Women's Philanthropy Society

Legacy of Love

Our Mission

Our mission is to leave a legacy of love - an enduring gift for generations to come - across a broad spectrum of issues impacting our community's quality of life.

Our Focus

Annually the Women's Philanthropy Society invests through a high-impact grant to address a systemic issue affecting local women and families.

Membership

Donors who contribute at least $1,000 are invited to become "members" of the Women's Philanthropy Society.

The Women’s Philanthropy Society is the fundraising arm for the Women's Endowment, which is the heart of this effort. The Women's Endowment provides a permanent source of community capital to support the work being done by various organizations and agencies to address a wide spectrum of systemic issues that impact the quality of life for women and families in our community. 

Our Grants

Each year the Women's Philanthropy Society awards one high-dollar grant to create systemic change for women and their families.  The mission-focused Power of S.H.E.E. framework guides our efforts to create a positive and measurable impact through grants selected from four core areas.

Core Four: The Power of S.H.E.E.

  • Safety and security– Domestic violence, homelessness, child abuse, human trafficking, and food insecurity
  • Health and wellness – Mental health, physical health, substance abuse, infant mortality, and pregnancy
  • Education – Early childhood education, K-12, GED, higher education, and adult literacy
  • Economic empowerment - Financial counseling, entrepreneurship, housing counseling, job/workforce training, childcare, and transportation

2018

We partnered with ELM Foundation for Community Connections, a collaborative case management network to quickly move homeless women with children into housing by streamlining the referral process and providing intensive case management to connect families with available services. This program included providing local agencies with free, unlimited subscriptions to CharityTracker, a shared online case management tool used in 1,334 communities across the U.S.

2020

2020 was a year of unique challenges and rapid change for our nation. Even in the midst of unpredictable times, the Women’s Philanthropy Society moved forward to expand initiatives to fund the high impact grants that create positive and measurable impact for women and their families in our community. Partnership for a Drug-Free Community’s Recovery Resource Hub was granted $50,000 to support their work to reduce the number of overdoses and deaths in our community through treatment, prevention, and education outreach.

2019

Through a partnership with WellStone Behavioral Health, the Connections Matter project was launched in Madison County and Huntsville City schools. This program strengthens children and families with a history of trauma through intentional caring interactions that develop healthy brains to allow individuals to cope, heal, and thrive and affect the long-term health of these individuals, as well as their families to grow strong, safe, and successful.

2021

In 2021, a $50,000 grant was awarded to a collaboration which addressed the two main education issues identified at the Education Community Conversation: literacy and equity. Fellows from Greengate School will provide Orton Gillingham training to 90 teachers across the three public school districts in Madison County. The Orton Gillingham method is scientifically proven to improve a struggling reader’s ability to read, write, spell, and comprehend, which affects the one in five children in our community diagnosed with dyslexia.

2022

The Women's Philanthropy Society chose safety, security, and stability as the focus area for 2022 grantmaking. Grant applications were evaluated by a Grants Committee which selected two nonprofit organizations to receive funds in this grant cycle: First Stop’s “S.A.F.E. Program for Homeless Women” which received a $50,000 grant, and National Children’s Advocacy Center’s “Handle with Care” project with a $50,000 for a total grant distribution of $100,000.

Society Membership Supports Three Key Areas:

  • Education

    Around the annual focus issue
  • Funding

    A strategic solution for the focus issue
  • Engaging

    Those with a heart for generosity and our community

We believe that, in addition to women coming together for a common good, there is power in nurturing relationships. In addition to our philanthropic efforts, the WPS offers a yearly luncheon, Community Conversations, socials, and a book club.


  • February

    Book Club

  • March

    Toasting with Tallulah Fundraising Event

    Community Conversation about the annual focus issue

  • June

    Summer Social

  • October

    Membership luncheon with inspirational speaker and opportunity to select the focus area for the following year

  • November

    Service Project

Leadership Council

  • Mary Grace Evans | Chair

  • Holly McCarty | Past Chair

  • Leta DeMaioribus | Chair Emeritus

  • Bobby Bradley

  • Jeanne Brown

  • Caroline Buncick

  • Jodie Clements

  • Kristina Hendrix

  • Melea Horton

  • Kelly Moise

  • Jana Moody

  • Kori Paull

  • Jessica Hovis Smith

  • Karen Stanley

  • Deb Taylor

  • Kathi Tew

  • Lynn Troy

  • STAFF PARTICIPANTS

  • Ann Kvach

  • Melissa Thompson

Giving Levels

The Community Foundation will recognize cumulative gifts of $1,000 or more on its website at the following levels:

  • Tallulah Bankhead

    $1,000 - $4,999

  • Coretta Scott King

    $5,000 - $9,999

  • Rosa Parks

    $10,000 - $24,000

  • Helen Keller

    $25,000 or more

 

All gifts to the Women's Philanthropy Society are appreciated. For more information about the Women’s Philanthropy Society, please contact the Community Foundation at giving@communityfoundationhsv.org.

