Author: Lisa Kays

WAWIT: Welding a new world for women.

Posted on by Lisa Kays

A friend and I have a running list of people you need in your life, particularly as you edge towards "grown-up" living. 

Topping the list are a good mechanic and a good plumber, among a number of other skills we seem to be desperately lacking in. 

carpentry class.WAWITAt last week’s graduation ceremony of the first class of the YWCA National Capital Area’s Washington Area Women in the Trades (WAWIT) program, it struck me how our natural tendency to assume that these roles would be filled by men are long, long outdated.

Because the 10 women who graduated–with aspirations including careers in plumbing, carpentry, painting, landscaping and sheet metal work–not only intend to shatter stereotypes of the types of work women can do, and are doing, but to change the very structures in which they do it.

They intend not only to weld metal, but to weld the very world that produces it.

After only 12 weeks, which, like with previous classes graduating women ready to take on nontraditional careers, hardly seems like enough to contain it all–or to produce this level of confidence, strength and, even a twinge of well-placed rebellion–the ceremony was marked with graduate’s indications that their intentions went well beyond their own economic security, to that of changing the world of work for all women.

"We have come a long way from just wanting to get a job, to wanting to make a difference in the industry," said one of the graduates before stating proudly that they planned to establish a union among women in the trades throughout our region. 

One can only imagine that this sense of confidence and comaraderie only comes from the same holistic approach to support that was evident throughout the First Female Construction Employment Class of Goodwill of Greater Washington and what I can only imagine was present in their Environmental Services Training Course. 

As evidence of this, the women discussed taking each lesson bit by bit–and refusing to move on until everyone got it.  They talked about keeping each other motivated–sometimes with a phone call harrassment plan–when getting up at the crack of dawn (sometimes as early as 3:30 a.m. to bike in from Virginia) and being on job sites in the dead of winter was almost too much to bear.  They talked of struggling through–and then gaining strength from–the mandatory kick-boxing and weight training courses that would be necessary to ensure that they could manage the heavy lifting of their new professions.

Including the mental heavy lifting that would be required.

Because, as one of the commencement speakers, Sarah Reynolds–a bus mechanic with Metro for more than 20 years–noted–even in 2007, "There are too few of us."  With part of her current responsibilities being to recruit young women into careers at WMATA, she said, "I’m not leaving Metro until I have more women behind me."

This is crucial, she explains, to handle some of the difficulties of being one of a few women in a very male-dominated world.  And the key, she says, is the support of other women.  "The negative things I dealt with, you will not have to deal with by yourselves anymore.  You will have other women with you," she promised, as she outlined a mentoring plan underway for the graduates with experienced professional women in the trades,

Joan Kuriansky, executive director of Wider Opportunities for Women, a partner of WAWIT, explained that this is precisely the point.  Construction is a billion dollar industry in this region, she said, and there is no reason that women–and their families–shouldn’t benefit from it. 

"This program," she said, "represents a breakthrough for many women not here today, because it is changing perceptions of what is women’s work.  One by one, the stereotypes about women, and what we can do, will be debunked!" 

And as these programs continue to demonstrate, changing these perceptions is always the beginning–from changing the women’s perceptions of what they can do personally, to changing their children’s perceptions of what women can do through their example, to changing society’s perceptions of women’s work. 

The graduates confirmed that, while a professional journey, it can’t be approached without taking into account the personal obstacles.  "If I can do it," said one graduate, "all these women can do it.  And we come from all different walks of life.  Not a Paris Hilton life.  A hard-knock life."

From hard knocks to laying hard wood, a path that started with learning skills has turned into a unified desire to transform the scope and scale of women’s work.   

"That’s the kind of stepping stone you represent," Kuriansky told the graduates. 

Words that couldn’t have been better selected, since this program is a perfect realization of one of the goals of our Stepping Stones initative–an early partner to WAWIT–to increase the economic security of low-income women in our region by providing access to high-growth, well-paying, nontraditional careers. 

With training programs like this throughout our region–many of them supported by The Women’s Foundation–it’s difficult not to get the sense that this is far more than shop talk, but rapidly evolving system change, which is what The Women’s Foundation, and our partners, are all about. 

About investing in women as a means of building stronger communities. 

With bright futures–and job opportunities already waiting for many–it’s easy to imagine this transformation unfolding.  In fact, with the graduates sometimes spontaneously bursting into Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now, it’s harder to imagine that it won’t. 

From victories from the personal to the professional, from skills to scaffolds of an unlimited height.

As Kuriansky said, "The elevator, I don’t think it’s ever coming down."

If it does, it will only be on occasion, but only for these women to head back down to pick up those they’ll carry up to the top, just as they have been, and will be, supported by those women, like Reynolds, who came before. 

As one of the graduates said, "We are the blueprint and the foundation of it all.  It began with us, and we have the responsibility to keep this legacy going, even after today."

Echoed by another graduate, who said, "It started with us, and it won’t finish with us." 

Indeed it won’t.  The next class starts on Monday.  

For more information on The Women’s Foundation’s Stepping Stones, which supports programs like this throughout the Washington metropolitan region, click here. 

