Empowering Positive Change: The King Center and Nonviolence 365 By Leslie Cramer In 1968, Mrs. Coretta Scott King founded The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, a living memorial dedicated to preserving and advancing Dr. King’s legacy. For over 50 years, the center has served as a global destination, resource hub, and […]
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How Charlotte is Celebrating MLK’s Legacy This Year By Kristin Keen As the Queen City gears up to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 15, 2024, the city is abuzz with a myriad of events that honor his timeless message of equality, justice, and unity. This
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Member Spotlight: Paula Goolkasian By Kate Jostworth Paula Goolkasian’s perspective on how WIF’s mission overcomes the challenges of deciding on local nonprofits to support is a perfect way to kickstart our January 2024 Member Connection. Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I am a professor emeritus
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Stories of Impact: Visual Arts and Performance Center Provided by VAPA and edited by Lindsay VanGorden At VAPA, our unwavering commitment to our mission statement, “To cultivate accessible exhibition and creative workspaces to inspire and nurture the relationship between artists and the community,” drives every facet of our organization. We take immense pride in fostering
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Member Spotlight: Tonya Bruce By Kate Jostworth Our December Member Connection features Tonya Bruce, a first-year board Member serving as the Vice Chair of Member Education. Tonya’s philosophy on knowing and sharing ‘your why’ highlights she is well positioned in her role within WIF. Let’s get to know Tonya further: Can you provide a brief
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Grants Update for November 2023 Newsletter By Lily Iatridis The grant application submission window closed on October 20, with 171 applications received. Thirty-four applicants were for Arts & Culture, 48 for Education, 11 for Environment, 26 for Health, and 52 for Human Services. After the October 20 deadline, Grants Committee co-chairs Claire Magee Ferguson and
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Crowd Your Table for More Impactful (and Fun!) Philanthropy – Notes from Philanos PowerUp! Baltimore By Michelle Cottrell, Membership Chair (originally appeared on LinkedIn) Last weekend, I joined 300+ leaders in the #collectivegiving movement in Baltimore for a fantastic gathering put on by Philanos. My theme song for the weekend – The Highwomen‘s Crowded Table. The Highwomen
Remembrance and Healing During Native American Heritage Month By Kristin Keen November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultural tapestry and contributions of Native American communities throughout history. It is a focused period where we can reflect on the enduring legacy of Native Americans, including their continued presence in Charlotte.
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Stories of Impact: Catawba Riverkeepers by Catawba Riverkeepers On Saturday, October 7, twelve hundred volunteers removed over 47,000 pounds of trash and debris from the Catawba River during the Catawba Riversweep. This one-day cleanup effort, occurring at 51 basin locations, highlights the profound impact a shared community commitment can make on the health of our
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Looking Back at 20 Years of Charlotte History By Leslie Cramer Our Lunch & Learn on November 14, 2023, focused on Looking Back at 20 Years of Charlotte History. Reflecting on 2003, when the Women’s Impact Fund was founded, Charlotte’s population stood at 750,000 people. There was no Spectrum Center or NASCAR Hall Of Fame
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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.
