Member Spotlight: Savannah Keith Gress By Kate Jostworth Savannah Keith Gress’ reflections on her upbringing and the cultures she’s experienced living across multiple continents have led her to explore how communities can be truly just and support us all in flourishing which she brings to her work within the Women’s Impact Fund. Can you provide […]
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New Research on Collective Giving Highlights Increasing Impact By Aimee Greeter The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, Philanthropy Together, and Colmena-Consulting recently released their study’s results on collective giving’s impacts. “In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.” documents the seismic changes in
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Stories of Impact: Latino Civic Engagement Program By Liana Humphrey, Spark Committee In 2017, fewer than one percent of the 43,000 registered Latino voters in Mecklenburg County participated in local elections. By 2023, that number was five percent. Much of that increase is thanks to the Latino Civic Engagement Program and its dynamic leader, Wendy
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Recapping Women LEAD 2024 By Anna Grace Hawkins, Communications and Marketing Committee This year’s Women LEAD education series concentrated on showing up authentically in community leadership roles. The three-part series included insightful panels and thoughtful discussions on myths and misconceptions of board service, what it is like to serve on a nonprofit board, and why
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Meet Our Newest Staff Member By Fielding Williams Welcome to Michele Schuermann, our newest staff member who works a weekly average of 10 hours as an Administrative Coordinator. When we asked Michele about herself, we found she possesses a multifaceted career reflecting a lifelong dedication to nurturing and empowering others. Before raising her family, her
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Member Spotlight: Pia Millican By Kate Jotsworth Pia’s view on staying curious and continuously evolving is evident in anything she does. She most certainly does not let grass grow under her feet! Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I am originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I moved
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Honoring the Impact of Women in the Queen City By: Aimee Greeter You do not have to look far to see the impact that women have on our community here in Charlotte. As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month both in March, we want to highlight several of these women who are
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Recap of Women & Wisdom: Women & Work: The Opportunity & The Opportunity Cost By Haley Arellano This week Women’s Impact Fund held one of our signature events, Women & Wisdom, at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus. This year, the title of the event was Women & Work: The Opportunity & The Opportunity Cost and attendees heard
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Lunch & Learn: Affordable Housing in Charlotte By Leslie Cramer The Women’s Impact Fund held its third Lunch & Learn event, focusing on the pressing issue of affordable housing in Charlotte. Tonya Bruce moderated a panel of representatives from Charlotte nonprofits focused on addressing housing insecurity and providing support services. Our panelists included Kristina Aquilone
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Stories of Impact: Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center By Susan Adams One of our 2023 nonprofit partners, Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center (CSHC), received $70,000 to maximize the reach of their community programs and serve more patients. CSHC helps ensure access to high-quality speech-language therapy services for individuals, families, and schools. Hearing is critical for
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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.