To learn more about WAWIT, and how to get involved, visit YWCANCA.org.  WAWIT is a collaboration among the YWCA National Capital Area, Wider Opportunities for Women (also a Stepping Stones Grantee Partner) and the Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Council of the AFL-CIO.

To learn more about similar training programs for women breaking barriers, visit our blog to learn more about Goodwill of Greater Washington’s female construction and environmental services programs.

Then, join us in building a better Washington region by investing in and expanding strategies and programs like these.  Join in the power of giving together. 

Making the nonprofit sector a win for women…

Posted on by Lisa Kays

As a co-chair of D.C.’s WIN‘s Nonprofit Network, I was responsible for sharing responsibility for planning a dinner party for the annual Women Opening Doors for Women event.  The dinner parties are designed to provide young women in our area the opportunity to meet in an informal setting to discuss professional issues with women who are more advanced in their careers. 

The theme for our discussion, "Women in Nonprofits: We are Not Worth Less," emerged largely from a number of discussions among women in our network around salary and professional concerns related to the nonprofit sector, as well as from research around the salary and leadership levels of women within the sector as a whole. 

Eleven women gathered for more than two hours–until after 10 p.m.–to hear Elizabeth Lower-Basch, a senior policy analyst with the Center for Law and Social Policy and Lisa Maatz, director of government relations and public policy with the American Association of University Women, discuss their perspectives and learning around careers in the nonprofit sector–and particularly the balances and choices that impact women in the sector.

Questions and discussion centered largely around the tension that surrounds a choice to prioritize doing good over making millions, and why it is often women who often decide to prioritize the former.  My sense is that the nature of this discussion–and the level of interest and energy around it (demonstrated through the number and depth of comments Elizabeth received to a blog she posted on the topic and trends and conversations within the sector [more on that later])–raises some important questions about the nonprofit sector and the (by and large) women who are employed within.

Particularly given the recent discussions and research emerging showing startling trends in the nonprofit sector, such as the recent YNPN survey report cited on On Philanthropy, which shows that out of 1,657 nonprofit professionals:

  • 82 percent are female
  • 15 percent are under 25; 41 percent are 25-29; 22 percent are 30-34, and 15 percent are over 35
  • 55 percent plan to stay in the nonprofit sector for their next job. The other 45 percent intend to leave, for sectors such as consulting and for-profit companies.
  • The top two factors they cited as drivers for leaving the sector were salary/wages and burnout both indicated by at least half the participants, with burnout the most popular answer.
  • 40 percent of respondents indicated that they were neutral or thought it unlikely that they would ever serve as executive directors. Survey respondents cited long hours, the demands of funders, and the demands of boards as the primary barriers to pursuing those positions.

On Philanthropy then asks, "If a significant proportion of these motivated young professionals, many of whom are already serving as second-tier leaders in their organizations, don’t expect to even pursue top leadership positions, who will fill the Baby Boomers’ large shoes? Are we indeed facing a leadership deficit that will cripple our ballooning sector? If so, how can we ensure that the next generation is willing and able to take on leadership roles?"   

Begging the question, what can the sector–and particularly those within committed to women’s leadership, economic security and workplace equity and justice, as well as the consistent strengthening of effectiveness, innovation and impact within the sector–do to stem the ever-leaving tide of young talent?

A number of thoughts and concerns expressed at the dinner, as well as within the blogosphere, may lend some answers, or, at least, food for thought: 

Debt Driving Decisions
A point made at the dinner was that by and large, the amount of student loan debt someone has will be a great influencing factor in what sector they choose to work in.  The proposed Student Debt Relief Act could help address this, however, by providing loan forgiveness for people who enter the public service–including the nonprofit sector.  One of the speakers pointed out that, due to the prevalence of women in the nonprofit sector, this would be a large win for women, as well as for the nonprofit sector, which would gain additional recognition and stature as an industry doing service in the public good and have more talent available to it as few were forced to self-select out to pay back loans. 

Should Social Change Work Be a Luxury?
Similarly discussed was that the sector, due to its comparatively low wage base, could often be closed off to those who can’t afford to do unpaid internships, get an advanced degree (without assistance from family, the government or scholarships to help pay for it) or are single women (either living alone or heading households–particularly in an economy like D.C.’s).  As a result, does the sector then become privy to leadership only from those in the financial position to be willing to work a second job or who are fortunate enough to receive support from a spouse or family? 

You Can’t Buy Me…Diversity?
This relates to the discussions that have been taking place between a number of philanthropic thinkers on the ability of those with means to influence the sector moreso than those who may have not.  Is the sector, at every level, being closed to those who may have the largest stake in social change?  (Note that the survey results cited before indicate that currently the nonprofit sector is primarily white (72 percent), followed by 6 percent African American, 6 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and 5 percent Latino/a)–perhaps as much an indicator that increasing diversity within the nonprofit sector will depend as much on economic and salary issues as on general cultural competency or diversity awareness.

Women’s Work…Is It Worth Less?
Then there is the piece about what this says about the status of the sector as a whole, and other sectors that are predominantly occupied by women.  I met with someone yesterday who made the excellent point that in nursing, a field long-dominated by women, demand always exceeds the number of available positions, and yet like with almost any other employment market, this never drives up salaries.  As a result, quality of care declines as the standards drop for the education and skills of those accepted into the field.  

