IWCF Spring 2022 Newsletter

Letter from the President

I’m sure you all are anticipating and looking forward to Spring and to Boise and IWCF continuing to open back up. I know I am! 

In the last couple of months we held our first indoor membership events in nearly two years. We celebrated the holidays at Crane Creek Country Club with a fun trivia contest led by Kathy Scott and assisted by Susan Smith. Then in 2022, our first in-person New Member Orientation in over 12 months was followed by a Membership Gathering for members and prospective members at the Owyhee Hotel in January. It felt so good to be together again and not just seeing all of you on a Zoom screen.

Our Board is still meeting over Zoom, given that our meeting room in the office feels a bit small for our 20-person board, but several committees are gradually getting back together in person again. Membership, Marketing, and Grants have held several in-person meetings. It’s one of the things we all enjoy about our IWCF membership and allows for better decision making.

Our Education Committee brought us a very informative conversation with Boise Mayor Lauren McLean over Zoom in January and I was pleased to see many of you at our Education event at the Idaho State Museum on March 1st.

Our office staff, Mary Burns, with excellent volunteer help from Christine Avey, Kim Liebich and Marilyn McAllister have been busy with member renewals and your IGDs. Thanks to all of you who have continued to support IWCF with your membership. What a difference we make when we all come together; a true picture of educated philanthropy through collaboration, pooled resources, and individual giving that positively impacts the community.

Our Grants Committee has been meeting to review the many applications that were submitted by local nonprofits. 12 of those will go to the ballot of which at least six will be awarded at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at the Barber Park Education & Event Center. I hope to see all of you there!

Mikel 

GRANTS

Ballots are Coming! 

By Jen Sampson, Grants Chair

During the past month the Grants Committee has been busy reviewing the proposals submitted by nonprofits throughout Southwest Idaho. On Thursday, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. we will hold a Grants Q&A via Zoom and on the following day, March 11, we will all receive in our inboxes an email containing the 2021-2022 Grantee Ballot.

Members of the Grants Committee have been reviewing the grant applications, meeting as Interest Area Committees, and are currently in the process of conducting site visits to the organizations that may appear on the ballot. 

This year we saw an increase in applications that are responding to COVID-19, are centered around entire communities, and address the critical needs of our underserved populations. There has also been an uptick in applications that focus on the outdoors; whether it be recreation, art installations, gardens, greenhouses, etc. 

Many, many hours of time, dedication, and careful review have gone into this process.  Thanks to the generosity of each and every one of our members, we will be funding six grants, one in each of our Interest Areas–Cultural Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Financial Stability and Rural Communities. Watch your inboxes and remember to vote by Friday, April 1 at noon!

 

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A Look at our 2021 Grantees

By Pamela Briggs, Grants Liaison

Treasure Valley Pollinator Project – Ada Soil & Water Conservation District: ($20,000)
Native insects, pollinator species, and beneficial insects are cornerstones in our environment and crucial to our ability to produce food and seeds. Maintenance of a healthy habitat for the native insects, pollinator species and beneficial insects is challenged by rapid growth and declining open spaces. Ada Soil & Water Conservation District’s Treasure Valley Pollinator Project provides education to the community for why each garden matters and maximizes the benefit of each garden space.

Approximately 120 people attended two in-person Pollinator Festivals hosted at Peaceful Belly Farm which included garden walks and discussions with local entomologists, kids’ activities, live music, and pick your own flowers. In addition, two workshops were held via Zoom titled Expanding My World View and Garden Without Pesticides: Alternative Solutions. Through workshops and social media, participants shared gardening photos, asked and answered each other’s questions, and even swapped seeds and plants with one another.

Participants have been inspired by creating and expanding pollinator habitats in their own gardens. 

“I absolutely loved it!” Shared one participant. “I got to nurture plants I never would have planted, and some were fascinating! I also never paid close attention to the variety of insects and met bugs I never knew existed!”