Women's Philanthropy Society Donors:

Helen Keller | $25,000 - $99,000

  • Alpha Foundation
  • anonymous donor
  • Phylis Baron
  • Leta DeMaioribus in Memory of Jenny Hornbuckle
  • Holly McCarty
  • Jan Smith
  • Vector Wealth Strategies

Rosa Parks | $10,000 - $24,999

  • The Agape Fund
  • Cadence Community Reinvestment Fund
  • Paula Cushman
  • Sally Downing in Memory of Kate Downing
  • H204Christ Foundation Fund
  • Melea Horton
  • Jana Moody
  • Redstone Federal Credit Union
  • Dr. Jennie Robinson
  • Susan Still
  • Kathi Tew

Coretta Scott King | $5,000 - $9,999

  • Penny Billings
  • mary grace evans
  • First Horizon Bank
  • Peggy Hailey
  • Keel Point LLC in Honor of Cheryl Bachelder
  • Lori King-Taylor
  • Vicki Kretzschmar
  • Cindi Ludwig
  • Koriene Paull
  • Jessica Hovis Smith
  • Lynn Troy
  • Women4Women OBGYN
  • Milan & Caroline Buncick in Memory of Nancy Kelly and Margaret Buncick

Tallulah Bankhead | $1,000 - $4,999

  • 4M RESEARCH
  • Sandra Ables
  • Linda & Joe Agee
  • Linda Casselman Akenhead
  • Courtney Penney Allen
  • Cynthia Almodóvar
  • Jill Anderson
  • AR Business Consulting, LLC
  • Anjana Arora
  • Beth Babin
  • BANCORP SOUTH
  • Tracy Barrett
  • Hannah Boon
  • Bobby Bradley
  • Joyce Brewster
  • Jeanne Brown
  • Dr. Lisa Bruce
  • Lynn Carden
  • Rodelle Carpenter
  • Ashley Clark
  • Dennis & Jodie Clements
  • Tanya Cook
  • Crestwood Medical Center
  • kitty davenport
  • Tina DeMaioribus
  • Dental Professionals on Whitesburg
  • Muriel Desimone MD
  • Kim Doering
  • Lynn Dowling
  • Sharon Doviet & Chris Russell
  • Saralyn Dwyer
  • Dyslexia Therapy of North Alabama
  • Kay Eastin
  • Garet & Alison Fields in Honor of Lynn and John Troy
  • FJW Foundation
  • Christie Finley
  • First Bank
  • Fran Fluhler
  • Jeannie Furin
  • Patti Gipson
  • Elizabeth Goldman
  • Jennifer Gray
  • Amy Harbarger
  • Meredith Hardwick
  • Ginger Harper
  • Debbie Harriman
  • Kristina Hendrix
  • Tanya Hallford Hendrix
  • Hinson & Hinson
  • Dr. Pam Hudson
  • i3  Cares Foundation
  • Inline Lighting & Electric Supply 
  • Chris B. Jackson
  • Kim Johnson
  • JS Building Company, Inc.
  • Keel Point - Kyle Findlay
  • Jamie King
  • Annie Lee 
  • Terry Lewis
  • Judy Link
  • Linscomb & Williams
  • LSINC Corporation
  • Paula Mahalik, Realtor EXP Realty
  • Jennifer McDougal
  • Beth McGee
  • Lynda Middleton
  • Kim Mims
  • Kelly Moise
  • Beth DeMaioribus Monroe
  • Jennifer Moore
  • Jeannie Munger
  • Leila Nabors
  • Marie Newberry
  • Marcia Obermann
  • Oral Arts Dental
  • Susan Ozment Keller Williams Realty
  • Donna Palumbo
  • dr. Jeanne Payne
  • PeopleTec, Inc.
  • JoAnn M. Perez, PC
  • PZI International Consulting
  • Maria DeMaioribus Ramage
  • Dr. Anne Marie Reidy
  • Re/Max Alliance Karen Harrison Sales Team
  • Renasant Bank
  • Dianne Reynolds
  • Jan Reynolds
  • LIndsay S. Rice
  • Elyse Ridenour
  • Lana and Joe Ritch
  • Kristina Robertson
  • Tammy Robertson/Dottie Sue's Boutique
  • Ryan Family Foundation Fund
  • Layne Salvador
  • Dr. Annie Saylor
  • Marie Schneider
  • Catherine Scholl
  • SimTech
  • Sangeeta Singhal
  • Amy Slamp
  • Sleep In Heavenly Peace AL-Huntsville Chapter
  • Gena Spearing
  • Dawn C. Stanley
  • Deirdre Stanley
  • Karen Stanley
  • Opal Sturgis
  • Sherry Stutts
  • Christina Tabereaux
  • Deborah Taylor
  • Carol Tevepaugh
  • Melissa Thompson
  • Triple E Fund
  • Trustmark
  • Irma Tuder
  • Twickenham Advisors
  • Robbie & Craig van Schilfgaarde in honor of hilde and jay dryden
  • Ginny Wagner
  • Katie Waite
  • Anne Waldrop
  • Paulina Waples
  • Weichert, Realtors - the Space Place
  • Beverly Weiner
  • Karen Whitcomb
  • Phil & Lisa Williams Foundation
  • Laura DeMaioribus Wilson
  • Marcie H. Wingo
  • Dr. Sonya Wintzell
  • Lisa Wiseman
  • Faye Wishik
  • Jennifer Wu
  • T.C. Zimmerman