This is interesting to consider when framed in terms of the nonprofit sector and the current trends referenced above.  Could there eventually be a significant drop in talent, leadership and ability as employment in the sector becomes based far more on financial security than on commitment, drive or professional predisposition?

Negotiations: Taking from, or contributing to the mission?
And finally, there is the personal issue of negotiation–and the difficulty many women express in negotiating for a higher salary in a context of social justice.  Or at all, as it well documented in Linda Babcock’s Women Don’t Ask.   

While we spent a fair amount of time last night discussing the nuts and bolts of negotiating, this conversation also brought out another issue–that of holding nonprofits to the same standards as their missions, and considering that if the sector is committed to economic security, a living wage and social justice that this must begin "at home" so to speak, with workplace policies, salaries and cultures that reinforce, support and contribute to the very mission they may be promoting throughout their region, country or internationally.

Generally, a lot to think about and an illustration, at least to me, of how a number of the conversations about the nonprofit sector in general–related to retention of talent, fostering young leaders and ensuring a diversity of voices across all aspects, including class and socio-economic background–deserve some serious consideration from the perspective of a gender lens.

And are an illustration, yet again, of how looking at and addressing an issue that may seem, at first, to be about women, is really about the welfare, advancement and effectiveness of everyone concerned. 

I haven’t even covered a fraction here of the wisdom of our speakers last night, or the other women who shared their experiences and ideas, and I’m sure there is a ton more here to think about.  Let us know your thoughts in comments. 

How do you think the nonprofit sector stacks up for women and in general?  What can we do to improve things?  Does any of this really matter?  If so, to what extent?  Is the sector–and other similar ones dominated by women–a statement about women’s status in society? 

How far has the sector come?  How much further do we have to go to make it a win, for women and in general?      

Saving, and moving from balancing to building.

Posted on by Lisa Kays

In follow on to Ruth’s post today about her thoughts on the Food Stamp Challenge experience, and about her new awareness about living that close to the margins of hunger, poverty and general economic insecurity, I couldn’t help but think today again about the DC Saves campaign, and about how saving is truly one of the best ways of preventing teetering on that line.

My thoughts drifted to the movie, Pursuit of Happyness, and how painful it was to watch a father’s struggle to move he and his son further and further back from that edge.

Then to my own bank account, a reminder of how, despite having joined DC Saves, I’m barely keeping up with my own commitment and savings goal.

About how saving is, for whatever reasons and a variety of circumstances, so difficult for so many, even when we know better.  And even when we’re better off, comparatively, than many others. 

That the ability to save, I’ve learned, has far less to do with one’s annual earnings or expenses, and far more to do with one’s beliefs, habits and awareness.  Which is good, at least, since these things often tend to be far more within the realm of our immediate control than our salary or the region’s cost of living or rental markets.

Still, I do often find my discipline wavering, when I know that I’d be so much better off in the long-run to stay on track. 

This even though I know, firsthand, as the daughter of a single mother, a woman going through a divorce, a professional who has faced a layoff and a resident living in a city with an extremely high cost of living, how crucially important saving is.

I was doubly reminded when Carolee sent around an email today from Colleen Daily of CAAB (a key leader in the DC Saves campaign), who had talleyed up the saving priorities of those enrolled to date in the DC Saves campaign.  They are:

23% saving for an emergency fund
19% saving for retirement
15% saving for debt repayment
10% saving for homeownership
8% saving for education,
6% saving for a vacation
5% saving for investment savings
5% did not specify a savings goal
3% saving for business
2% saving for home improvement
2% saving for a consumer product
2% saving for a special event

Yet another stark reminder of the need–felt by so many–to be prepared for those unforseen circumstances that everyone is vulnerable to that can make the difference between making it and falling off the margin.

It helps reinforce to such an extent the importance of the work we, and our Grantee Partners, do to build the financial literacy skills and wealth of low-income, single women in our region, who are perhaps living closer to the margin than anyone else.

It brings together for me the importance, first, of protecting our own economic security (For a start, consider joining DC Saves where the only commitment required is to your own financial future!) to the greatest extent possible, and then to think about ways to support that of others as a means of creating a better community for each of us–where women, girls and families are all living within the margins, able to focus on building a life, rather than just keeping their balance. 

News and Views of Note: Week of May 28, 2007

Posted on by Lisa Kays

See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:

The Women’s Foundation in the News!

On Sunday, May 27, 2007, Marjorie Sims, chief operating officer of The Women’s Foundation, and Telaekah Brooks, chair of the business management and public administration departments of Southeastern University, a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation, joined Spectrum host Tom Grooms live in the studio at Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM to discuss workforce development opportunities for low-income women in our region, the power of women’s philanthropy and more!

On Philanthropy

The Washington Post reports this week that, "If It Feels Good to be Good, It Might Be Only Natural," citing scientific evidence that giving, morality, empathy, compassion and generosity may trigger the same "feel good" parts of the brain usually stimulated by food or sex.  The article explains, "Their 2006 finding that unselfishness can feel good lends scientific support to the admonitions of spiritual leaders such as Saint Francis of Assisi, who said, ‘For it is in giving that we receive.’…Altruism, the experiment suggested, was not a superior moral faculty that suppresses basic selfish urges but rather was basic to the brain, hard-wired and pleasurable."

