Author: Phyllis Caldwell

"Spring" cleaning clears a pathway to summer planning.

Posted on by Phyllis Caldwell

Here at The Women’s Foundation, we’ve had four new staff members join us just in the past month, inspiring a lot of shuffling, organizing and cleaning around our fairly small office as we make way for our new colleagues.

Being in the office last week had a bit of a Mary Poppins air as staff passed off documents, discussed what should be kept and what could go, and organized furniture and shelves to best use limited space.

I imagine it may be similar to what teachers feel as they prepare their classrooms for the new year, enjoying the last few days of quiet before the students arrive, while at the same time anticipating it with excitement.

Various professions, families and traditions have their own sense of when the new year starts—and when it’s time to pave the way for it with “spring” cleaning. For teachers, it’s the beginning of the school year. For some, it’s New Year’s Day.  For others, it’s the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah or the Muslim season of Ramadan.

For The Women’s Foundation, it seems to be the beginning of our fiscal year—which will start on July 1. The “spring cleaning season” seemed to kick off with our annual board meeting on June 10, followed by an inspirational opportunity to meet and talk with our current board members, as well as those who served throughout our 10-year history.

We were able to hear the stories of those who helped build The Women’s Foundation and what has motivated their philanthropy, which ranged from a commitment to contribute to the city where one grew up, to wanting to feel more connected to a region that had become home more recently—and just about everything in between.

And now, with a sense of our history and the passion that has driven the work of The Women’s Foundation, we turn to approach a new year with an almost completely new staff, new ideas, new energy and a restored, inspired and ready sense of purpose and drive.

Going into the next few weeks of summer, our cleaning and organizing will turn to a deliberate process of strategic planning and team building as we—a new, full staff—look forward to kicking off our 10th year with the same passion, energy and excitement that created The Women’s Foundation 10 years ago.

We continue to evolve as we transition from spring cleaning to summer planning—needing a few more minutes to transfer a call as we search for new phone extensions, taking time to ask and answer questions and assimilate new teammates and procedures, learning a new database, and still walking out of habit into the wrong office to talk to a colleague that is now down the hall.

But in time, we’re getting there, and are looking forward to walking into a future where we are able to build up from the solid foundation that has been created over the past decade, to generate even more opportunities and success for our region’s women and girls.

Because the best part of spring cleaning is getting to see—after all the hard work of clearing and sorting and organizing—the clear pathway laid out in front of you.

And taking the first steps down it.

Phyllis Caldwell is president of The Women’s Foundation.

Does a celeb's charitable gift count more than mine?

Posted on by Phyllis Caldwell

On Saturday afternoon, I was invited to join three of our board members–Deb Gandy, Donna Callejon, and Rachel Kronowitz–to see the Washington Mystics women’s basketball team take on the Los Angeles Sparks.  The Mystics didn’t end up winning, but what struck me was that regardless, a local nonprofit did.

For every three pointer the Mystics score this season, a $100 financial gift will be made to Girls, Inc. of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.  The Mystics made 163 three pointers last year, so Girls, Inc. could receive about $20,000 this season.

This struck me not only because Girls, Inc. is a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation, and I was thrilled to see their work and investments in girls highlighted in such a big public forum, but also because it got me to thinking about the interaction in our society between celebrity and charity.  As the big name players took to the court before the game to announce their team’s gift, they spoke passionately about the importance of giving and why they were investing in women and girls.

Many of the players also have their own personal philanthropy.  Nikki Teasley gives her time and talent to the American Kidney Fund.  Members of the team participate in a partnership between the Mystics and Sibley Hospital to raise money and awareness for underserved and uninsured women in D.C. facing breast cancer.  Sheila Johnson, president of the Mystics, is a major philanthropist in her own right.

Whether as individuals or together, because of their place in the public spotlight, they have the ability not only to give of themselves but to get others to give, too. 

