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Expanding the Spirit of Philanthropy: Let’s Spread the Word!

By Michelle Cottrell

This March let’s expand the spirit of philanthropy in Charlotte by encouraging more women to become members of Women’s Impact Fund! Who will you invite to join you this spring? Can’t decide how to get the conversation started? Consider the following ideas.

  1. Share the reasons you joined and remain a member of WIF!
  2. Invite a friend or colleague to join you at an upcoming event.
  3. Spread the word about our upcoming virtual information session (the first time in a while we have done such an event).

Here are some great tips to get the conversation started.

Why join Women’s Impact Fund?

  • Start your philanthropic journey: Membership in our collective giving circle exposes you to incredible organizations and trends in philanthropy while collaborating with other passionate philanthropic women.
  • Expand your giving horizons: For experienced donors, WIF opens doors to new causes through our educational programs and amplifies the joy of #thepowerofwomengivingtogether.

Spread the Word!

Here are two events this March that you can use to introduce potential new members from your networks to WIF.

1. Virtual Information Session:

  • Details: Thursday, March 28 at noon. This session provides a convenient way for busy women to learn more about WIF virtually.
  • Action: Share this invitation email with your network.

2. Women & Wisdom Event:

  • Details: Women & Wisdom – Women & Work – The Opportunity & The Opportunity Cost; Monday, March 18 from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm at The Goodwill Opportunity Campus on Wilkerson Blvd. Tickets are $25.
  • Topic: In 2023, North Carolina ranked as America’s worst state for working women according to a report prepared by Oxfam America Inc., a global nonprofit fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. This is just one of the many statistics – some frustrating and some hopeful – cited in the Working Women section of the North Carolina Justice Center’s 2023 State of Working North Carolina Report. Come join us on Monday, March 18 to discuss the state of women’s work – paid and unpaid – and what the statistics tell us about the challenges women face and the decisions they make in the face of those challenges. We’ll examine labor force participation, pay parity, the preschool childcare crisis, and unpaid care with local leaders working in this space. Want to get a jump on the facts? Read the full NC Justice Center Report here. We look forward to seeing you there!
  • Action: Invite a guest using the provided email template or sign them up directly on our website.

By sharing these opportunities, you empower women to make a collective impact in our community. Join us in expanding the power of women giving together!

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Janet LaBar

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.