Gift Hub this week asks about the implications of more and more wealth in our country being concentrated into the hands of fewer families and the implications of this on social change philanthropy in his post, "The New American Aristocracy and its #1 Fool."  Cubeta writes, "Unfortunately, though, America is more closely resembling an oligarchy in which ‘wealthy families throw their weight around through the funding of think tanks, lobbying, charitable donations, board seats, and business deals so that all of society is essentially rigged to their benefit,’ advocating more teaching and mentoring for the wealthy around social change issues.  In a similar vein, Mario Morino of Venture Philanthropy partners asks on Sharing Witness, "Should the People with the ‘Power and the Bucks’ Lead the Nonprofit Change?" and a conversation ensues between him and Paul Shoemaker of Social Venture Partners Seattle who wrote, "Calling on Funders to Lead Change." 

Give and Take this week also highlighted a Donor Power Blog post asserting that nonprofits should just be "Giving Up on Young Donors," saying, "Seriously, it’s time to give up on the under-30 group and move on!"  The post stirred up a good amount of dialogue on Give and Take…what are your thoughts on this? 

On Women and Social Change

AlterNet this week highlighted Ellen Bravo’s new book, Taking on the Big Boys: Why Feminism is Good for Families, Business and the Nation.  Emily Wilson writes that the book, which documents stories of ordinary women taking on activist roles in their communities, highlights that, "Many women aren’t accustomed to being listened to, especially by people in power. But Bravo shows that doesn’t have to be the case. She hopes her book will redefine people’s idea of what it means to be political, and let them know that ordinary women can effect change — because, when they do, everyone benefits."   

On Poverty

Recently, three members of Congress participated in a Congressional Food Stamp Challenge that has been documented on their blog, wherein they agreed to eat for one week on $21, the weekly food stamp allotment.  They have done this to raise awareness about a bill that would raise eligibility and funding for the Food Stamp Program.  Yesterday, George Jones, executive director of Washington, D.C.’s Bread for the City joined the challenge, documenting on a post on Sharing Witness how this issue impacts the clients Bread serves–and particularly single mothers–and the solutions they are advocating.  As a board member of Bread, The Women’s Foundation’s Program Officer Nisha Patel agreed to join the challenge starting next week, and will be joined by at least one other staff member, Sherell Fuller, who will be blogging about their experiences and reflections right here.  D.C. Hunger Solutions is spearheading the event locally–to learn more and to participate, visit their blog for the official rules and guildelines!

And that’s it for the news and views for this week…let us know your thoughts on these exciting topics, or drop us a line to share any news and views we may have missed!

Otherwise, have a great weekend!

Street Sense vendor finds a stepping stone in Goodwill training course.

Posted on by Lisa Kays

I thought I’d welcome summer this weekend with an afternoon stop in Dupont Circle to enjoy the weather and do some reading (i.e. people watching).

When I was approached by a Street Sense vendor and asked if I’d like to buy a paper, I couldn’t refuse, as I really love the mission of Street Sense, which is to "make the public more aware of issues related to poverty and homelessness while also providing homeless men and women with an economically beneficial opportunity and a forum to be published."

And, since on this particular Memorial Day in the park the vendor was a woman–the first time I’d met a female vendor–I doubly couldn’t refuse.

And was so glad I didn’t, as Muriel Dixon introduced herself and explained proudly that her story, of graduating, was on page 13.

"Graduating from what?" I asked, to a beaming smile. 

"I just graduated from the Goodwill of Greater Washington‘s Environmental Services Training Program," she told me.  "And I got a job!"

When I told her that I worked for an organization that partnered with Goodwill on similar training programs, she went on to tell me how much it had meant to her, and that it had changed her life.

She would be starting a job soon, she said before bounding off.  "Page 13!" 

When I turned to page 13, I couldn’t help but smile when I read the second paragraph of her story, which stated, "Vendor Muriel Dixon uses the income she earns for the necessities and as stepping stones to increasing her skills for other potential employment opportunities."

While this program isn’t one that we fund in particular, I couldn’t help but think of its similarities to our Stepping Stones, and to the general truth that with a little training, encouragement and investment, lives can be stepped up in amazing ways.

It was a nice thought, in the park on a nice summer day to realize that while I’d have to give up the park tomorrow to head back to work, that I’d be doing so somewhere devoted to just that. 

News and Views of Note: Week of May 21, 2007

Posted on by Lisa Kays

See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:

The Women’s Foundation in the News!

On May 18, 2007, a Wall Street Journal article, "When Small Donors Get Together," discussed local giving circles, with a mention to The Women’s Foundation.  In response to the article, Tactical Philanthropy cited The Women’s Foundation as "cornering the market" on giving circles and gave a shout out to this very blog! 

On Philanthropy

This week, The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers released a report acknowledging the tremendous growth and impact of giving circles–to the tune of more than $100 million in funds raised–over the last two years.  More Giving Together: The Growth and Impact of Shared Giving reveals key findings such as:

  • The number of existing giving circles has more than doubled in the last two years; there are now at least 400 giving circles nationwide.
  • In 2006 alone, giving circles surveyed donated $13 million for community needs.
  • Nearly 12,000 people participate in the 160 giving circles surveyed.
  • Giving circles are diversifying.  Nearly half of circles now have male members, and the popularity of giving circles is also growing among people of color and in the gay and lesbian community.
  • Giving circles have staying power. Nearly a third of circles surveyed have been through more than five rounds of grantmaking. 

