IWCF Spring 2024 Newsletter

Letter from the President:
Making a Difference Together – The Collective Impact of Volunteerism at IWCF

 

Helen Dyer poignantly stated, “Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” IWCF is recognized for our impactful pooled-fund grants and high-quality educational programming. Yet we wouldn’t be able to do these without the dedication and energy of our remarkable IWCF member volunteers. Philanthropy is often defined as using time, talent and treasure to promote the welfare of others. All IWCF members contribute a portion of their treasure through the annual membership contribution. Yet our member volunteers are the backbone of the organization, using their time and talents to support our mission and operations.

Flexibility and Empowerment
Each IWCF member is encouraged and empowered to consider how to invest in IWCF. There is no requirement beyond your annual membership contribution–though we certainly hope all members will at minimum vote on the grants ballot. For those who wish to do more, IWCF offers a variety of impactful ways to engage in the organization–there is always a need. Our members choose what’s right for them, and IWCF recognizes that this frequently changes throughout their time as a valued member.

No one is immune to changing circumstances–including board members. Teresa Lassandro recently stepped down from the board to pursue a demanding professional opportunity. We are grateful for Teresa’s contributions to IWCF, and we understand and support her decision. (Thank you, Evin Bask, Member-at-Large on the board for stepping in to serve as the DEI Committee Chair until the next board term begins in May 2024!) 

A Tapestry of Contributions
The early months of 2024 have witnessed a surge of volunteer activity within IWCF. Fifty-five women are actively participating in our grant process. They are not only gaining valuable knowledge about local nonprofits and our community, but are also building meaningful connections with other members while diligently selecting the 12 finalists for the IWCF March Grants Ballot.

Beyond the grant process, our dedicated committee members are working hard to ensure IWCF’s smooth operation and impactful reach. The Membership Committee has been actively supporting our renewal process. The Leadership Development Committee has identified new board members and future IWCF leaders. The Finance, Investment, and Endowment Committees are diligently maintaining IWCF’s financial sustainability and health. The Events and Education Committees collaborate to offer enriching education experiences for our members and community. The Marketing Committee is ensuring timely, informative communications go to our members and sharing our impact more broadly on social media. The DEI Committee is exploring ways to integrate the learnings and best practices for philanthropic impact and a great member experience. In collaboration with many other committees, the Symposium Committee is full steam ahead planning an inspiring, educational program for IWCF and community members on October 2 themed Our Shared Environment: LEAD! (Learn-Engage-Adapt-Discuss).

Finding Your Perfect Fit
There are countless ways to become involved, from ongoing committee work to one-time specific projects. We appreciate the diverse contributions of members who are sharing their unique time and talents with IWCF. There are too many to name, and we thank each one of you for your investment! Once we fill our Volunteer Coordinator position, we’ll share more opportunities for members to connect, collaborate and contribute. In the meantime, consider participating in one of our Day of Service events this spring, fulfill one of the current volunteer needs listed below, or contact me or another board member and let us know how you’d like to put your specific skills to work for IWCF–we can definitely use you and all of your amazing talents!

By collectively harnessing the power of time, talents and treasure, IWCF empowers individuals to make a significant difference in Southwest Idaho and beyond. We invite you to explore your passions, discover your perfect fit, and join us in shaping a brighter future together. Thank you for all you have and continue to do for IWCF.

 

GRANTS

The Grants Ballot is Coming!

By Trinjia Dell’Aglio, IWCF Grants Chair

During the past month the Grants Committee has been busy reviewing the proposals submitted by nonprofits throughout Southwest Idaho. 

This year we received the most grant applications in recent IWCF history: 95 grant proposals! Many of the proposals center around bringing new and innovative educational opportunities to various members in our communities and addressing the health and critical needs of our underserved populations. There has also been an uptick in applications that focus on the outdoors, whether it be recreation, art installations, gardens, greenhouses, etc. 

Members of the Grants Committee have been reviewing the grant applications, meeting as Interest Area Committees, and are currently in the process of conducting site visits to the organizations to identify who will appear on the ballot. 

