Celebrating a Month of Connection and Momentum: May 2025 Events Recap May was a meaningful and energizing month for Women’s Impact Fund as we closed out our fiscal year with exciting events that celebrated our accomplishments and welcomed the next wave of member engagement. We kicked off the month on a high note with our […]
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Announcing Our 2025 Spark Award Recipients! By Katherine Mooring and Meaghan Dunham Arena WIF’s reimagined Spark Awards for Rest & Renewal honor community leaders who serve on the front lines of social change—often carrying the emotional weight of the communities they support. These awards are more than just recognition; they are a call to pause, replenish, and feel
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Women’s Impact Fund Hosts Sold-Out 2025 Annual Meeting by Aimee Greeter, Communications Committee On May 6, the Women’s Impact Fund (WIF) celebrated another successful year at the Annual Meeting, an event that sold out for the second year in a row. Held at The Union at Station West, the evening brought together WIF members, guests,
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Stories of Impact: CLT is Creative By Meaghan Dunham Arena, Communications & Engagement Coordinator At Women’s Impact Fund, we believe in the power of ideas and, more importantly, in the people behind them. That’s why we were proud of all the amazing grant recipients we have the honor of supporting — and spotlighting! — each
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Staff Spotlight: Shannan Younger In this short blog post, we’re getting to know our new Membership & Operations Manager, Shannan Younger. Read along to learn more about Shannan; including the sweet Valentine’s Day gift her husband gave to her this year! Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know
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April Highlights: Celebrating Milestones, Making Connections, and Honoring Impact April 2025 was a month of celebration, connection, and heartfelt goodbyes at Women’s Impact Fund. From honoring long-time members to gathering with fellow changemakers in the community, each event this month reminded us of the strength and generosity of the women in our network. Honoring 5
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Stories of Impact: Carolinas CARE Partnership by Meaghan Dunham Arena Carolinas CARE Partnership (CCP), a 2024 Women’s Impact Fund grant recipient, has been busy making impactful changes over the last year. From a successful office relocation to preparing for a major community event, CCP continues to expand its reach and deepen its services. Progress and Transformation
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Stories of Impact: Camino Health Center by Meaghan Dunham Arena When Camino Health Center (CHC) received a 2024 Women’s Impact Fund grant, they were already laying the groundwork for something big. Less than a year later, CHC has transformed that support into expanded services, greater accessibility, and deeper community impact. Expanding Care, Building Capacity The WIF
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Women LEAD 2025: Empowering Women to Shape Wealth, Giving, and Legacy By Whitney Feld Women’s Impact Fund recently wrapped up our annual transformative three-part series, Women LEAD. This year’s focus was on empowering women to shape their financial futures, redefine the role of philanthropy, and build legacies that will endure for generations. Each session brought together influential speakers
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Women LEAD #2: Redefining Wealth: Women Leading with Purpose and Passion By: Anna Grace Hawkins This year’s second Women LEAD session focused on Redefining Wealth: Women Leading with Purpose and Passion. The discussion was centered around the role of philanthropy within wealth conversations. Katie Lyman, Senior Philanthropy Advisory with JP Morgan Private Bank lead the
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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.