It got me to thinking about what we expect from celebrities in terms of their giving and charity.  Oprah has become nearly as famous for her philanthropy as she has for her talk show.  Bono, and recently  Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have significantly increased public interest in Africa as a giving priority.  Last month, at the Women’s Funding Network Conference, Angela Bassett offered a keynote address as part of her role as spokeswoman for the Good Deed Foundation. 

These celebrities have given of their time, talent and treasure in their philanthropic endeavors.  Many would say that having a celebrity behind a cause or issue–even if they just lend a name, and no dollars–could be more valuable than a gift of millions. 

And for some celebs, like the Mystics, gifts of millions aren’t realistic.  The average WNBA player makes between $46,000 and $60,000, not the millions made by professional male players.

So our expectation of celebrities to give isn’t necessarily based on means, but on their status as a celebrity.  Because they have the power, through their public prestige, to encourage others to do the same.  To be models for the behavior we’d like to see in others and ourselves–not only on the big screen or on the court–but as neighbors, community members and concerned citizens.

So it would make sense that we view it as a bit of an expectation that celebrities will give.  Not only because they can, but because their doing so can motivate so much more giving from others.

But really, don’t we all have the power to be celebrities in our own right? 

We all have friends, colleagues, family and associates who rely on us, trust us and listen to us.  If we model giving, if we reach out and show by example that we give, wouldn’t at least some of those around us do the same?

Based on my observations and experiences with our giving networks and giving circles at The Women’s Foundation, many of which are comprised of friends of friends of friends, it seems that even if we’re not Angelina or Brad, that we all have the power to inspire giving.  As Barb Strom Thompson, co-chair of our Washington 100 network, often says in explaining the rapid success and growth of our leading giving network, "When you hear about something good, the first thing you want to do is tell your girlfriends!" 

So while we may not be Mystics players, I’d say we’ve all got the ability to score a few points for the causes and issues we care about. 

Phyllis Caldwell is president of Washington Area Women’s Foundation.

Taking The Women's Foundation to new heights in 2008!

Posted on by Phyllis Caldwell

How great it is to ring in 2008 at The Women’s Foundation!  I am thrilled to be here, and very much appreciate the warm, positive welcome I’ve received from everyone!  I can already tell that we’re in for a great year—and beyond!

When I look at the history of The Women’s Foundation, I see an organization where tremendous passion and inspiring vision meet a can-do, strategic spirit that makes things happen—and often in a way that is bigger, bolder and better than anyone ever imagined!

It is an honor for me to be here as the new leader of The Women’s Foundation, and I look forward to building on this rich history that has been created over the last decade by a committed community of visionaries and founders, board members, staff, volunteers, Grantee Partners, donors and investors, and women and girls throughout our region.

In just 10 short years, The Women’s Foundation has managed to build a strong foundation of innovation, inspiration and impact throughout our community.

From giving away more than $4 million dollars in grants to organizations that are making a real difference in the lives of women and girls to truly understanding the importance of “beyond the check” giving by providing capacity building funds to our Grantee Partners. From inspiring donors and supporters to get involved and change their communities in creative ways that tap into not only their wallets, but their talents.

As The Women’s Foundation’s next leader, I look forward to working with this amazing community to build on this foundation of leadership and impact—to take those areas where we have invested and to go deeper, to focus our vision to continue to build higher and higher on that foundation.  And with every new height we reach, we’ll be able to see even greater impact on the lives of the women and girls we serve!

2008 is going to be a transformative year for The Women’s Foundation, and will be just the beginning of many more years of continuing success, growth, vision and impact as we celebrate our 10th anniversary.

I can’t wait to get started, and I look forward to working with you to make our collective investments in the women and girls of our region grow to new heights, and to transforming the future for every woman in this region!

As I settle in, I look forward to meeting with and learning from the many corners of our broad, diverse community. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have a suggestion, idea or story to share!  I can be reached at pcaldwell@wawf.org and look forward to working with you!