WomenGiveCLT, an amazing gathering of close to 400 philanthropically minded women with local nonprofits, was held at the Mint Museum on April 7, 2022. This first-of-its-kind event was co-hosted by Women’s Impact Fund, SHARE Charlotte, and the Junior League of Charlotte and has been in the making since 2019. After being delayed several times due to the pandemic, it finally came to fruition this month.
It was a fantastic opportunity for 350 participants to meet in person, network, and speak with over 50 local nonprofits. The evening opened with some uplifting words from special guest, Dianne Chipps Bailey, noted evangelist for women’s philanthropy and volunteerism. Dianne has been working for more than 20 years with nonprofits, is a founding member of the Women’s Impact Fund, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Charlotte. She also serves as the Chair for the Women’s Philanthropy Institute National Council and has been featured as a TEDx speaker.
The venue provided a separate table for each of the nonprofits. A representative from each organization was stationed and available to discuss their nonprofit and the available volunteer opportunities. Attendees were able to circulate through the venue to each of the tables while enjoying drinks and light refreshments.
Among the nonprofits were the more well known, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte which “provides a safe, affordable and caring home-away-from-home for the families of children receiving treatment in area medical facilities” and the Humane Society of Charlotte which supports homeless animals, provides pet training and pet wellness services. Also present was Healing Vine Harbor whose mission is to “reduce the number of single women living in shelters or unsafe situations by ensuring self-sufficiency in efforts to create a pathway out of poverty”, and The Wing Haven Foundation which features the Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary that provides a “respite for birds and other wildlife and a welcoming place to discover the beauty and wonders of nature” and has five private gardens that include a living laboratory and an outdoor exploration and learning garden for children of all ages.
In addition, there were several newer nonprofits including She Built this City which was started a little over two years ago. Its mission is to “provide industry disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women, and marginalized communities.” This is accomplished through youth build programs, pre-apprenticeship programs, and apprenticeship programs that have both classroom and on-site experiences. This is just a small sampling of the many outstanding nonprofits that attended the WomenGiveCLT event. Please refer to the document here for a full listing of all the organizations in our community and discover how you can support these amazing groups.
