[Editor's note: This is the second of two articles from Triangle United Way about its Women's Leadership Council. Read the first article.]
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Triangle United Way Women's Leadership Council is beginning to see the results of focusing our message and activities to reflect the specific interests of our women contributors.
For 2007 and 2008, the council has chosen to focus on the issues and challenges facing young teen girls, ages 11-15, an area that is of high interest to women donors.
Along with improving our outreach efforts to women, described in the previous article, we set a second goal relating to how the Women's Leadership Council can have a greater impact on young teen girls.
To achieve that greater impact, the council did several things.
It recognized three young teen girls at its 2007 Awards Luncheon, with each girl receiving a certificate, an engraved key chain and most importantly, a laptop computer.
According to the staff of the agencies where the girls participate, their lives have been significantly impacted for the better. They now are looked up to by other girls, seen as role models and sought out for their advice.
The council also designated proceeds from the 2007 Awards Luncheon's first-ever Dessert Auction to fund Scholarships for young girls.
And this spring, the Women's Leadership Council announced a new Scholarship Initiative that will enable 14 middle-school girls to participate in the 2008 summer Girls Leadership Institute at Meredith College.
"This is a key time in their lives to begin thinking about college preparation," says Ann Gerhardt, executive director of The Women's Center in Chapel Hill. "Being exposed to concepts of leadership and taking control of their future now is very important."
The impact on members of the council has been strong as well. They have become more involved, and are committed to supporting the focus area as shown by their actions over the past year.
For example, it was council members that recruited Meredith College as the partner for the Scholarship Initiative. Members also served on the selection committee to review applications from United Way partner agencies who nominated girls for the scholarships.
"We have come full circle in just a year," said Gayle Harris, 2008 chairwoman of the Women's Leadership Council Steering Committee. "Once our members selected Young Teen Girls as its initiative, giving of both time and financial resources increased. Women are talking more about Triangle United Way's Women's Leadership Council and our role in improving lives. Why? Because they are seeing firsthand how the lives of young girls are being changed for the better."
We are now planning our fall awards luncheon, to be held on September 26, and we are looking forward to inviting the girls from the Institute to attend as our guests, and hope to have one of the girls speak at the luncheon.
Charities wanting to connect donors to their mission can do so by following the example set by Women's Leadership Council.
Choose a focus. Then provide information, educational opportunities and engagement activities for members and prospective donors to learn about the issues associated with that focus and get them involved.
Your donors will surprise you once you ignite their passion and help them make the connection to a specific focus in partnership with your charity.
The research is indeed correct - women want to do more than write a check - they want to be inspired and engaged.