Ada Soil & Water Conservation District (Ada SWCD) is already hearing how excited people are to continue this project next spring.

Ada SWCD stated they made some adjustments due to COVID-19, finding alternative ways to continue to engage with participants by adjusting presentations and offering virtual classes instead of in-person or accommodating restrictions as best they could. Due to COVID-19, schools have not allowed students to travel off campus for field trips. The Ada SWCD will check in with schools early 2022 for an updated field trip status. In lieu of field trips held off campus, the Ada SWCD included pollinator education in the Conservation Field Days held for 5th Grade students reaching over 700 students from eight schools.

“By starting this project off in full force with the additional funding from [IWCF], we have made a huge community impact with the Pollinator Project and gained a tremendous amount of support and recognition for our pollinator efforts,” shared Ada SWCD. “We also were noticed by Boise State Public Radio, which has become a key partner in following along with the project and promoting pollinator habitat.”

 

BIPOC Playwrights Festival – Boise Contemporary Theater ($30,000)
Boise Contemporary Theater (BCT) hosted an annual summer play reading festival focused on the work of Boise Idaho Playwright of Color (BIPOC) artists. This project amplifies and supports the voices and stories of underrepresented people in order to help promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and to introduce Boise to diverse artists from across the country. The grant funding supported bringing playwrights and artists of color to Boise, and covered their salaries, housing, and the rental of the Morrison Center.

“We are always humbled by the support of IWCF, both in terms of funding, but also in terms of word of mouth, and enthusiastic audience members,” said Benjamin Burdick, Producing Artistic Director. “Your support, both as an organization and by your individual members, gives us credibility and visibility. You have bolstered us with your sense of forward thinking and adventure and helped us continue to do new things, while simultaneously lending us the legitimacy and power of a time tested and beloved local institution. That combination is invaluable.”

By featuring diverse stories and people on the stage, BCT brings the best theater professionals to Boise audiences while creating a more diverse local base of artists in the long term. Dozens of plays were read by a selection committee made up of theater artists from across the country. Burdick, along with Festival Director Lily Yasuda, chose the two final plays for readings. This ultimately involved eight actors, two playwrights and two directors, and employed two out-of-town stage managers and a local actor for the staged readings. 

The second week featured a one-woman powerhouse performance by Debra Ann Byrd from New York City entitled Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey. They also curated a Playwrights Panel discussion with all three playwrights in a moderated and Q&A forum. Benjamin Burdick stated that the artists were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the work they did, the city itself, and the BIPOC festival experience. BCT estimated 250 total patrons attended.

“I loved Becoming Othello so much and realized while watching it that I have hardly ever seen a black actor perform a leading role in a live play in Boise,” a Boise State University Freshman noted. “I’m somehow embarrassed to say that, having grown up here and studied at a great theater program at Rocky Mountain High. But it made me realize what people mean when they talk about amplifying voices. Boise has great art, but we are also missing great art, and this performance made me realize that and made me want to go find more writers/actors like Debra Ann Byrd to learn from.” 

 

Boise Community Schools Expansion – Boise Public Schools Foundation ($30,000)
Boise Public Schools Foundation’s project at Capital High School allows students to have on-campus resources to thrive both physically and mentally. Boise Public Community Schools combine an on-campus location with diverse community resources for an integrated focus on academics, health, and social services. These include food and clothing, after-school academic support, and increased access to basic needs such as mental, medical,  and dental health services. It also incorporates parent engagement in English, GED, and parenting classes.

Community Schools bring together partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families, and communities. Similar resources are established in other public schools, but the Boise Community School Expansion at Capital is the first one located in a traditional high school.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on getting this project started due to the increased case numbers and protocols. After completing a strategic planning process through Agnew Beck Consultants, the launch of the new Community School is expected to start in the second semester. Progress was made in identifying the room and purchasing the furnishings. Stocking the pantry is ongoing in cooperation with Idaho Foodbank and Life’s Kitchen. 

