My Summer Reflections: Leaving Completely Moved By Chelsea Gaesser Stepping into the city of Charlotte for the first time was a scary experience for a rural Kentucky girl. My first day of the Women’s Impact Fund internship was filled with smiles and explanations from the illustrious Fielding Williams. I met Patricia Massey-Hoke a few moments […]
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Announcing Our Inaugural Spark Award Recipients! By Patricia Massey Hoke and Liana Humphrey Women’s Impact Fund is excited to announce our inaugural Spark Awards for rest and renewal for local women social change leaders. These awards were approved by a unanimous vote of our membership earlier this month. The awards place Women’s Impact Fund at
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Getting to know The Plus Collective, Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ Collective Giving Org By: Haley Arellano Started in 2003, then known as the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund, The Plus Collective set out to support the Charlotte community’s LGBTQ+ non-profit organizations. We had the chance to speak with Louis Kemp, the incoming Chair for the organization, to
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Better Profile = Better WIF Experience! By Chelsea Gaesser WIF needs your input! Would you take 3 minutes to sign into your profile on our website to update your skills and interests? We want to connect members with similar interests, assist committees needing area experts, and collaborate with our nonprofits searching for new board members.
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Stories of Impact: The Bulb By Karen Barton The Bulb is thrilled to have started a new market in East Charlotte at ourBRIDGE for KIDS, in partnership with United Neighborhoods. At their first market, they welcomed over 60 households representing over a dozen nationalities and languages. They have seen consistent growth in the weeks since
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Meet Our Summer Intern A conversation between Chelsea Gaesser and Fielding Williams, Membership & Operations Manager Join us in welcoming Chelsea Gaesser, our 2024 Davidson College Nonprofit Leadership Fellow summer intern. Her work will support the development of a data system cataloging member skills and interests, so that Women’s Impact Fund can better connect members
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Member Spotlight: Kate Jostworth By Kate Jostworth Hi, I am the problem–it’s me. Thank you for reading and supporting Member Connections over the past two years. It is time to meet Kate Jostworth, the author behind the Member Connection series. I am handing off the baton, but before I do…. Can you provide a brief
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2024 Annual Meeting Reflection By Anna Grace Hawkins This year I attended my first WIF Annual Meeting and was blown away by the excitement, inspiration, and sincerity in the room. It was particularly special for my first annual meeting to be WIF’s 20th Anniversary. As I reflect on the night three favorite moments came to
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Stories of Impact: BOOM Charlotte By Susan Adams With the use of a WIF Grant, BOOM Charlotte successfully strengthened and united our community this April through multifaceted and immersive art experiences. The three-day BOOM Charlotte festival allowed the public to explore art through two distinct experiences at Camp North End: BOOM Fringe and BOOM Intersection.
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Past Annual Meetings By Aimee Greeter As we prepare for next week’s 2024 WIF Annual Meeting and eagerly anticipate some of its new features and activities, we are also looking back at prior years’ Annual Meetings with fondness. See below for memories shared by our WIF members of their favorite moments from recent and more
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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.
