This year’s annual meeting took place on May 8, 2023, and the energy throughout the evening was palpable with almost 200 women gathered to celebrate and reflect. After a fun networking event in the lobby of the Knight Theater at the Levine Center for the Arts, with plenty of food, conversation, and picture taking, members were ushered into the Wells Fargo Auditorium for our program.
Nikki Jarrell, Women’s Impact Fund Board Chair, gave a brief introduction, which was followed by recognition of Wells Fargo, WIF’s longest community partner. Anne Predieri, WIF member since 2006 and Wells Fargo liaison, spoke about Wells Fargo’s longstanding relationship with Wells Fargo, having contributed $127,000 to WIF since its inception, as well as its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and economic mobility.
Nikki reflected on harmony, the WIF theme of the year, which has been achieved by building and maintaining social capital. This includes intentional and conscientious follow-ups with nonprofit partners well after the grant period is finished and efforts to build ongoing relationships between members within WIF and the Charlotte nonprofit community.
Patricia Massey Hoke, the executive director, spoke briefly on the state of the organization. Discussions on marketing, diversity, equity and inclusion, and growth strategies are taking place among the organization’s leadership. She then shared the sources of WIF revenue. While Wells Fargo and other corporate partners are important, the largest financial contributions come from our members. Of the $1300 annual membership donation per member, $1000 goes to the grant pool, and $300 is used for operational expenses. Corporate partners comprise the remainder of the WIF’s annual revenue, along with a small percentage from the Annual Fund and event ticket sales. She shared gratitude for those who have given to the Annual Fund this year, and reminded us that it isn’t too late to make a gift! Patricia then reflected on how WIF members have leaned into change; though sometimes uncomfortable and often challenging, we have grown and evolved as an organization and are stronger as a result.
2022-2023 Grant Recipients
This year, WIF received 185 grant applications. After a careful vetting process managed by the grants committee, 12 applicants made the final ballot. Finalists that were not grant recipients received a $500 honorarium for the time and effort shared. All in all, $7,680,467 in more than 100 grants have been awarded to local nonprofit partners since WIF’s inception in 2003.
The nonprofit partners for 2023 were granted unrestricted funds and are as follows.
Arts & Culture: For the first time, the ballot had multiple options and three nonprofit partners were chosen. ArtPop received $33,000, Que-OS Boom Charlotte received $27,000, and the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Center received $33,000. Each organization has a unique approach to supporting local artists and making exposure to various art forms part of daily life in Charlotte.
Education: Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center received a grant for $70,000. The grant will be used to assist children with developmental delays due to the pandemic.
Environment: Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation was awarded $47,000. This is their third grant from WIF. This year’s grant will be applied to a Catawba River restoration project. Their goal will be to undo historical pollution and environmental damage for all people living in the Catawba River basin area.
Health: Planned Parenthood South Atlantic was awarded $75,000 with a standing ovation. Their goal is to protect reproductive rights and services and provide free contraception for any person. Currently, one out of four abortion patients come to North Carolina clinics from other states. However, this will likely change due to now in place state legislation further restricting women’s reproductive rights.
Human Services: Freedom Communities was awarded $94,000. This organization works to disrupt the cycle of intergenerational poverty and provide the opportunity for people and families to thrive. Specific goals for the grant include affordable housing, early education programs, and supporting family stability.
After this year’s primary grant recipients were announced, WIF Spark Chair Arlene Ferebee and Community Impact Chair Angela Scholl highlighted Spark grant awardees from 2022. Theater Gap Initiative received $15,000, I am Queen CHARLOTTE received $7500, and Latino Community Engagement Program received $12,500. We then celebrated the impact of our current grantees since 2021 with a quick update on each; more than $1,200,000 has been given over the last three years.
Strategic Planning Update
Last year, WIF developed a list of diversity, equity, and inclusion recommendations. Many were successfully incorporated into the organization’s strategic initiatives over the past year. Incorporation of the remaining initiatives is a primary goal of the WIF for the coming year.
The three goals of the new 2023-2026 strategic plan are lead, impact, and connect. More information will be forthcoming in future newsletters and on the website.
The governance committee chair followed and announced new board members and committee leaders for the upcoming year. Voting by members was successfully completed. We will celebrate these new board members as we move into the fall. This coming fiscal year starting on July 1, 2023, will mark our 20th anniversary year. Save the date for a launch party on the evening of September 19! Other assorted events and celebrations for this milestone are being planned to last throughout the year ending with our 2024 Annual Meeting. Can’t wait to see you there!