"There’s never been a better time to start or join a giving circle because it multiplies the impact of your charitable donations," said Daria Teutonico, director of the New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. "With the same amount of money you’d use to write a check to a charity, you get to make more of a difference, spend more time with friends, and learn more about what your community needs."  To learn more about joining a giving circle in our region, visit TheWomensFoundation.org.

Earlier this week, the Maine Women’s Fund released news that they had received their first $1 million gift to advance women and girls in Maine!  The gift, from the five female trustees of the River Rock Foundation, is discussed in detail in fund’s press release.  Says the release, "According to Women & Philanthropy, less than ten percent of all overall funding is aimed at programs that directly impact women and girls. ‘The River Rock Foundation gift is newsworthy because of the amount and because it was given by women, for the specific purpose of helping women and girls. It recognizes a strategic shift in philanthropy – because women are the gateway to health, education, and economic decisions, when women thrive, whole communities will prosper,” said Elizabeth Stefanski, the newly hired executive director of the Maine Women’s Fund. ‘It’s a wonderful example of women using their wealth and philanthropy to dismantle poverty, violence and discrimination—issues that disproportionably harm women and girls,’ reported Stefanski." 

Tactical Philanthropy brings us news about The Case Foundation’s new plan for a pilot grantmaking program encouraging civic-centered participation.  The program is interesting, Sean reports, because, "The Foundation will not only be supporting citizen-centered efforts, but will be attempting to walk the talk of citizen-centered practice itself by involving the public in virtually every aspect of the process from creating guidelines to vetting proposals to making grant decisions."  Exciting indeed, and very much in line with the spirit of The Women’s Foundation’s own Leadership Awards Program, also a grassroots grantmaking program.   

Dr. Susan Raymond of Changing Our World Inc. asked on On Philanthropy last week if philanthropy has truly abandoned the needy, commenting on the recent study commissioned by Google.org that concluded that, "less than a third of tax-deductible donations are targeted at those in need."  Susan’s article salutes the study for its commitment to unearthing more empiracle knowledge about the philanthropic sector, but questions the study’s premise that, "The philanthropic expression of concern for the ‘needy’ is measured by dollars allocated to immediate services."  She writes, "And if we are to discourage people from funding complex, long-term problems with uncertain outcomes, then how will we ever innovate?  How will we ever come to fundamental understandings and fundamental solutions?  And how will the needy ever become anything but needy?"  

On Women and Girls in Our Region

The D.C. Women’s Agenda released its white paper, Voices and Choices for Women and Girls: Recommendations to City Leaders 2007.  The report outlines recommendations by District advocates for girls and women on programmatic and funding priorities in the following areas: economic security, housing, health, women and criminal justice, safety, leadership and accountability, and girls.

On Women in Nontraditional Jobs and Job Training

WAWIT classThe Wall Street Journal reported this week on "Finally, Women’s Wear for the Hard Hat Set," on the increasing trend of women working in construction and the need for clothing and attire to meet their needs.  This story hearkens back to our work here at The Women’s Foundation, where we fund programs such as the YWCA’s Washington Area Women in the Trades and Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Female Construction Employment Class to further the skills and confidence of women hoping to enter nontraditional careers such as construction. 

On Poverty and Economic Security

The Congressional Food Stamp Challenge wrapped up on Monday, with the participants, Congressman Jim McGovern, Congressman Tim Ryan and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky–as well as a few Hill staffers–blogging about their week buying food based on the average food-stamp benefit of about $3 per day to raise awareness about the challenges facing Americans living in poverty. 

And that’s it for this week! 

Enjoy catching up on the lastest news and views, and don’t forget to drop us–or the sites you visit–a comment or two about your thoughts! 

Enjoy your weekend! 

News and Views of Note: Week of May 14, 2007

Posted on by Lisa Kays

See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:

This month is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  In celebration, Feministing has invited API women to offer their voices to the blog. 

Among them this week, Kiran Ahuja, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, reflected on being a young leader.  She writes, "That I am one of the youngest leaders in the national women’s movement is telling and highlights a serious challenge for the movement – where and when do we make room for new, young and diverse leaders, and when do we see that the inclusion of them determines the success of our movement?" 

Liezl Tomas Rebugio, also of NAPAWF, writes in "Connecting the Dots: Human Trafficking and Reproductive Justice," "The trafficking of women and girls is the quintessential example of reproductive oppression. ‘Get your laws off my body’ was a slogan used in the 1970’s during the women’s movement. But how does that apply to trafficked women and girls whose bodies are not treated as their own, but are treated as commodities?"

The Women’s Foundation in the News!

A May 11, 2007 Washington Times editorial, "Lasting security a Mother’s Day wish for many," by Adrienne Washington, advocates thinking in terms of long-term investments in women’s economic security for Mother’s Day, and not just in terms of long-stemmed roses–and she discusses Stepping Stones and Training Futures, a Grantee Partner, as examples of how to do just that!  

