchase from our onsite food truck catering by Kanak Attack. Watch for more details and service project information in the Connections email.
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Guests Welcome – This is the perfect opportunity to invite others to celebrate our collective impact and the IWCF community!
We hope you’ll join us at the Boise Centre on October 1, 2026 as we joyfully celebrate our shared 25 years of impact, generosity, and community.
Morning Program Information
Our half-day celebration programming will begin with registration and social time. Doors open at 7:30am, so plan to come early and say hello to friends, and grantees you may know as well! During the Opening Welcome, we’ll hear about the Future of Giving in Idaho from our friends at the Idaho Community Foundation/Idaho Nonprofit Center.
Next are two sessions, offered concurrently (attendees will divide into two groups for the first session, then you get to swap and attend the second session). IWCF members Lisa Derig and Shaila Buckley will help you create your own legacy of giving, offering practical techniques that you can utilize at any age and giving level. Next, meet our panel of IWCF women who are making a difference in our community today. These women will share their real-life experiences, advice, and stories.
Celebration Luncheon
Following these sessions, we will gather for a luncheon to honor our current and past members, current and past grantees, and friends of IWCF. As part of the celebration, we’ll be awarding ten grantee gifts live during the event in the amount of $2,500 each – “$25,000 for 25 Years.” This is something you won’t want to miss!
Keynote speaker Rhoda L. Altom will share her giving experiences and opportunities she has found to create change. Ms. Altom is a founder and trustee of several philanthropic associations, including Washington Women’s Foundation. The WWF was the model upon which our organization, Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, was founded.
We will close with remarks and a toast to the next 25 years of giving together, and strengthening communities.
How to Register – Tickets and Tables Available Now!
Sponsorship Tables Presenting Level $5000 & Community Champions $2500
Anniversary Table Captain Tickets $1025 for members and nonprofits
Ticket and table sales close September 20th. For additional information, complete sponsorship details can be found here.
Grantees – The Heart of our Mission
To thank and acknowledge the great work all of our past grantees, we are offering two complimentary tickets to each current and past grantee. We hope you’ll be there to say hello to those you’ve gotten to know over the years. And, of course, we hope each of the 104 nonprofits are there and get a chance to win one of our anniversary grantee gifts!
Thanks to our Sponsors – Thank you to those who have already offered your support as of August 1st (and thanks in advance to those still to come):
Presenting Sponsor: Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation
Community Champions: Saint Luke’s Health System, Ballenger Insurance, The Idaho Community Foundation, Dana Kehr, Michael & Susan Smith, Saint Alphonsus Health System Foundation, City of Boise, Liebich Friends, and Vasconcellos Spiedel Wealth Management at UBS.
Lodging sponsor: The Grove Hotel
Event Schedule – Attend all, or part, of the Celebration
7:30 am Registration & Social Time
8:15 – 8:50 Opening Welcome – The Future of Giving in Idaho
9:00 – 10:15 Breakout Sessions 1-2
10:30 – 11:45 Breakout Sessions 3-4
12:00 – 1:30 pm Celebration Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Rhoda L. Altom, Grantee Gifts & More
Be part of the celebration as we reflect on our past and look forward…
giving together and strengthening communities in the years ahead.
September
9 Education Event, Social 5:30 pm | Program 6:30-7:30 pm, Wassmuth Center [+1]
12 IWCF Anniversary Picnic, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm [+1]
22 Discover IWCF, IWCF Office 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Virtual [+1]
1 IWCF 25th Anniversary Celebration: “A Legacy of Giving – 25 years and Beyond” Doors Open 7:30 am | Program 8:15 – 1:30 pm [+1]
2 Grant Application Open through 11:59 pm, Tuesday, Dec 1, 2027
14 Applying for an IWCF Grant: Workshop for Nonprofits, 10:00 – 11:00 am, Virtual
19 Discover IWCF, 5:30 – 6:30 pm [+1]
1 Membership Renewal Period Begins, closes January 31
Grants 2027 Season Launch: Share the Vision, Experience the Impact
17 Discover IWCF, 11:00 – 12:00 noon, Virtual [+1]
1 Grant Application Closes, applications accepted through 11:59 pm, Tuesday, Dec 1, 2026
13 Holiday Social, 2:00 – 3:30 pm [+1]
Grants: IA Training Proposal Evaluation
26 Education Event: Topic TBD, 5:00 – 7:30 pm [+1]
31 Membership Renewal Deadline
Grants IA Training: Conducting Site Visits & Preparing the Ballot
22 Discover IWCF, IWCF office, 11:00 – 12:00 noon [+1]
9 Grants: Overview of Ballot Choices and Grants Q&A – Virtual, time tbd
10 Grants: Overview of Ballot Choices, Member Luncheon and Grant Grants Q&A, time tbd
15 Discover IWCF, 5:30 – 6:30 pm [+1]
24 Grants Ballot closes: votes due for pooled-fund grants ballot by 12:00 noon
31 Individual Grant Designation Deadline
19 Discover IWCF, IWCF office, 11:00 am – 12:00 Noon [+1]
10 Annual Meeting and Grants Awards, 6:00 – 8:30 pm [+1]
Dates are subject to change. Watch for the latest Connections News for updates and registration links as we get closer.
