Women's Foundation Is Out to Get the Guys
Joann M. Weiner
Contributor
Posted:
10/21/09
The Washington Area Women's Foundation has a mission: To attract "guys who get it" to join the women who have already become "that woman" -- the person whose philanthropic work makes a difference in the lives of other women. The Foundation provides financial support to help women and girls create financially stable lives, and encouraging women to become "that woman" and men to become "guys who get it" were the themes of this year's fall meeting.
Though they hope to attract male donors, leaders of the Foundation do not ignore the power of women's philanthropic spirit. Speaking at the Foundation's annual Leadership Luncheon, journalist Cokie Roberts, author of "We are Our Mother's Daughters," highlighted how important women's philanthropic giving has become. A recent study showed that American women on average donate 3.5 percent of their investable assets each year, compared with 1.8 percent for men.
"Starting in 2005, women began giving more money than men, and by billions of dollars," Roberts said. Moreover, women give for different reasons than men. "We don't care about putting our names on buildings or even about the tax deduction," Roberts explained, adding that "we just want to make the money work."
The luncheon highlighted how this money is put to work, starting with Ana Lopez of Community Bridges, a Silver Spring-based nonprofit that helps young, at-risk girls develop critical thinking skills. In so doing, the girls also learn the importance of giving. One of "Bridges" students, 13-year-old Tania Dumay of Takoma Park Middle School, has already continued this tradition. Tania said her favorite part of Community Bridges "is raising money to help provide books to girls at a school in Brazil."
The Rev. Jim Dickerson founded Manna, Inc. in 1982. It helps low-income families become first-time homeowners and develop the responsibilities that go along with homeownership.
Despite the current turmoil in the housing market, owning a home remains the American Dream for so many, and Manna helped that dream come true for Lottena Wolters. Those who have lived in their own homes for years, in fact, may not be able to appreciate the depth of emotion behind Wolters' statement that thanks to the help from Manna, "We don't hang around renters any more." Owning a home creates a responsibility, Wolters acknowledged, but "it also is a blessing and a gift."
Phyllis Caldwell, president of WAWF who is leaving to take a position as Chief of Homeownership Preservation in the Office of Financial Stability at the Treasury Department, highlighted the foundation's recent achievements.
"We have had a tremendous return on our investment," Caldwell said, citing the $22 million increase in income and assets for women helped through the foundation's Stepping Stones Program that is designed to help provide women financial independence. Women in the program also saved $2 million by learning how to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Dickerson highlighted what might be the Foundation's most important purpose.
The foundation works "not just to provide income, but to provide the assets and equity that build a lifetime of financial security," he said.
The Washington Area Women's Foundation hopes that everyone -- men and women -- all get that message.