No funding has been expended as of yet. Additional progress and impact will be evaluated at the end of each quarter. 

 

Expanded Health Services in Frontier Camas County – Family Health Services Corporation ($30,000)
Family Health Services (FHS) is the sole provider in Fairfield, a remote town with limited access in a valley surrounded by mountains. The stress and uncertainties of living during a pandemic have greatly increased the need for access to mental and behavioral health services. The expanded health services funded by IWCF provide access to affordable mental and behavioral health care and uninterrupted access to affordable and efficient dental imaging services.

Dental, mental health, and medical services can be difficult to access in Fairfield. FHS has addressed this need by offering all of these services at their clinic. The grant funding for the FHS project supports new counseling services from a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. These services identify and address issues early to effectively promote improved health outcomes in the individual and the community. In addition, the purchase of the new dental sensor (handheld X-ray) resulted in better reliability and X-ray image resolution.

The new counselor was hired and started providing counseling services to the Fairfield community in January 2022. This was unfortunately later than anticipated as the retiring Fairfield school counselor targeted for hiring through this grant could not accept the new position due to family illness. The new DEXIS Titanium dental sensor has been in use since July 2021 and as of October 2021, it has provided 87 x-rays to 68 patients, well above FHS’ initial estimate.

 

Access to Medical Care at Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee County  – Idaho Humane Society ($30,000)
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation, established for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe, is an isolated community located in the vast high desert with no veterinary services. Funded through a recent grant from IWCF, the Idaho Humane Society (IHS) project transports dogs and cats between the Shoshone Paiute Duck Valley Indian Reservation and the IHS Veterinary Medical Center and Adoption Center.

People living in underserved communities characterized by systemic poverty and structural inequity face barriers to affordable veterinary and pet wellness services. The IHS project reduces pet overpopulation and culling, which increases health and awareness on Duck Valley Indian Reservation. The Center’s services provide spay and neuter surgeries, basic vaccinations, and necessary wellness care such as treatment for parasites.

Additional services provided by the IHS include return transport of animals that have been sterilized and treated back to their owners on the reservation. The Center also re-homes surplus animals originating from the reservation through adoptions. These services directly address the issue of free-roaming and unsocialized animals and ensure the health of companion animals. The project benefits the entire estimated 1,300 resident population of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

With the support of the IWCF grant, IHS has been incredibly effective in their mission—220 animals to date—well beyond their projected goals. Additionally, IHS has successfully performed trap-neuter-return (TNR) services for 17 feral cats in a colony of 35.

As an animal advocate living on the Duck Valley reservation, I have received requests for help with dog and cat issues since I returned in 2003. People need help with medical issues, wounded animals, unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, pet food, etc. I’ve come home to kittens and puppies in my house and dogs left in my yard. Since IHS has been coming to the reservation, I can now give people answers and direct them towards help and that feels great, as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. 

~Paula Whiterock, Duck Valley Reservation Resident

 

Security Deposit Assistance Program – Jesse Tree ($30,000)
Imagine receiving a notice that you and your family had 30 days to vacate a home you have known and loved for years. Unfortunately this is harsh reality for so many in the Treasure Valley. Such was the case for Teri and her partner who had been raising their family in Boise for years when rental prices went through the roof. They were forced to relocate. They hadn’t lived outside of Boise and were unsure of where to look next. Teri heard a radio ad for Jesse Tree and gave them a call shortly after receiving their 30-day notice. They were connected to the Housing Navigator and found affordable housing in Canyon County. As much as they disliked leaving the place, they’d hoped to raise their family, they were grateful to have a roof over their heads once again. When asked what having a stable home meant to them, Teri said it provided “peace of mind beyond what words can explain.”

