Elevating the Voice of Women's Funds to Dismantle Poverty

The Women's Economic Security Campaign (WESC) was launched on Wednesday, October 21 through an informative Webinar. At that time, the WESC also released Creating Opportunity for Low-Income Women in the Green Economy – the campaign's first major policy brief focusing on strategies that will lead to greater economic security for low-income women and their families. Learn more about the WESC and watch the Webinar at www.womenseconomicsecurity.org.

Speakers included:
Megan Uzzell, acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor (invited)
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO, Green for All
Joan Kuriansky, Executive Director, Wider Opportunities for Women
Maricela Morales, Associate Executive Director, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy
Jayne Vellinga, Executive Director, Chicago Women in Trades
Women's Economic Security Campaign Leadership Team

The policy brief has already been making headlines. Articles have been published in the New Haven Register, the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, global alliance TckTckTck and HRGuru.

To learn about WESC and local efforts for the campaign, click here.

Take action NOW – Click here and sign on to be a partner in the WESC Memphis. 

An Evening with Mary MacMakin

Mary MacMakin (center) with Cindy Spies and Dr. Patti Ray at St. Mary's Episcopal School on December 8, 2009.

Mary MacMakin, CEO of Afghanistan Zendabad (Afzenda), was brought to Memphis through her relationship with filmmakers Cindy and James Spies. During Mary’s rigorous visit to Memphis she spoke on Live at 9 with Marybeth Conley, the Susan Murrmann Radio Show, and at St. Mary’s Episcopal School – in addition to an evening reception. MacMakin works with women who struggle against the Taliban, the opium drug trade and war in Afghanistan.

The Women’s Foundation, together with Linn Sitler and Dr. Susan Murrmann, assembled an evening with MacMaklin at the home of Deborah Whitt to help support the Afzenda Fund. Afzenda will support women-owned small businesses in Afghanistan.

Ruby Bright, Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation, said, “The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis is all about helping women succeed. We want to build this relationship with Mary and Memphis so that in time we can connect women in Afghanistan with women in Memphis and help them become entrepreneurs, learn skills and become self-sufficient.

Read more about the Women’s Foundation harnessing collective strength worldwide.

To donate to Afzenda, click here.

We our so grateful to the Memphis community for rallying with us during our Annual Meeting held in June. We are celebrating an incredible number of firsts, milestones and landmark accomplishments at the Women's Foundation. Our leadership has been expanded with the addition of six new board members; the Memphis HOPE Project at Legends Park will open its first phase of residential housing this fall; and we continue to be tapped to engage our organization in national dialogue regarding women and children in poverty through the Women's Economic Security Collaborative. The philanthropy giving from our community allows the Women's Foundation to strengthen the role of women's leadership and carve out a lasting impact of social change in Memphis. We will celebrate our 15th Anniversary in 2010, guided by the vision of our founder, Mertie Buckman. Thank you!

View our 2008-2009 Annual Report.

Announcing New Board Members

We are pleased to welcome six dynamic women to serve on the 2009-2010 Women's Foundation Board of Directors

Memphis HOPE kids are “Going Green” this summer through the Technology & Community Youth Employment Program by using the latest technology and software to produce an advertising campaign to convince their neighborhood to Go Green. These students learned how to conduct an energy audit of local homes using information and software from the U.S. Department of Energy. This project is supported by the Workforce Investment Network and other sponsors. Watch the video now.

The Urban Strategies, Inc./Memphis Hope Project, led by the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis, provides a new model for comprehensive community supportive services for over 700 former public housing families in Memphis. This is a partnership with the City of Memphis, Memphis Housing Authority and other local and national funders.

These urban students in Memphis are taking back their neighborhood and we at the Women's Foundation are proud to celebrate along with them.

"Cute video of kids in Memphis 'Going Green' for the environment. Props to the Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis for sponsoring!" -- Women's Funding Network

"We are thrilled at the momentum this video is getting nationally since WFN posted it on Twitter."
-- Ruby Bright, Executive Director of the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis

by Jessica Reeves

I interned with the Women's Foundation in the summer of 2003 through the Memphis Challenge program. At that time, I was a rising senior at Dartmouth and was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. After my internship, I was sure I wanted to have a career that was meaningful to others. I saw what an impact WFGM was having in the lives of underprivileged women and children. I just recently finished my first year at Yale School of Management. The school is know for its strength in non-profit management and has a commitment to help improve all types of organizations. While taking a class on Financial Statements of Non-Profits, I was asked to evaluation the financial poistion of a non-profit of my choice. I immediately thought of WFGM and was amazed at how much WFGM leads the pack in grant-making ratios and program expense ratios, meaning the organization is efficiently using its contributions to make sure it has the biggest impact for the programs that it supports. The Women's Foundation gives out over 60% of its contributions received in the forms of grants to other organizations, and 86% is invested in overall total programming. To put that number in perspective, the second highest organization had a grant-giving ratio of just over 40%. With these numbers, along with the office efficiency and exceptional leadership at all levels, donors can be confident that their contributions to WFGM are truly making a difference.

These gifts count for creating social change in Memphis.

Memphis H.O.P.E. - Health * Opportunity * Pride * Empowerment
A Vision of Change for Dixie Homes and University Place Residents

Take a look at the WMC TV story on "Taking Back Our Neighborhoods," featuring youth who are taking part in the Memphis HOPE summer job training intiative.

With a little help - and lots of HOPE - the future can look most bright. Such is the attitude that the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis, The Memphis Housing Authority, Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and others are bringing to the revitalization of Dixie Homes and University Place.

The approach taken by Memphis HOPE has never before been tried. Indeed, we are in uncharted waters. Under Memphis HOPE, the "revitalization" of dilapidated housing projects no longer means a repair here and there, or a new coat of paint. It means transforming lives. The hoped-for result is one the Women's Foundation seeks on a daily basis: lasting systemic and social change.

Through focused assistance, we are helping the former residents develop a life plan so that they can live their best lives, and give their children that chance as well. Using new models and mentoring, we are tracking their successes. As a result, the women themselves can see the success. The community as a whole, too, can see the change we all have helped to achieve through a little help and lots of hope.

We hope you will join us as we undertake this journey of social transformation and building the lives of women.

For an overview of the HOPE project, including the history, milestones and future plans, click here>>

To see pictures from Memphis HOPE initiatives, take a look at our photo gallery>> 

Memphis HOPE participants answer the question, "What does HOPE mean to me?" >>