Many, many hours of time, dedication, and careful review have gone into this process. Thanks to the generosity of each and every one of our members, we will be funding at least six grants, one in each of our Interest Areas: Cultural Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Financial Stability, and Rural Communities.

Look for your 2023-2024 Grants Ballot in your inbox on Monday, March 11th. Voting will remain open until noon on Tuesday, April 2nd. 

If you would like to learn more about the ballot choices from the people who worked on the selection process, join us on luncheon on Thursday, March 14th.  The luncheon and Q&A session is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the First Congregational Church in Boise. If you’re able, I highly suggest you join us. It’s a fun, celebratory luncheon with a reveal party of the details about this year’s ballot selections. Register here by Monday, March 11th.

If you can’t attend the luncheon and have questions about the ballot, we will also host a Grants Question & Answer session via Zoom on March 19th. Register here before March 19th and you will receive instructions for how to attend via email. This will also be recorded and made available to members for viewing. 

We really have an amazing selection of grant proposals this year so watch your inboxes and remember to vote by noon on Tuesday, April 2nd!

A Deeper Look at Two of Our 2023 Grantees

By Pamela Briggs, Grants Liaison

Canyon County Youth Empowerment: Breaking Chains Academy of Development ($20,000)
Breaking Chains Academy of Development (BCAD) is successfully meeting their goals of providing at-risk youth in Canyon County with the tools and resources needed to deter them from criminal and gang activity. The program helps these youth successfully transition into adulthood through the implementation of prevention and educational services that not only enrich their lives, but also open doors to brand-new experiences.

The IWCF funding supports educational services and mentoring activities. From May 1st to September 30th, 2023, 22 young individuals obtained their GED/HSE credentials. Through dedicated support groups, BCAD staff engaged 23 youth with a primary focus on nurturing healthy relationships and 143 young individuals in mentoring services, well above the initial estimate of 85. These youth also received one or more meals before, during, and/or after activities.

“Thanks to the unwavering support from IWCF, our project has achieved remarkable success, boasting a record-breaking number of graduates from our educational programs,” Luis Granados, BCAD Director, shared. “IWCF’s generous funding has covered all educational expenses and allowed us to offer exciting new experiences to our youth. From exhilarating bike rides along the scenic Boise greenbelt to thrilling rounds at Top Golf, fun-filled days at Wahooz, captivating movie theater outings, cooling off at Roaring Springs Water Park, and mind-bending escape rooms. We’ve created unforgettable memories. We’ve also ensured that our youth are well-fed before and after these activities, and celebrated birthdays with special cakes. As a result, our youth have found the past five months with IWCF funding at BCAD to be the most enjoyable. IWCF’s invaluable support has transcended mere financial assistance, propelling our organization to new heights. Their endorsement has significantly amplified our visibility, reinforcing our credibility and commitment to our mission.”

Housing Stabilization for Seniors, Veterans, and People with Disabilities via Critical Home Repairs: Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity ($23,354)
What do our seniors and veterans do when their health and safety is compromised in their home? The Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity (BVHH) has an answer. Their Critical Home Repairs Program enables low-income seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities to remain safely in their homes by providing home repairs, such as ramps and other minor projects. IWCF funds were used to purchase a fully outfitted work trailer that operates as a mobile workshop with a specialized ramp, railing materials, and tools necessary to fully complete the equipment needs of the program.

BVHH purchased the trailer in June 2023 and completed 16 projects by September 2023. Eight of the additional 16 projects in their current pipeline are for roof replacements. While the average cost of a project is $2,900, a roof replacement runs $7,000-$9,000. With their current funding, they can complete three roofing projects, while also completing other lower-cost projects. While they are confident there will be funding for all projects over time, some clients must wait. In the meantime, they continue to build relationships with local municipalities, other nonprofits, area churches, and real estate related companies (brokers, title companies, mortgage companies). They also secured in-kind relationships with a roofing company and a restoration company.