[+1] events are an excellent opportunity to bring a guest!
This year our members responded with extra generosity to the funding gaps nonprofits have experienced over the last year. Together we funded TEN nonprofits in Southwest Idaho–the largest dollar amount IWCF has ever awarded in one grant cycle–giving $279,794 in Pooled-Fund Grants and four runner-up gifts. Learn more about each grantee from their videos linked below and on on IWCF’s YouTube channel.
Basic Needs (2)
CATCH: Support for Families Experiencing Homelessness – $35,000
The proposed program aims to reduce immediate barriers faced by women and children experiencing homelessness by providing rental and security deposit assistance, housing application support, transportation, and basic necessities. IWCF grant funds will help cover housing costs, application fees, transportation, utilities, and essential needs for approximately 25 families seeking safe and stable housing. Video
Glocal Community Partner: Emergency Refugee Family Assistance – $30,000
Glocal’s Family Assistance program supports low-income immigrant and refugee families facing housing instability. In 2026, the program will expand to serve approximately 87 families, or 435 individuals, primarily women and children, as they work toward stability and self-sufficiency. IWCF grant funds will directly support housing, utilities, food, women’s English language learning, and program administration. Video
Cultural Arts
Boise Philharmonic Foundation: Youth Orchestra Staffing Expansion – $20,000
The Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestras provide advanced musical training and performance opportunities for youth ages 12–18. Enrollment has doubled since 2021 from 153 to 312 students. IWCF grant funding will support additional staffing, including expanding the Education Manager role and hiring an Assistant Director, allowing BPYO to add ensembles and serve more students while maintaining program quality. Video
Education (2)
Breaking Chains: Canyon County Youth Empowerment (CCYE) – $35,000
The CCYE is an intervention and prevention program serving at-risk youth ages 16 to 18 across Canyon County and surrounding areas. This project will expand CCYE’s alternative education and youth mentoring services for youth ages 16–18 by adding a dedicated Meal Coordinator who will provide consistent, fresh breakfast, lunch, and take-home meals. IWCF grant funding will support 58% the Meal Coordinator position salary, helping improve student stability, health, attendance, and food security while building program sustainability. Video
Meridian Library Foundation: Meridian Library First Books Program – $35,000
The program will provide age-appropriate books to 800 students in developmental preschools and Title I kindergartens, with library staff visiting classrooms monthly to support literacy instruction. Grant funding will cover 65% of the cost of books for the 2026–27 school year, helping sustain a proven program that has provided 45,000 books to 5,600 children over 15 years. Video
Environment
Gem County Recreation Center: Replace Inefficient Lighting – $21,000
This project will replace all fluorescent lighting in the 10,000-square-foot Recreation Center with energy-efficient LED lighting, creating a brighter, quieter, and more comfortable environment. IWCF grant funds will support a licensed electrician, removal and disposal of existing fixtures, and the purchase and installation of the new LED lights, with potential support from an Idaho Power energy-efficiency rebate. Video
Health (3)
CASA: Guidance to Volunteers Who Directly Serve Abused Children – $26,994
This initiative will train and support volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for abused and neglected children, advocating for their best interests throughout their child protection cases. IWCF grant funds will support staff oversight, in-person visits with children, and volunteer fingerprinting and background checks, helping CASA serve more than 500 children each year. Video
Rise Up 2 Thrive: Direct Client Services to Victims of Abuse – $30,000
This project will expand wraparound, survivor-centered services for individuals experiencing domestic and sexual violence, including crisis advocacy, counseling, shelter coordination, legal support, and access to basic needs. IWCF grant funding will transition a part-time advocate position to full-time, allowing the program to serve approximately 200 individuals annually while reducing wait times and gaps in crisis, court, and case management support. Video
Boise First United Methodist Church: Expanded Respite Care for Adults with Dementia – $24,800
The Care Collective is a new respite care program that provides affordable group respite services for caregivers and their loved ones. IWCF grant funding will support program growth including activity supplies, staff and volunteer development, administrative support, and creation of a “Respite Care in a Box” replication kit. Video
Rural Communities
West Central Mountain (WCM) Youth Advocacy Coalition: Bringing Hope Squad to 10 Rural Schools – $22,000
This project will sustain the HOPE Squad peer-to-peer suicide prevention program in 10 rural Idaho schools, supporting 130 trained student peer leaders and 10 adult mentors. IWCF grant funds will cover licensing, curriculum, and training costs for the 2026–27 school year, helping schools maintain this evidence-based program as it expands. HOPE Squad equips students to recognize warning signs, encourage help-seeking, and connect peers with trusted adults and resources. Video
2026 – Ballot Finalist Awards – $4,000
Stage Coach Theatre, Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, Lee Pesky Learning Center, and McCall Senior Center.