The shortage of affordable housing in the Treasure Valley is ongoing and inventory is very limited. Finding new housing in a very low-vacancy market and increasing rental costs is difficult for many residents. Jesse Tree is the only organization in the Treasure Valley focused on providing wrap-around support and services with preventive financial assistance to these renters. The Security Deposit Assistance (SDA) program connects people who are housed informally or losing their residence with security deposit assistance to obtain new housing, including outreach materials and one-on-one case management.

The total number of applications is a telling metric because it shows the need for the program itself and the success of communicating the program to their target audience. For the months of September 2021 and October 2021 they served 22 households with Security Deposit Assistance. To date, 457 total applications were received for the program, with an average of 65 applications/month. Case managers receive five to ten referrals from the internal intake line each week. Those from five agency partnerships generate an additional three to four referrals each month.

Jesse Tree plans to continue and to expand this project. Security Deposit Assistance was identified by the team as a gap in community services and the creation of this project intended to fill that gap. Based on the overwhelming response and number of applications received, they anticipate this will continue to be a need in our community.

 

Safe Families for Children – Treasure Valley – Lutheran Community Services Northwest ($25,000)
Anne* was alone and isolated after escaping domestic violence. She worked overnight shifts to provide for her sons and didn’t have family in the country. Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) came alongside her family with everything from home repairs to a first-ever birthday party for her son. They also cared for the boys while Anne worked and transitioned to a daytime job that gave Anne the support she needed. 

“I feel so loved… this is more than I have received in the last five years,” shared Anne. 

LCSNW’s Ministry Lead also noted, “Anne is a different woman from what we first saw. She has a light in her now that wasn’t there before.”

LCSNW developed the Safe Families Program to serve distressed, isolated families in crisis situations similar to Anne’s. The program provides an option for parents faced with a short-term crisis such as job loss, domestic violence, and medical emergencies, which can seriously undermine a parent’s ability to be a dependable caregiver, especially if that parent is young or parenting alone. They can temporarily place children in the care of another loving family while they are given the support and resources from LCSNW.

Building support for the program has been successful in five participating lead churches creating circles of support, and seven participating partner churches providing Ministry Volunteer Recruiters. These volunteers, referred to as Family Friends and Resource Friends, total 65 to date. 16 families, representing 48 individuals, were connected to this Circle of Support, all of which were able to maintain their family unit through concrete support, mentoring, and respite care from Safe Families. 

COVID-19 continues to present challenges. Coordinating and recruiting volunteers online is not as motivating and many churches are not meeting in person. Safe Families addressed this challenge by utilizing the church leads and through those personal connections, they exceeded their volunteer recruitment targets.

“[IWCF funding] made it possible to conduct targeted outreach throughout the Treasure Valley,” shared LCSNW. “Our e-news list has grown from 100 to over 500 community members engaged in Safe Families. Volunteers have grown exponentially, and the Safe Families network has increased tenfold. We are beyond grateful for your investment in helping us build this safety net of homes for children and families in desperate need.  As a new community driven volunteer movement, Safe Families has benefited immensely from the visibility and networking opportunities.”

* Names have been changed to protect individuals

 

MEMBERSHIP

Member Meet-Ups

By Linda Riley, Membership Chair

One thing we learned during this time of COVID-19 is that our members have a variety of interests and many of you enjoy gathering together around said interests. We did this virtually to hear Opera, share books, learn about self-care, and get some helpful holiday cooking tips.

As we venture back into the realm of in-person gatherings, the Membership Committee would like to continue this trend. We have heard that there are several shared interests among us all and would like to facilitate a few informal meet-ups to test our theory.

We will be piloting this idea with two to three Member Meet-Ups in the Spring/Summer time period. These will not be IWCF sanctioned or coordinated events. We would like to collect the contact information of those who are interested in partaking, and let a lead person organize the activity with the group. Some ideas we have come across are golf, cooking, hiking, books, puzzles, and more. 

WIth that being said, if you have an interest or activity in which you would like to participate, please send your ideas to me at elmer9999@gmail.com. As this project comes together, we will inform you via This Week of groups that are forming and how you can connect with the leader of that activity.