“I feel like a human being (again),” said one BVHH client, perfectly capturing the spirit of the program. Holly had lived with a leaky roof for years, never having had enough money to get it fixed, and her home was unhealthy. It’s now repaired and she feels alive again. And Holly isn’t the only one. Responses such as this come from most of their clients, who tend to be older, have physical limitations, and live on fixed incomes. “Their spirits are lifted because someone–Habitat and IWCF–cares enough to help them live in safety and dignity.”

“We are deeply appreciative of the support from IWCF,” said a representative of BVHH. “Our hope is that this relationship will highlight and give additional credibility to our critical repairs program. While the funding is needed, the endorsement from IWCF is equally important.”

Progress Highlights from our other 2023 Grantees

By Gail Kirkpatrick, Grants Assessment Chair

IWCF’s members collectively funded eight grants totaling over $217,000 in May 2023. In November, the grantees reported to IWCF with their progress. We’ve given you a deeper dive with the two stories above and are sharing a few quick notes about the other six here. Of the six, four have made excellent progress while two have not yet spent a significant amount of their first installment. They will submit another progress report in April 2024 and, if sufficient progress has been made, will receive their check in May 2024. Look for more from these six grants in the future.  

Expand Access to Citizenship Classes: Community Council of Idaho ($25,623)
Although they only spent $2,136 out of the $14,235 granted to them in May, they are making progress. However, hiring a teacher has been the hurdle. When they finally found a teacher, the person quit after just a few months. A new teacher is set to start this Spring. The committee agreed to reassess their progress in March and hope to issue their second check in May.

Outdoor education STEM Yurt Lab: Basin School District ($30,000) 
Despite delays caused by zoning and planning, the yurt has been delivered and they are excited to get it set up and running! Basin School District also received a donation of telescopes and will invite astronomy clubs to use the yurt. Future plans (outside of our grant) include closing off the bottom for storage and adding a restroom and solar power. “This grant will make it easier to add on to the experience with STEM activities, recreation activities, and other events.”

No-Till Drill Equipment and Education for Small Acreage Landowners: Valley Soil and Water Conservation District ($23,746) 
Valley Soil and Water Conservation District purchased the equipment and has already met their goals of users. Additionally, they were able to distribute their information even more efficiently than initially expected! “Funding from IWCF has helped us become more visible to smaller landowners and the equipment and education has been well received in the area.” 

Safe room for Patients experiencing Mental Health Crisis: Cascade Medical Center ($30,000)
Renovation was completed in May, ten months ahead of schedule! (Cascade Medical Center borrowed from an emergency fund that was paid back when they received their grant check). The first patient was housed on May 29th and 100% of their patients experiencing a mental health crisis have been able to use the safe room. “The project and grant was such a positive experience–we will continue to seek similar partnerships to accomplish improvements that will benefit our community.” 

School Venue Completion: Boise Rock School ($30,000)
Construction has been completed! “Many new supporters became aware of our organization via the grant.” Join us at the IWCF service day on April 27 to see the finished product.

Securing the Future of Agricultural Land in Southwest Idaho: American Farmland Trust ($27,960)
Even though they did make good progress on their goals and objectives, they only spent $3,254 out of the $13,980 granted to them in May. They attribute this to the way their national organization creates budgets and projects spend-downs. Their fiscal year is Oct 1 – Sept 30 with a budget re-forecasting in Mid-March: “Because we received the IWCF check in May, after re-foreasting, our budget and spending plan for the remainder of the fiscal year was largely set.”  After conversations to gain understanding, we agreed that their second check would be combined with their 3rd check in May 2024, assuming they continue to achieve their goal and objectives. 

We welcome you to join the Assessment Committee to assist the next batch of Grantees through their projects. Contact Gail Kirkpatrick at GailKirpatrick@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP

New Ideas From Membership

By Kathy Scott, Membership Chair

The membership committee wants to thank the many members who continue to invite their friends, family, and colleagues to join IWCF. We encourage all of you to bring these potential members to our events. If they join us in our mission of educated philanthropy, great! If they don’t, at a minimum they learn about IWCF and what we do. One only needs to attend any of our events to know what this great group of women (and men!) are doing to improve the lives of Idahoans.

