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Founders Fund

What is the Founders Fund?

In spring 2024, Women’s Impact Fund was honored to receive a gift of $100,000 from Jim Babb and family in honor of his wife and their mother, WIF co-founder, Mary Lou Babb. Additional initial gifts were made by other founding members, including co-founder Claire Tate, bringing the total given to $158,000 in honor of our 158 founding members.

These gifts were used to launch the Founders Fund, the first endowed fund for Women’s Impact Fund. This fund will be invested as a quasi-endowment for long-term growth and used at the discretion of the Board of Directors to advance the strategic priorities of the organization and increase women’s leadership in philanthropy.

We are deeply grateful for the enduring vision of Mary Lou Babb and her family. This gift will ensure that the impact of our collective giving will endure for generations to come.

Give to the Founders Fund
2003 - 2004
2003 - 2004
2013 - 2014
2013 - 2014
2023 - 2024
2023 - 2024

Claire Tate and Mary Lou Babb, Founders

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.