Stepping Stones Research Briefing Related News!
On May 11, 2007, The Women’s Foundation, in partnership with The Urban Institute, hosted the second annual Stepping Stones Research Briefing, featuring research on financial education and wealth creation, child care and early education and microenterprise development–with each topic examined from a gender lens.  To download the audio, or to check out the panelists’ presentations, click here!

Peter Tatian, a senior research associate with The Urban Institute, was quoted shortly thereafter in an article in the Examiner on subprime mortgages in our region, and their impact on increasing rates of foreclosures.  This topic was also explored at the briefing through Meghan Gallagher’s presentation, "Female Borrowers in the Washington Mortgage Market" and on The Huffington Post, where Jon Goldin-Dubois discussed how mortgage foreclosures are skyrocketing due to increasing sub-prime lending and a lack of regulation by the government.

Local Philanthropy and Activism

The Washington Post reports on more than 90,000 people–primarily women and mothers–throughout 37 states and Washington, D.C. who are "Pushing the Motherhood Cause," by meeting to mobilize around "six main issues: family leave, flex time, health insurance, child care, fair wages and children’s activities, such as better after-school programs. Their proposals are not new, but together they create a ‘motherhood’ agenda that has attracted a fresh enthusiasm."   

Women and Health and Safety
Health and safety is the focus of this year’s Leadership Awards Program and an issue area under Stepping Stones. See below for research and discussion that informs and impacts the health and safety of women and girls on a local and national level.

On Feministing, Jessica asks whether "Women-only hotel rooms"–designed to increase safety for women in hotels–are really a valid safety tactic, or whether it’s just a way of separating women instead of trying to improve the world they live in?  She asked a similar question about Brazil’s women-only train cars, designed to curb sexual harrassment. 

An article by Allison Stevens with Women’s eNews, "Bush May Veto Bill That Would Help Protect Hate Crime Victims," explains that, "Women’s rights groups are making a last-ditch push to enact legislation that would expand existing "hate crimes" laws to include gender and other categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity and disability."  Acvocates of the bill say that it would greatly benefit women and girls.  "Women could stand to gain substantially from the law," reports Stevens.  "The bill would add significant resources for prosecution of crimes in which the victims were targeted for their gender, as was the case in two high-profile shootings last fall in Pennsylvania and Colorado."

On Poverty and Economic Security

Education is a crucial component on the pathway to economic security for many.  In Give and Take, Peter Panepento discusses in, "Scholarships: What’s a Donor to Do?," the difficulty faced by those who want to fund college scholarships for those with the greatest need.  Citing research, Panepento writes, "The major problem…is many donors are operating under the false perception that students with the greatest needs are those coming out of high school.  But…many ‘needy’ students are adults returning to school, single parents, and students who hope to transfer from community colleges into four-year institutions."  In a similar cord, Siu Lang Panoke, a graduate student at American University, writes about her experience funding her education as a single mother in her blog post, "Economic Status Should Not Hinder Higher Education" on Real Women, Real Voices, the National Women’s Editorial Forum’s blog.

Riane Eisler in AlterNet discusses in, "What’s a Mother’s Worth?" how women over the age of 65 are twice as poor as their male peers.  She writes, "There’s a reason poverty so disproportionately hits women. Most of these elderly poor women were, or still are, caregivers — and according to most economists, the people who do the caring work in households, whether female or male, are ‘economically inactive.’ Of course, anyone who has a mother knows that most caregivers work from dawn to dusk. And we also know that without their work of caring for children, the sick, the elderly, and maintaining a clean home environment there would be no workforce, no economy, nothing. Yet current economic indicators and policies fail to include this work as ‘productive work.’"  On our blog, we also discuss the financial issues surrounding women and retirement.

On May 11, Washington Grantmakers’ Children, Youth, and Families, and Health Working Groups hosted a funders’ briefing on regional children’s issues.  The Washington Grantmakers’ blog reports in "Lines on a Map But Real Barriers for Children, "Some of the challenges facing area children stem from the fact that while families can move within the region, governments stop at the borders. There are gaps in funding and services because state governments’ scopes are too narrow to address certain problems.  Through regional collaboration, Washington Grantmakers members have an opportunity to leverage resources and coordinate in a way that has proven difficult for area governments, and to make a difference in the lives of our region’s children."

The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Give and Take reports that, "Congressmen Issue Food-Stamp Challenge," to raise awareness about poor Americans.  "From May 15-21," explains the article, "four lawmakers are buying food based on the average food-stamp benefit, which is about $3 a day."  They’re blogging about their experience at the Congressional Food-Stamp Challenge site.

On Philanthropy and Nonprofit Capacity

Just as our recent Philanthropy Forum discussed the legacy of giving across families, so too is the Community Foundations of America examining best practices in family philanthropy in an essay, "Giving as a Family."

Generation change and nonprofit leadership has been a significant topic of conversation recently, fueled largely by the release of research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund indicating that leadership transitions from the Baby Boom generation to Generations X and Y will become more common within the nonprofit sector.  The report, Generation Change and the Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, offers recommendations on how a variety of stakeholders can improve the hand-off from this generation of leaders to the next.  On a similar note, the Initiative for Nonprofit Sector Careers examines the "missed connections" between nonprofits and new recruits out of college in its report, The Next Generation of Nonprofit Sector Leadership.