The membership committee is going to try a few new strategies for recruiting and increasing the visibility of IWCF and we need your help:

• Many of us are in book groups. We are creating bookmarks which you can distribute at your meetings. They will serve as a prompt for discussion about IWCF. IWCF is a great organization, and we want to share the joy of improving the lives of people in our community. If you are a member of a book group and would like to share with bookmarks with your fellow readers, email me at kathys@iwcfgives.org. A special thank you to IWCF member Laura Simic for the beautiful artwork featured on our bookmarks!
• We are searching out new ways to increase the visibility of IWCF and increase membership. If you have ideas for events or places for outreach events, email Linda Hummel at ljoyhummel@comcast.net.
• Susan Smith has two service projects lined up this Spring: a Habitat for Humanity construction project, Saturday, April 13th and a painting project at Boise Rock School Saturday, April 27. This is a perfect opportunity to involve your children and grandchildren in educated philanthropy! RSVP below or if you have questions about these events, contact Susan Smith at susans@iwcfgives.org. 

RSVP for the Habitat for Humanity Construction Project 
RSVP for the Boise Rock School Service Project

The membership committee is also planning to schedule focus groups on the subjects of membership recruitment, retention, and experience. Our goal is to improve our efforts in each of these areas. Watch for the dates in future communications. We want to hear your voices and ideas as we continuously strive to offer more great experiences for our members.

Philanos PowerUP!

By Heather Juaregui, Past President

Our Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation delegation made the most of three days of networking, learning, and best practice sharing at the Philanos PowerUP! Conference the first weekend of November in Baltimore. Nicole Patterson, Susan Smith, Suzanne Groff Lierz, and Heather Jauregui were among the 325 conference participants from 60 giving circles and networks, including several of our friends from the Wood River Women’s Foundation. Four tracks offered 20 breakout sessions focused on Collective Power + Leadership; Communications + Technology; Governance + Finance; and Membership + Grantmaking. Sessions were presented by members of women’s giving circles and philanthropic leaders from across the country.  Peer-to-peer discussions illuminated IWCF as a mature giving circle on solid footing, and we’re addressing common challenges, such as supporting a large vibrant membership, enhancing relationships with our grant partners, and adopting trust-based philanthropy principles. Checkout the PowerUp! Conference Wrap. 

Every IWCF member is a member of Philanos–just use the same email account associated with your IWCF membership to access all the benefits for Philanos membership. You have access to the discussion groups, webinars, and resources Philanos offers to support women’s giving circles and their individual members to become educated philanthropists and thoughtful grantmakers in their communities.  Make the most of your IWCF membership by participating in one of the free Philanos webinars this year and meet other women as excited about collective giving as you are!

Susan Smith Endowment—What a Year!

By Suzanne Lierz, Endowment Committee

We’ve all ridden a roller coaster in the stock market over the last two years, ending with a great year in 2023. As of December 31, 2023, our Susan Smith Endowment stood at $1.2M, which represents a one-year return of 18.5%. Thank you to Headwaters Wealth Management, our financial management firm, where Lisa Derig, a founding partner and long-time IWCF member, oversees and guides our investment strategy.

A HUGE THANK YOU to you forward-thinking members who see the value of investing in the long-range sustainability of IWCF and have contributed to our success. A good investment year is fantastic news, of course, but it is your continued dedicated commitment to our Endowment that will enable us to thrive. 

Many of you contribute part or all of your IGDs (Individual Grant Designations) to our Endowment. Several others contribute separately from that. As we learned at our recent estate planning educational event, for those who have a required distribution from their IRAs, a direct donation from that account will eliminate the need to pay taxes on that donation. (Just a hint to help you tax-wise!) 

We added a new avenue to enable members to provide long-term support to the Endowment–GIFT (Giving It Forward Together). GIFT allows legacy philanthropists to engage in planned giving of various types. To learn more about how you might use this tool, visit www.iwcfgives.org/endowment.

If you have questions, contact Dana Kehr at 208-724-5333 or email IWCFDana@gmail.com. 

Welcome to IWCF!

IWCF is excited to welcome the following new and returning Blue Ribbon Members to IWCF!

