client: The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion at M Creative stems from client and personal experiences where inclusive practices have translated to richer, more vibrant interactions among constituents. This has been evidenced most dramatically through our involvement with The Women’s Fund of Winston- Salem and a model of inclusiveness that provides the opportunity for every woman and girl in Winston-Salem to participate in philanthropy. The Women’s Fund has allowed us to participate in depthful conversations about what it means to be an inclusive organization and has helped us translate this important differentiator into effective communication for the Fund.
Women’s funds are known for their cross class, diverse and participatory cultures. Philanthropic organizations developed by and for women emerged in the late 1970s. Since that time more than 100 women’s funds have been formed, 60 of those in the last decade. Over the last twenty years, as women entered the job market in greater numbers, established businesses, joined networks, and acquired assets, the number of women’s funds has grown steadily. Yet women’s philanthropy and funding specifically targeting women and girls represent a modest percentage of all philanthropic investments. Since women overall are disproportionately affected by every economic trend, the opportunities for improving communities by targeting issues that impact women is tremendous.
Proud to be one of the Fab Five founders of The Women’s Fund. Pictured above from left to right: Michelle Cook, Lynn Eisenberg, Mary Jamis, Janie Butler Wilson, and Sarah Holthouser.
Since 2010, The Women’s Fund has published two significant reports on the economic security of women and girls in Forsyth County — the first time that data on the lives of more than half of our population had ever been assembled. As voting members of the Fund, the Through a Gender Lens reports have helped women in our community understand the complex economic factors that shape women’s lives and have informed their decision making around grant proposals worthy of support.
The Women’s Fund recently celebrated its tenth anniversary with 800 diverse members, $1.3M in grants to programs and initiatives specifically targeted to women and girls, and $1M in endowment funds.
Funding your passion means acknowledging that women’s giving is both rational and emotional, that women intuitively sense the greater philanthropic needs of women and children, that women on a mission are to be taken seriously, and that when women speak of what they are most passionate about and can connect that passion to philanthropy, they can see themselves making a significant difference in the lives of others.
deliverables
naming, identity development, collateral materials, event materials, comprehensive reports, issue briefs, web design, print advertisements
relevant projects