And that’s it for this week.  Enjoy catching up on the lastest news and views, and don’t forget to drop us–or the sites you visit–a comment or two about your thoughts! 

Enjoy your weekend! 

Getting to the heart and soul of site visits.

Posted on by Lisa Kays

If Philanthropy 101 got to the heart of giving, and Research 101 is where the mind comes in, then Site Visits 101 got at the soul of philanthropy, where the heart and mind come together to get to the exciting moment of saying yes to making the grant, the decision, the gift.

At today’s Site Visits 101 session, part of our Philanthropic Education series led by Siobhán O’Riordan, 25 women gathered to learn the ins and outs of conducting a successful site visit that will unearth the true essence of a potential nonprofit partner.

Through a participatory workshop wherein participants discussed the objectives, value and logistics of a site visit and then took on the roles of site visitor and site visitee, the group revealed these essential key components of an effective site visit:

1.  Be selective about who you visit.  Because site visits require extensive preparation on the part of the nonprofit, you should limit visits only to those groups who have an excellent shot at being funded.  This doesn’t mean 100 percent, but it means that by looking at the proposal, you can see no reason that they wouldn’t be funded, and that you’ve already gone through a serious process to select a few finalists for site visits.  The optimal ratio for a site visit would be that an organization has a 2 in 3 or 50/50 shot at receiving funding.

2.  Do your homework.  The organization you’re visiting will likely be in a preparation frenzy to plan a perfect site visit from the moment they recieve your call.  Be sure you’ve also done your homework.  Be sure you have thoroughly read their proposal and other materials and that you’ve met with your site visit team mates to establish questions and roles.

Ideally site visit teams, if you’re doing the visit as part of a giving circle or selection panel rather than as an individual, should include 2-3 people.  Any more, and the site visit could lose focus, go too long or unintentionally intimidate the nonprofit and constrain conversation. 

Before heading out, teams may want to clarify who will "lead" on the visit, and who will take notes, so that you end up with good notes at the end, but also have one or two people who can remain focused on the discussion, making eye contact and keeping the meeting friendly and informal. 

3.  Call first…and go ahead and spill the beans.  "Site visits are not about the element of surprise," said Siobhán.  Call ahead to schedule the visit, and be sure to give plenty of notice so as to enable the organization to really put their best foot forward.  Site visits take a tremendous amount of preparation on the part of the the nonprofit, so to truly get a sense of who they are, you’ll need to allow them time to plan.  Among the items to let the nonprofit know:

  • The questions you’ll be asking.
  • What materials to have prepared.
  • The day and time of the site visit.
  • That you’d like to schedule the visit at a time that will enable you to see programs in action. 

4.  Be friendly (but not too friendly)!  The purpose of a site visit is to learn as much as possible about an organization, and to really get at the heart of what they do.  This will be best achieved if the nonprofit’s staff feel that they can speak with you openly and that the site visit is more of a dialogue than an interrogation.  Be friendly and empathetic, allow ample time for the organization to respond to questions and provide positive feedback when possible and appropriate. 

That said, on a site visit, never make any promises, commitments or recommendations (this is a time to get information, not solve problems) or compare the nonprofit to others you’ve visited, and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. 

5.  Learn, learn, learn!  As you’re on the site visit, consider both subjective (How knowledgeable and accessible are the staff?  How is the energy of the program participants?) and objective information (What is their evaluation data? How are they showing success?), each of which will be valuable to you as you reflect on and eventually select an organization to fund.

But throughout the process, remember that this is a great opportunity to learn about the issue you’re interested in, the nonprofit sector in general and to continually gauge and ascertain your personal values and interests as they relate to your philanthropic giving.

And that’s the latest from another fun, informative workshop as part of our philanthropic education series! 

Drop us a comment if you have any questions or other thoughts or suggestions related to the important task of conducting a site visit!

And to learn more about our Philanthropy 101 series or to recieve email updates about upcoming workshops, please email Siobhán at soriordan@wawf.org.      

For Mother's Day, think long-term, not just long-stemmed

Posted on by Lisa Kays

A May 11, 2007 Washington Times editorial, "Lasting security a Mother’s Day wish for many," by Adrienne Washington advocates thinking in terms of long-term investments in women’s economic security for Mother’s Day, and not just in terms of long-stemmed roses.

"Mothers need gifts that last longer than the blooms from long-stemmed roses," Washington writes, and supports her claim with the value of investments in women’s economic security such as The Women’s Foundation’s Stepping Stones initiative, and a Stepping Stones Grantee Partner, Training Futures. 

Writing about a Training Futures graduate, Linda Butler, whose life took a "360 degree turn" as a result of Training Futures and Stepping Stones, Washington explains, "For decades, she was a waitress earning $12,000 annually while her children were in school. Now she earns $50,000 as a due-diligence manager for Building Evaluations.  ‘Training Futures gave me all the tools that I needed; it made me feel hopeful instead of helpless, and that’s a big extreme,’ Ms. Butler said…She is also worried about what she views as the "epidemic proportions" of single mothers forced to leave their children without adequate care while they go to work.  ‘It’s a lot of single mothers struggling out there. … We need love and support from everybody,’ she said."