Susan Beckman
Jean Bishop
Judy Burns
Keri Davidson
Mark Dell’Aglio
Jessamine Jones
Amber Nelson
Allyson Reynolds
Alicia Ritter*
Anne Wilde
Stacy Williams

 

*Returning

Volunteer Opportunities

990 Preparers –  Do you have any experience preparing 990s? IWCF would love to have your help! We are looking for one or two volunteers to prepare our 990 annually.  Time commitment would be 10-20 hours during the fall/winter. This role works directly with the Treasurer and saves IWCF $2,500 annually in financial preparation fees. Please contact Sandy Lease at sandyl@iwcfgives.org.

Volunteer Coordinator – IWCF would like to have one or two members serve as Volunteer Coordinators. The Volunteer Coordinator(s) would work closely with committee chairs and marketing to recruit volunteers to help with various IWCF activities, using a member’ skills and interests (e.g., copy editing, calling members to remind them to vote, event greeters). Click here for more information, or email Molly Harder mollyh@iwcfgives.org.

Social Media Coordinator – IWCF is looking for someone to curate and post content on our various social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn). If you are interested in learning more about this role, email Kim Liebich at kiml@iwcfgives.org.

Newsletter Editor – The Newsletter Editor works with the various committee leads and members to curate content and produce the seasonal newsletter in February, June and November. If you are interested in learning more about this role, email Kim Liebich at kiml@iwcfgives.org or Robyn Tucker at robynjtucker@gmail.com.

“…Oh my goodness, 19 years ago there was a post just like this in our Spring newsletter asking if someone could help “manage our data” and I’ve been happily serving and working with great women ever since.” – Kim Liebich

 

 

EDUCATION

Education Event: Meeting the Need for Affordable Housing for Seniors

By Jena Vasconcellos, Education Committee

An overflow crowd of 72 members and guests learned of the complex nature of providing affordable housing for a growing demographic of seniors in Idaho, who, for many reasons, find themselves needing assistance with a place to call home.

Adrienne Lane-Martin, IWCF member of the Education committee and partner in the firm erstad ARCHITECTS, introduced the two speakers—Andy Erstad, of the firm, and Casey Mattoon, director of Our Path Home, a public-private partnership with a goal of ending homelessness in Ada County.

Casey described the current and future need as a “crisis,” with the increase in older adults becoming vulnerable due to living on fixed incomes, rental and housing prices going up, as well as other factors. From 2010 to 2020 there was an 86% increase in seniors over the age of 65 in our community. Our Path Home works with Boise City, other government agencies, nonprofits, and private entities to find housing as well as the support services required to live healthy and comfortable lives. 

Andy prefers using the term “income limited” for people requiring affordable housing, rather than “low income.” He described his definition of affordability as the balance between market forces and individual income, and thus is not a set figure. He and his firm have spent more than 20 years designing housing that are “dignified, safe, secure and contemporary.” He shared visuals of various housing projects the firm has designed, describing the attention paid to accessibility, materials, interior design, and, of course, cost.

Both speakers identified funding as a challenge. There are so many partners and the cost per square foot does not differ much from high-rent apartments. Sustainability and maintenance costs must also be taken into account.

While much is being done to solve homelessness, all three speakers emphasized that all of us can voice our support of those working on solutions. Foremost is support for funding—city, county, state and federal funding—for senior housing. Everyone can find ways to get involved and to get educated.

Finally, if you or someone you know is experiencing a housing crisis, call 208-336-HOME (4663) for resources, information, and support.

Financial and Estate Planning Issues for Women

By Jo Anne Minnick, Education Committee

On January 18, 2024, IWCF members and guests braved icy roads and winter weather to attend the first IWCF educational event of the year. They would not be disappointed!

Shaila Buckley, the founder of Shaila Buckley Law, and law partner, Rachel Murphy, shared essential information about estate planning in a clear and easily understood presentation. Whether members were very knowledgeable about financial and estate planning or knew very little about the subject, they all gained very useful and important information.

“Estate planning is something everyone should do,” shared our presenters. “Estate planning provides peace of mind for you and people you care about by protecting your loved ones, your values and your assets.” 

