Women in Philanthropy aspires to make difference in community

FLORENCE — A group of local women are joining forces to make a difference in their community and want others to be a part of the effort.

Women in Philanthropy is a giving circle in which members contribute money that is used to meet needs in the community.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Women in Philanthropy meeting
WHEN: 5:30 pm. Tuesday
WHERE: Central United Methodist Church, Florence
INFO: Call Susan Bankson at (843) 667-1131.

“The concept is that women get together and pool their resources so their combined numbers and combined effect are greater than the individual’s,” member Marguerite Willis said. “We look to do good that can be transformational in the community. I so firmly believe in the collective power of women and the great things we can do when we combine our efforts. When women get together, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”

The group uses the money gathered through membership fees to award grants each year via the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. Nonprofit groups and organizations apply for grant money. Those applications are reviewed by the grant committee and narrowed to a small group of finalists. The entire membership votes on the finalists, and grants are awarded in the fall.

Last year, the group received more than $100,000 in funding requests from 15 organizations. But the group only had $10,000 to give. That funding was awarded to three Pee Dee organizations: $4,500 to The Naomi Project, $4,500 to Mercy Medical Clinic’s denture program and $1,000 to the Dillon Project for Kids.

Individual members of the group then stepped up and added to those grants. In the end, the group’s efforts garnered $21,000 in donations.

“Last year, the emphasis was on family well-being,” Willis said. “As a group, we decide where we want the money to go and we all just felt there was such an immediate need in our community that we focused on human needs.”

The group is open to all women and even men who might want to join in honor of a mother, sister or wife. For members 35 and younger, the membership fee is $250 per year. For those members older than 35, membership is $500 per year.

The Pee Dee’s Women in Philanthropy group formed in 2009 and now has 35 members. Similar groups in Greenville, Charleston and Columbia award more than $100,000 annually. Willis said the Pee Dee group hopes to nearly triple its membership and have 100 members by the end of this year.

Women who would like to join the group are invited to an informational meeting Tuesday at Central United Methodist Church. The meeting is for informational purposes, and those who attend are under no obligation to join.

“We will have people from the groups who received grants last year speak about the effect that funding has had on their organizations,” member Linda Russell said. “No one who attends is obligated, but we want them to hear the difference their money will make in our community. There’s so much need in our community. This is just a wonderful way to make sure your money makes a true difference.”