Come Join Us!
Your annual IWCF donation already does amazing things for Southwest Idaho. But if you want to take your impact a step further, join the Grants Committee! It’s one of the best ways to get involved and directly shape the future of our local nonprofits.
Here’s the Scoop
Work alongside an awesome group of people to review, discuss, and select which organizations make it to the spring Grants ballot. It’s a short-term commitment running from December through March. Volunteer recruitment starts in November. Keep an eye out for more details and the official call for volunteers! Got questions? Reach out to Barb Gordon (you can easily find her in Directory Spot or at grants@iwcfgives.org). We can’t wait to work with you!
We hope you’ve enjoyed a bit of our new look!
To support the 2024-2028 strategic plan goals, the board pursued obtaining a marketing agency of record to strengthen our marketing efforts. An investment in marketing will help achieve these goals and create the vision of an organization that people want to be part of, now and into our next 25 years.
The last approved marketing expenditure was in 2016 – $15,000 was approved for marketing projects, including brand and logo development. Our upcoming 25th anniversary provided the opportunity for us to reflect on our mission, our values, who we are as a membership organization, and how we want to communicate and present IWCF to our community.
An RFP was distributed in the summer of 2025 to several agencies in the region. In September, HB Design from Portland, OR, was selected. This selection has become a wonderful partnership. HB is a women-owned agency, with a dedicated team who spent a great deal of time researching collective giving and getting to know IWCF and our membership. Through a months-long process involving the Ad Hoc Committee, Board, and Marketing Committee, our new logo, color palette, and brand identity guidelines and materials were developed.
At the Annual Meeting and Grants Celebration in May 2026, we introduced our new logo. Our new look reflects our legacy and incorporates the fun, impactful, and authentic membership experience we aspire to. Hopefully you’ve seen our new look in the Connections email, on our updated website, membership and recruitment materials, and on social media! Thanks to the marketing committee and office staff for your hundreds of hours applying our new branding in preparation for our 25th anniversary celebrations.
This spring, in support of the brand identity review and analysis, the Board, along with input from additional members, developed an evolved version of our tagline: Giving Together. Strengthening Communities. These phrases more clearly emphasize the purpose of our organization: members pooling their resources to make a greater impact on our community than any one of us could make alone.
Now you can WEAR your IWCF spirt at the upcoming Service Projects and the 25th Anniversary Picnic OR share your spirit in an IWCF beverage container at our anniversary celebration on October 1st. We’ve made it easy for you to show your IWCF spirit by getting your IWCF Merch at our online store.
IWCF is an affiliate member of Philanos, the leading women’s giving circle network–with more than 80 affiliates sharing one guiding mission: to become informed donors, to practice intentional grantmaking, and to make a lasting impact in their local communities.
As a member of IWCF, you are already a member of Philanos. To access to these free forums, webinars and more, subscribe on the Philanos website. Under ‘Philanos Affiliate,’ select Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation. You will receive an automated welcome message and can then register for webinars, watch webinar and affinity group records and explore all of the other resources in the Affiliate Portal. IWCF will shout out some of the upcoming session in our Connections news.
