Stories of Impact: Community Impact Committee By Karen Barton One of the most important parts of WIF is our relationship with our nonprofit partners (NPPs). This effort is spearheaded by the Community Impact Committee (CIC), which works diligently with NPPs in their active grant years to be the voice of the NPP within WIF. This […]
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Member Spotlight: Joelle Dugue By Kate Jostworth Joelle Dugue shares advice on making the most out of WIF by knowing your WHY and what makes WIF special to her. Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I am Joelle Dugue from Brooklyn, NYC. I am a first-generation Haitian
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Stories of Impact: Planned Parenthood By Marcie Shealy Women, men, and young people rely on Planned Parenthood for accessible, affordable quality healthcare, accurate information, and comprehensive health education in a setting that preserves and protects the individual’s right to privacy. The goal is to ensure informed decision-making. Our shared belief is that everyone who walks
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What A Year! See What the 20th Anniversary Held for WIF! By Fielding Williams In the 2023-2024 program year, Women’s Impact Fund celebrated our 20th Anniversary and surpassed $8 million in total grants given to local nonprofits. To honor this milestone, we held special events, made a one-time grant from our operating reserve, and launched the
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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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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.