Members in Memoriam

Their lasting legacy of love will not be forgotten
  • EULA BATTLE
  • SHERYL BENDICKSON

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can donate?

Although the Women's Philanthropy Society is primarily for women and by women, anyone can donate to celebrate the impact of the women in their lives.

Who decides where the money goes?

At the annual gathering in October, the Women's Philanthropy Society members will select the focus area for the upcoming year. The following August, the Grants Committee will select the grant recipient(s).

What types of projects?

In order to positively impact women and their familes, the Women's Philanthropy Society will award a high-impact, high-dollar grant addressing systemic change in the chosen focus area.

How does this fund ensure a "legacy of love"?

One-half of all donations to the Women's Philanthropy Society will be used for annual grant-making, and the balance will be endowed to provide a permanent source of funding to support women and their families in our community forever.

How is the Women’s Philanthropy Society different from other local fundraising efforts to help women?

The Greater Huntsville community is very generous, and so it is no surprise that there are a number of worthwhile organizations, projects, and programs that benefit women and children in our area. Many of these projects address targeted areas of concern to women and families such as job training, education, health, human services, or youth development. Furthermore, most of these programs rely on annual donations to support their work.

The Women’s Philanthropy Society is the fundraising arm for the Women's Endowment, which is the heart of this effort. The Women's Endowment provides a permanent source of community capital to support the work being done by various organizations and agencies to address a wide spectrum of systemic issues that impact the quality of life for women and families. The Women's Philanthropy Society invests annually through a high-impact grant to address a systemic issue. The Women’s Philanthropy Society will not replace the work of any existing organizations but rather provides an additional, perpetual funding source to ensure that good work can continue.

What portion of donations to the Women's Philanthropy Society will be available for grants each year?

Half of all donations to the Women’s Philanthropy Society will be used for annual grantmaking, and the balance will be used to grow the Women's Endowment in perpetuity and to generate additional income for current-year grantmaking.

If there are community needs, why create an endowment instead of spending all donations now?

An endowment provides a stable source of income to address the concerns of women and their families forever, and contributions to the Women’s Philanthropy Society provide a lasting legacy of the women who support it. The impact of these investments will continue to benefit the community long after the donations have been made. Additionally, our community is growing and changing each year, and the needs of tomorrow may be different from our needs today. The Women’s Philanthropy Society will be here to meet the needs of the community today and in the future.

How does the Community Foundation publicize the grant opportunity?

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville promotes grant opportunities from the Women’s Philanthropy Society through its website, through social media channels, and through targeted e-mail correspondence.

Can I make an honorary or memorial gift to the Women's Philanthropy Society?

Yes! Each of us can point to strong women who have made a positive impact on our lives. What better way to honor these women than by making a gift to the Women's Philanthropy Society in their honor and creating a permanent legacy to celebrate their contributions forever.

Can I donate assets other than cash to the Women's Philanthropy Society?

Yes! The Community Foundation can accept not only cash and credit cards, but also non-cash gifts such as stocks and bonds. Assets such as real estate and other personal property may also be accepted, but are subject to Board approval.

To make a credit card donation to the Women's Philanthropy Society, please click the Donate button above. If you would like more information about making a non-cash gift to the Women's Philanthropy Society, please contact Stuart Obermann at stuart@communityfoundationhsv.org for simple transaction instructions.


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