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

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Susan Smith Endowment—What a Year!

By Dana Kehr, Endowment Committee

We’ve all ridden a roller coaster over the last two years. That ride includes a stellar year for the stock market. As of December 31, 2021, our Susan Smith Endowment stood at $1,221,235!! A one-year return of 20%! There have also been some down years; it is the stock market, after all. But good news when not all news is good news.  

We owe this all to our members. A HUGE THANK YOU to you forward-thinking members who see the value of investing in the long-range sustainability of IWCF and have contributed to our success. Our mutual commitment to building our Endowment will enable us to thrive and to grow.

The Susan Smith Endowment Fund was originally established to provide for the sustainability of Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation by subsidizing our operations, and it’s doing just that. For the 2019-2020 operating budget, a four percent (4%) draw allowed from our Endowment covered 43.7% of the operations budget. This provided for a (very) minimal staff that supports everything we do, minimal IT support, and a myriad of other things that help us to provide financial support for much-needed community infrastructure. That same draw from the Endowment is budgeted to cover 32.4% of the 2021-2022 operations budget and we expect our operating expenses will continue to grow as IWCF grows. Over time, our current very basic support will need to be enhanced if we are to effectively support our broader community. 

2021 IGD contributions to the Endowment totaled $10,250; an additional $3,683.50 was contributed by members beyond their IGDs. While the total was slightly lower than in recent years, perhaps reflecting the “pandemic effect” mentioned in Laura Simic’s article, it was a very healthy and inspiring boost to our long-term viability.

This past year, we added a new avenue to enable members to provide long-term support to the Endowment: GIFT (Giving It Forward Together).  GIFT allows legacy philanthropists to engage in planned giving of various types. To read more about GIFT and how you might use this tool, visit our website.

 

Click here for a list of those who have so generously contributed to the endowment.

 

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Welcome to IWCF!

IWCF is excited to welcome the following new and returning Blue Ribbon Members to IWCF!

Janine Bastian
Joan Cloonan
Heather Cooper
HannaLore Hein
Jamie Jacobsen
Gail LeBow
Brenda Barton LeMay
Susie Multanen
Deborah Nelson*
Cara Nielsen
Claire Poethke
Sherri Potter
Debra Purcell
Michelle Ross
Tara Wensel

*Returning

 

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Thank you!

Thank you to Tricia and Bill Manning for their donation in honor of Sue Kimes, sister of IWCF member, Donna Wetherley.

 

EDUCATION

How Charitable Giving Changed During COVID-19 

By Laura Simic, Leadership Development Chair

Our understanding of the pandemic has changed since March 2020, when it was thought that the pandemic would pass. Now it has become clear that the pandemic will go on in some form for the foreseeable future. The changes in giving patterns since the early spring of 2020 have significant implications for nonprofits, according to two studies by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) of the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy.

In September 2020, roughly six months into the pandemic in the U.S., the WPI looked at how charitable giving was shifting during the pandemic’s early months. That study found that giving by single women appeared to be disproportionately affected, compared to that of single men or couples. Single women were more likely to reduce their overall giving in response to the crisis. 

Despite this negative trend in giving for single women, the study showed that giving in response to the pandemic itself was strong: around one-third of households gave directly to charitable organizations, individuals, or businesses, and around half of households gave indirectly. Examples of indirect giving include ordering takeout to support a local restaurant or paying housekeepers or hair stylists without receiving services.

WPI’s conclusions were supported by Giving USA’s annual report on charitable giving. According to Giving USA, 2020 giving totaled $471.44 billion, an increase of 5.1% over 2019. Individuals remained by far the largest source of philanthropy at 78%, with giving by individuals (including bequests) and foundations increasing, while giving by corporations decreased.

Additionally, giving across five of seven nonprofit sectors grew. While giving to health and the arts experienced a one-year downturn, two-year growth was positive across all nine sectors.

