100 Women Who Care: West Tennessee is centered around empowering women to get involved in their community. From participating in philanthropy to learning about local nonprofits, this group unites women to use the power of collective giving and make an impact in our region.

Here are six reasons why you should consider joining this initiative.

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1. You get to hear from local nonprofits about the work they are doing in the community.

At our 2024 Awards Luncheon, members heard from six nonprofit finalists about their organization, mission, and project. This component of the event allows participants to hear directly from the leaders and representatives of the nonprofits about the work they are doing right here in West Tennessee.

Dulce Maria Salcedo, a Department of Justice Accredited Representative, talked to the group about All Saints Immigration Services (ASIS) and their work with immigrants across the region. She shared what an immigration journey might look like for a young woman to connect how their services touch the lives of people right here in our community.

The Jackson Arts Council passed around examples of their Jackson Art Boxes to give members a hands-on connection to their project while their director, Morgan White, presented data and quotes from counselors about the impact of the program.

As a member, you not only get to listen and learn about these organizations, but you also have a voice in determining which nonprofits are awarded.

2. It is an opportunity to be involved in charitable giving.

Whether you are a seasoned donor or new to the world of philanthropy, 100 Women Who Care offers a giving option for you.  As our team worked on rebuilding this initiative, one of the phrases we kept in the forefront of our mind was “accessible philanthropy.” Our goal was to create a giving circle that welcomes women from all corners of the community.

“Women are most often the catalysts of community because they bring people together. I wanted to be a part of 100 Women Who Care because I love the idea of women of all ages, races, and backgrounds uniting to be agents of change in their community. Whether a young professional just starting her career or a recent retiree ready for her next great adventure, we can all work together to make a difference by raising up others in need.” -Beth Koffman, Chief Operating Officer for the Community Foundation and 100 Women Who Care member

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One way we looked at accessibility for the group was through our payment options. Donors can make their annual contribution all at once or set up installments on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

3. You are able to network with other women.

This year, we had 68 individual members, 12 representatives from nonprofits, and 4 business sponsors. These women had the chance to connect with friends, meet some new ladies, and see the faces behind the nonprofit finalists at our awards luncheon.

As we continue to grow, 100 Women Who Care serves as the perfect place for you to network.

4. You can volunteer with our nonprofit winners.

To keep in touch with our members throughout the year, we are working with our 2024 nonprofit winners, A Step Ahead Foundation of West Tennessee and All Saints Anglican Church, to schedule volunteer opportunities for the group. Whether it’s helping pack diaper boxes at the Mission Abbey Diaper Bank or being there to support A Step Ahead’s Empowered Teen Council, you can donate your time to assist our winners and see behind the scenes of their work.

5. It is a way to learn about new organizations and projects.

In January 2024, we accepted grant applications from nonprofits and funds serving West Tennessee for our first round of awards. In total, we received 27 proposals. Although members only heard from the six finalists, we plan to highlight other applicants throughout the rest of the year to introduce them and their projects on social media and our website.

“It was incredible to learn about the diverse programs of nonprofits in our area, and they did not make it easy on us during the scoring process. Scores were very close between organizations, making the selection process for our finalists a hard decision.” - Linda Rizzuto, 100 Women Who Care member

This rigorous grant selection process encouraged us to share the mission and work of the other applicants and connect our members with them.

6. Be a part of making an impact for our community.

100 Women Who Care started as a way for women to give back and make a difference in their communities. By joining us, you can be a part of this impact by supporting local nonprofits through donations, volunteering, and more.

The large organization that received funding this year was All Saints Anglican Church. Olivia Abernathy, the representative for them, expressed her appreciation for the ladies in the room that day.

“A lot of them have had to diaper their own children, and women understand the difficulty of parenting young children in today’s world. It’s a real honor to be able to do that based on the votes of other women. 47% of parents cannot afford diapers for their children, and this will allow us to open a community diaper bank to be able to serve parents in rural West Tennessee.” - Olivia Abernathy, Minister of Community Engagement for All Saints Anglican Church

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These women are The Faces of Our Community.

Are you interested in joining us to make an impact? We are currently accepting 2025 members and sponsorships.

Current Giving Levels
Member - $100 annually – 1 vote
Advocate - $500 annually – 2 votes
Champion - $1,000 annually – 3 votes
Business sponsorships for the annual event are available at two levels: $500 and $1,500.

Learn more on our website 100womenwesttn.org or connect with us on social media to keep up with volunteer opportunities, nonprofit spotlights, and more. Find us on Facebook and Instagram @100WomenWestTN.

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Author:

Haley Fortune
Community Outreach Associate

Haley joined the Community Foundation team in October 2020. She manages community relations, events, marketing, and public relations for the organizations and coordinates special programs, like 100 Women Who Care.

haley@cfwtn.org | (731) 984-2146

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