Key Takeaways:

• Name a guardian for your minor children. You know your children better than anyone else. If you don’t name a guardian, a court will make the decision for you.
• Set up inheritance trusts for your beneficiary or beneficiaries. Inheritance trusts protect your loved ones’ inheritance in the event of a divorce, credit issues, etc. Inheritance trusts also allow you to keep assets in the family.
• For married couples, consider including an irrevocable trust in your estate plan to ensure your share of the community assets are protected for your beneficiaries if you die first and your spouse remarries.

There are two types of Trusts:

1. Irrevocable Trusts in which a surviving spouse or others have access to funds but cannot change the distribution provisions, and
2. Revocable Trusts where a surviving spouse or others have control of funds and can change distribution provisions.

Another tool for estate planning is charitable giving. One can arrange to have Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) sent directly to charities, name a charity or charities as the beneficiary of a tax deferred retirement account, or gift highly appreciated stock to a charity.

Shaila Buckley and Rachel Murphy provided each participant with a copy of their book: Estate Planning for Idahoans: Wills, Trusts and Everything Else You Need to Take Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones, which will prove to be a valuable resource for all of the attendees. 

Note: Lisa Derig, founding partner of Headwaters Wealth Management and IWCF member, was scheduled to be one of the presenters. She became ill the night before the event and we were sorry she wasn’t able to join us.

EVENTS

2024 Symposium Theme, Speakers, and Sponsorships…Oh My!

By Teresa Broadus, Symposium Chair

The IWCF 2024 symposium is scheduled for October 2 and will focus on the environment, one of IWCF’s six interest areas. The symposium is titled: Our Shared Environment: LEAD! (Learn-Engage-Adapt-Discuss). Attendees will hear from national researchers, environmental experts, and community leaders during morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

We are excited to feature two highly respected speakers. Our Dinner Keynote speaker is Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director of Project Drawdown, and a world-leading scientist on climate activity and sustainability. His work focuses on finding solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems, and the natural resources we all depend on. This year’s Food for Thought luncheon features Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED, a national nonprofit that leverages a holistic view of the food system and generates large-scale, meaningful impact to reduce food waste. 

As we begin reaching out to potential sponsors, we could use your help. If you have a connection, contact Sally Long at longsall2@gmail.com. For general symposium questions, contact Teresa Broadus at teresab@iwcfgives.org. Look for registration links early this summer.

Mark Your Calendars

MARCH

Education Event: Facts and Effects of Current Legislative Policies on Women (Panel)
Wednesday, March 6
Social 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.  |  Program 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. 
Riverside Hotel (Aspen Room)
2900 Chinden Blvd., Boise

Grants Ballot to Membership
Monday, March 11

IWCF Member Luncheon: Grants Ballot Q&A
Thursday, March 14
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
First Congregational United Church of Christ
2201 Woodlawn Ave, Boise
Members Only
RSVP

Grants Ballot Q&A (via Zoom)
Tuesday, March 19
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Members Only
RSVP is needed to access the call

 

APRIL

Voting Deadline for Pooled-Fund Grants and Individual Grant Designations Due
Tuesday, April 2
Noon

Grant Announcement to Membership and Opening of Board Ballot 
Wednesday, April 10

IWCF Day of Service – Habitat for Humanity Construction Project
Saturday, April 13
Service project 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.| Lunch 11:30 a.m.
Construction Site in Star Idaho: 3316 N Anselmo Way
Participants must be 18+ and register in advance
RSVP by March 14

IWCF Day of Service – Boise Rock School  
Saturday, April 27
Service project 9:00 a.m. | Lunch 12:30 p.m.
5022 Fairview Ave, Boise  
Families Welcome
RSVP

 

MAY

Annual Meeting and Grants Awards
Wednesday, May 8
Social 6:00 p.m. | Program 7:00 p.m.
Barber Park Education & Event Center
4049 S Eckert Rd, Boise

 

OCTOBER

IWCF SYMPOSIUM
Our Shared Environment: LEAD! (Learn – Engage – Adapt – Discuss)
Wednesday, October 2
Boise Centre
850 W Front St, Boise