Pandemic: Year Two
A year after the first WPI study, it is clear that COVID-19 will be with us for some time. To understand how the pandemic continues to affect giving, a second WPI study, COVID-19, Generosity, and Gender: How Giving Changed During the First Year of a Global Pandemic, revisited the same questions in November 2021. 

While much research has been conducted about charitable giving during the pandemic, the WPI studies uniquely juxtapose giving and gender. 

During the period May 2020 to May 2021, the share of households that gave directly to charitable organizations, individuals, or businesses for COVID-19 relief increased by 9.3%, including money and in-kind goods. Four out of ten U.S. households (41.1%) increased the amount they contributed. Most likely, they decided to do so as the pandemic wore on and the increased need for services continued. 

In addition to giving directly, 45% of households gave indirectly for COVID-19 relief. Indirect giving decreased from 47% during the previous six months likely due to businesses returning to more normal operations or people no longer considering these actions as charitable.

In response to the pandemic, giving to organizations focused on basic needs grew 9.4% between May 2020 and May 2021. Giving to organizations focusing on other causes also grew, but more slowly, approximately half as much as the previous year.  Strong growth in giving to health and basic needs, coupled with slower growth during this time in giving to other organizations, support research pointing to uneven recovery across different types of organizations.

Contracting COVID-19 did not have a clear effect on overall charitable giving but was associated with increased giving to COVID-19 relief. Half of households, where at least one person contracted COVID-19, donated to COVID-19 relief compared with 39.5% of those who did not contract the virus. Additionally, households whose members, close friends or family contracted COVID-19 reduced volunteering in response, likely due to safety concerns. 

The pandemic-related economic downturn has affected women, and particularly women of color, more than men. Several factors account for this gender difference. With childcare being a major challenge, women are leaving the workforce at higher rates than men. Intimate partner violence increased, exacerbated by community shutdowns and financial stress. Women are more likely to be infected with COVID-19 based on their work in service or care industries.

Higher levels of unemployment among women have persisted since the initial economic downturn in spring 2020. U.S. women saw more job losses compared to men and were disadvantaged, compared to women in other developed countries, due to lack of public policies such as support for childcare, labor protections, and the ability to work remotely. Losing a job and losing income were strongly associated with decreased giving to all types of organizations.

The crisis continues to have the greatest effect on giving by single women. Single women, single men, and couples all increased their overall charitable giving between May 2020 and May 2021. However, they are giving less to most charitable organizations than before the pandemic began.

• Single women had the smallest increase of 3.7% in giving to basic needs and health, compared to single men whose giving increased 10.4% and couples whose giving increased 10.9%.  
• Giving to religion by single men increased 10.2%; single women increased 2.5%; and couples increased 3.9%. 
• Giving to all other purposes by single men increased 11.3%; single women increased 0.2%; and couples increased 4.1%.

Conclusion
COVID-19 has had an uneven impact on different types of households. Nonprofit professionals should be sensitive to and consider tailoring appeals based on a donor’s specific situation, possibly asking for smaller gifts or seeking other opportunities for engagement.  

Nonprofits must keep in mind that circumstances are temporary. Donors who have paused or decreased their giving shouldn’t be discounted. It would serve nonprofits well, particularly post pandemic, to keep communicating with these donors and, when possible, find alternative ways for them to support the organization.

The WPI studies highlight the need for nonprofits to better understand how households prefer to give and engage with organizations. Many donors have shifted to online giving. Research shows women in particular are more likely to give online.  Nonprofits should continue to develop and offer different platforms to make giving as convenient as possible.

Households, particularly those who have contracted COVID-19, may be hesitant to return to volunteering and other in-person activities. Nonprofits should continue to offer virtual options and hybrid formats.

References
Mesch, D., Osili, U., Skidmore, T., Bergdoll, J., Ackerman, J., & Sager, J. (2020). COVID-19, Generosity, and Gender: How Giving Changed During the Early Months of a Global Pandemic. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. 

Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2020 (2021). Chicago: Giving USA Foundation.

Mesch, D., Osili, U., Skidmore, T., Bergdoll, J., Ackerman, J., & Sager, J. (2021). COVID-19, GENEROSITY, AND GENDER: How Giving Changed During the First Year of a Global Pandemic. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. 

Mesch, D., Osili, U., Ackerman, J., Bergdoll, J., Skidmore, T., & Pactor, A. (2020). Women Give 2020: New Forms of Giving in a Digital Age: Powered by Technology, Creating Community. Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

 

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IWCF March Education Event

Trailblazing Women of Idaho: Lessons Learned and Advice for the Next Generation of Trailblazers Shared Through Memorable Stories From History-Making Careers

By Molly Harder, Education Chair 

trail·​blaz·​er |  ˈtrāl-ˌblā-zər

1. 1. A person who creates a path for others
   2. Someone who makes, does, or sets forward on something new

On Tuesday, March 1,  the first day of Women’s History Month, the education committee was thrilled to host an in-person event at the Idaho State Museum. We celebrated the “Trailblazing Women of Idaho” exhibit, which closes March 13. In addition to after-hours access to the exhibit, there was a presentation, moderated by the Executive Director of the Idaho State Historical Society, and fellow IWCF Member, Janet Gallimore.

We learned about the creation of the exhibit and the curating of the objects featured. Then we enjoyed a speaker panel from three women who are featured. Three of our own local Trailblazers, two of which are also members of IWCF, highlighted in the exhibit—Ellen Ochoa, Mary Ann Arnold, and Kay Hardy—shared stories of their adventures, lessons learned, and advice for future trailblazers. 

Following the presentation, access to the Museum and the exhibit was provided to all attendees.

 

EVENTS

IWCF 2022 Symposium

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy: Celebrating Change-Making Women Past, Present, Future

By Molly Harder, Education Chair

Date: Tuesday, October 18
Location: Boise Centre – 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

IWCF’s Fall Symposium provides education about community needs and the opportunities for philanthropy and collaboration to positively impact the lives of people in Southwestern Idaho. The Fall 2022 Symposium, now taking place after the 2020 postponement, will emphasize women’s impact in our community through philanthropy, and inspire participants to engage locally. 

In 2018, a record 800 community-minded women and men attended our symposium. They gathered to hear keynote speaker Nicholas Kristof, a passionate human rights advocate who has spent his career shining a spotlight on social injustices and global inequities, especially those affecting women and girls such as human trafficking. Attendees gained an understanding of how the impact of poverty and philanthropy contribute to the causes and cures of homelessness. Breakout sessions from local nonprofits and community leaders emphasized the need for continued action here at home. 

The 2022 Fall Symposium will include two breakout sessions in which attendees may select from one of three topics, a combined session for all attendees, luncheon with guest speaker Gordon Jones, and dinner featuring keynote speaker Jessica Jackley.

Member Tables Presale: Member tables for $950 are now available through May 31. Starting June 1, Individual tickets will be available for $100 and tables will be $1,000!

• Click Here for information about member tables.
• Click Here to reserve your table today.

Sponsorship Opportunities are still available!

• Click Here for information about sponsorship opportunities.
• Click Here to make your commitment to sponsor today.

 

2022 Symposium Agenda
We hope you will be able to join us for part, or all, of this amazing day of education and celebration.