Nisha Patel, a program officer at The Women’s Foundation, explains in the column how Stepping Stones, and last week’s Stepping Stones Research Briefing, are providing this support and increasing the economic security of women throughout our region.  Writes Washington:  "The program will focus on ‘the lack of opportunities that keep low-income women trapped in poverty,’ Ms. Patel said. ‘And, we want the research community to have more of a focus on gender when considering these issues.’…For example, one panel will discuss how expanding child care and early education strengthens the economic security of single mothers in the District and the region."

To read more about how Stepping Stones is paving the pathway to economic security for women, click here to read the full article and then be sure to stop back by and us know what you think!   

News and Views of Note: Week of May 7, 2007

Posted on by Lisa Kays

As I’m going to be out tomorrow morning for the 2007 Stepping Stones Research Briefing, this week’s News and Views of Note will be published a tad early.  Enjoy! 

See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:

In Our Region

On Tuesday, the Washington Post featured an article by Pamela Constable called "For Some Muslim Wives, Abuse Knows No Borders" which documented how domestic violence is impacting some Muslim women in our region and provided information about organizations working to assist them.  Among those quoted was Mazna Hussain of the Tahirih Justice Center in Falls Church, a Grantee Partner.  For an additional perspective, Amal, who blogs at Improvisations: Arab Woman Progressive Voice, provided a post called "When the Battered Women are Muslim" and shared her views on how Islam has also been used as a tool to curb domestic violence.    

A worker’s center near Gaithersburg run by one of our Grantee Partners, CASA of Maryland, was the victim of arson last Friday.  Investigators have not yet assessed the motive behind this act, but CASA suspects that it is an act of backlash against the immigrant populations with whom CASA works.  "We see this as a natural consequence to the ongoing debate over immigration,” said Christy Swanson, program director for Casa of Maryland, in the Washington Post.  "We also consider it a hate crime.”   The fire and CASA were also discussed in an AlterNet article that described the event in the context of two other recent hate crimes against immigrants in Alabama and Washington, D.C.  The Women’s Foundation is proud to partner with CASA on their work on behalf of immigrant women in Maryland and extend our support as they work to repair the damage caused by the fire and continue with their important work. 

Capital Community News recently featured Grantee Partner Lydia’s House in an article, "Living in the Zone: Divine Inspiration Propels Ward 8 into Transformation," which describes the efforts of founder Patrice Sheppard and her husband, Pastor Eugene Sheppard, to bring additional business development and affordable housing to Ward 8 through the development of Trinity Plaza.  The article states: “When we first got here it was like the OK corral!” says Patrice.  "Today it’s obvious that the Sheppards’ efforts are transforming the appearance of the once infamous lot. The Zone is a highly visible building that adds a fresh, clean look against a strip of rundown store fronts and liquor marts."

On Philanthropy

Dollar Philanthropy’s Carol Kirshner spoke this week with Dr. Keith Taylor of the Modest Needs Foundation, raising a number of interesting issues and points around the meaning, potential and purpose of philanthropy, giving and compassion.  Taylor, who founded Modest Needs to provide small grants to individuals and families to prevent the downward spirol into poverty, discussed his perspectives on the cycle of poverty, economic security, donor involvement in philanthropy and re-defining the way people think about giving.  "Philanthropy is not just about empowering the individuals in need of compassion. It’s about empowering each of us to demonstrate meaningful compassion, as we can, with whatever we can afford to share.  And to me, that kind of empowerment, which tangibly affects both the donor and the recipient, is the only kind of power worth having."   

TIME magazine released its TIME 100–"the 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world," and a special section of 12 Power Givers, which are summarized for easy reading by OnPhilanthropy, which also asks the fun question, who is missing and who shouldn’t have been included?  Prompting me to note, simply, that Oprah Winfrey seems an interesting omission from the power givers section, particularly this year when she opened her school and caused such a buzz.  What do you think?

Hispanic Business‘s article, "Building the Foundation" documents the deliberate movement behind the Destino Hispanic Legacy Fund and, by default, the rise of philanthropy "among Hispanics for Hispanics."  Locally, a similar effort is underway through the Washington, D.C. Hispanics in Philanthropy collaborative, of which The Women’s Foundation is a founding supporter.     

The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Give and Take is hosting a number of interesting discussions, including one asking whether diversity isn’t enough of a priority for foundations and another questioning the value of giving circles.  Then there is advice on the three quick steps to attract young people to charities.  I’ve no doubt that members of our community have a great deal to contribute to these ongoing debates and dialogues, and hope you’ll stop by and leave your two cents.  If you do, be sure to let us know!  

On Women and Work

The Huffington Post this week featured two interesting posts on the issue of women and work, including Jill Miller’s "Working Women Under Attack, Again," which documents her perspective on recent concerns about the future of the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau and harkens back to those wage-gap issues that have been so oft-discussed of late.  Additionally, Maria Kefalas takes on Single Mama Drama and discusses the economic factors behind the "non-marital childbearing trend."

And that’s it for this week!  Don’t forget to drop us a line about your take on the news, the views or something we missed! 

See you next week, and happy Mother’s Day!