8:00 a.m.: Registration
8:30-9:30 a.m.: Breakout Session I 
9:45-10:45 a.m. Breakout Session II 
11:00-11:50 a.m.: Session III (Combined)
12:00-1:30 p.m.: Luncheon & Guest Speaker Gordon Jones
*break*
5:00 p.m. Doors Open 
6:00 p.m.: Dinner & Keynote Speaker Jessica Jackley
8:00 p.m.: Book Signing 

 

Get to Know Dinner Keynote Speaker Jessica Jackley

Jessica Jackley is the founder and former Chief Marketing Officer of KIVA, the world’s first peer to peer microlending website. KIVA lets users lend as little as $25 to aspiring entrepreneurs around the globe, providing affordable capital for them to start or expand microenterprises. Named one of the top ideas of the year by The New York Times Magazine, and praised by Oprah, Bill Clinton, and countless others, KIVA is one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history and has, since its inception, raised over $1 billion for aspiring entrepreneurs across 206 countries. Jackley was also named by Forbes as one of five rising stars in Healthcare, Education, and the Environment. She is the author of the book Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least, which the Financial Times called “so thoroughly well-meaning and engagingly put it is too magnetic to put down.”

Jackley first saw the power and dignity of microfinance while working in East Africa with a microenterprise nonprofit. Convinced that social change happens across all sectors, Jackley has worked in public, nonprofit, and private organizations including the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Amazon.com, Potentia Media, and many others. Jackley is the recipient of the Symons Innovator Award, which recognizes the importance of women’s participation in technology innovation and business.

Jackley was also a founder and CEO of ProFounder, which joined forces with GOOD to create innovative tools and experiences for entrepreneurs to crowdfund. She is currently an independent consultant and investor with the Collaborative Fund, and recently served as Walt Disney Imagineering’s first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, focusing on projects related to corporate citizenship, social impact, and happiness.

Jackley served as a Visiting Practitioner at Stanford’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society. She has taught Entrepreneurial Design for Social Change at Drew University and Global Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business at USC. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, and serves as an active board member or advisor for several nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity. 

Currently, Jackley divides her time between her roles as Founder & CEO of Altruists, General Partner at Untapped Capital, and continuing her tenure as an instructor at the USC Marshall School of Business.

 

Get to Know Lunch Guest Speaker Gordon Jones

Gordon Jones is the President of the College of Western Idaho (CWI), a comprehensive community college serving the Treasure Valley and the State of Idaho. Residents of Ada and Canyon County approved the creation of CWI through a supermajority vote and CWI began offering classes in Spring of 2009. Jones arrives at CWI after leading Boise State University’s College of Innovation and Design (CI+D), as the founding Dean, since 2015. CI+D is a diploma granting college tasked with identifying new pathways of learning (from new degrees to co-curricular learning experiences) that yield skills to meet emerging workplace needs for students across public higher education.  

Prior to his role at Boise State, Gordon served as the Evans Family Foundation Managing Director of the Harvard Innovation Lab. Hired as the inaugural Director in 2011, Gordon has led the i-lab from launch to maturity with 600 ventures incubated and $250M raised in professional funding since opening. Gordon has 20 years of experience in senior roles with startups, mid-sized, and Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. He has also served as an Adjunct Lecturer at Bentley University, teaching marketing to MBA and undergraduate students.  

Organizations with whom he has worked include American Biophysics (purchased by Woodstream), Universal Pest Solutions, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and The Orme School. He graduated from Brown University (BA) and earned an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

 

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Mark Your Calendars

MARCH

Grants Ballot Selection and Grants Committee Celebration 
Wednesday, March 9; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Idaho Black History Museum
508 Julia Davis Drive, Boise 
Members Only

Grants Ballot Q&A
Thursday, March 10; 11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
Members Only

Grants Ballot to Membership
Friday, March 11

Individual Grant Designations Deadline
Friday, March 31

 

APRIL

Voting Deadline for Pooled-Fund Grants
Friday, April 1; 12:00 noon 

IWCF Service Day
In Celebration of International Women’s day on March 8
Monday, April 18; 10:00 a.m.-Noon or 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Gardening support at the Idaho Botanical Garden

 

MAY

Annual Meeting and Grants Awards
Tuesday, May 10 
Barber Park Education & Event Center
4049 S Eckert Rd, Boise