2008 Articles
Women's Fund of Santa Barbara Grants $600,000 to Local Nonprofits
Special to Noozhawk & SBParent.com, January 30, 2007
By Leslie Dinaberg
"Collaborative efforts are part of the future of philanthropy," said Natalie Orfalea, addressing members at the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara's annual luncheon on January 28. As Chairperson of the Orfalea Fund and Co-Founder of the Orfalea Family Foundation, Orfalea is an expert on collaborative giving, and was instrumental in developing her foundation's partnership with the Women's Fund. 
With Orfalea matching all of the money raised by the Women's Fund, they were able to award $600,000 to support the work of eight local nonprofit organizations: Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara, Casa Pacifica, Family Service Agency, Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, Isla Vista Youth Projects, People's Self Help Housing, Storyteller Children's Center, and Transition House.
This brings the total amount given to the community by the Women's Fund to $1,425,000, in just four short years of existence. The grassroots group was founded by a small group of women-comprised of Chairperson Carol Palladini and Perri Harcourt, Shirley Ann Hurley, Jean Kaplan, Dale Kern, Joanne Rapp, Elna Scheinfeld, Meredith Scott, Kay Stern, Anne Smith Towbes, Marsha Wayne and Fritzie Yamin- who were interested in contributing to the community without having to sell tickets, make decorations, solicit auction items or spend valuable resources to bring in funding for nonprofits.
It's a simple, yet powerful, idea that's growing in the philanthropic community: Why not take the time, energy and money spent on producing and attending elaborate fund raisers and write a single check once a year to put that money where it's most needed.
The concept of giving circles-pooling resources with other donors to have a bigger impact-is catching on too, not just with the Women's Fund but within the Women's Fund as well. To become a member of the Women's Fund, a woman simply writes a tax-deductible check for $2,500 once a year and in return receives one vote to decide where the funds will be distributed. When the group started in 2004, it targeted women who could easily make the $2,500 donation required to participate in the fund.
In recent years, the circle of giving has widened to include group members-often younger women in the community who can't afford the entire $2,500 donation-who pool their money and share one vote. 
SBParent.com has put together two of these groups, and there are 28 other sets of women who are neighbors, coworkers, friends and acquaintances who also contributed to the fund as group members, with anywhere from two to 12 members pooling their funds to come up with the required $2,500.
The idea of the money donated going directly to help people, rather than being spent on events or fundraising expenses appealed to SBParent's Julie Sorenson & Rachael Steidl. Other members said they joined the group to meet like-minded women or to learn more about the nonprofits serving the community. Assisted by the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Research Committee does all the legwork to identify causes that align with the Women's Fund goal of giving to meaningful projects affecting women, children and families.
The largest gift awarded by the Women's Fund this year was a $150,000 leadership grant to Storyteller Children's Center, for its $2.5 million expansion campaign which will be launched in 2008. Storyteller, which provides high-quality free preschool for homeless and at-risk children, will use the funds to help establish a second center on De la Vina Street. The organization will serve 1,000 homeless and at-risk children and their families in the next decade, said executive director Terri Allison. "One in every five children in Santa Barbara County lives in poverty," she said. And while these funds will greatly expand the availability of services, "for every child who joins Storyteller, we must place one on our waiting list."
Family Service Agency's 211 Human Services Helpline was awarded $95,000, an amount which will provide one-third of the funding needed to carry on the operation of the helpline when government funds expire in 2008.
Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara was awarded $85,000 to pay for a licensed social worker to recruit, screen, train and support 20 foster families, doubling the number of infants and toddlers that were placed in foster care in 2007. "These parents risk their own broken hearts," said executive director Meichelle Arntz, "and this money allows us to provide them with additional support."
Isla Vista Youth Projects, which lost state funds in 2007, received $60,000 for a family advocate and counselor for one year. This gap funding will restore programs to keep low-income families healthy by through regular medical and dental care.
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara was awarded $55,000 for its Teen Mentoring Program. This program expansion will allow girls 13 to 18 years old to participate in Girls Inc. for the first time locally. In the past they only served girls up to age 12.
Casa Pacifica received $55,000 to purchase three cars to enable caseworkers and mental health professionals to deliver 24/7 mobile emergency services for youth in immediate psychiatric crisis and to provide assistance for families with youth who are at risk for being placed in foster care.
People's Self Help Housing was granted $50,000 to fund a third educator for its year-round specialized mentoring learning program that serves school-aged children in low-income families.
Transition House also received $50,000, which will provide gap funding for the salary of one case manager for one year. Transition House case managers meet one-on-one with at-risk families to craft solutions to help them restore self-sufficiency.
As if helping these worthy organizations weren't reward enough, Oversight Committee chairperson Jo Gifford told the crowd of approximately 150 women that she recently learned that givers are happier than non-givers, less depressed, and full of the hormones that reduce stress. "So with that in mind, I stand before the happiest, least depressed, and least stressed women in Santa Barbara."
2007 Articles
THE POWER OF THE PURSE
Santa Barbara Foundation ADOBE NEWS, Spring 2007
Members and supporters of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara translate their values into action to serve as a catalyst for change on behalf of the women and children in our community.
The Annual Presentation Luncheon of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, held at the end of January, was nothing short of extraordinary. More than 150 local women-teachers, mentors, nonprofit workers and volunteers-gathered to enjoy the fruits of their labor and learn the identities of this year's recipients.
Now in its fourth year, the Fund raised $225,000 in 2006. Already feeling quite successful, members were stunned and delighted by a surprise announcement that the Orfalea Fund had awarded a matching grant, which doubled the amount to be distributed. In addition, the Fund has agreed to match 2007 contributions. With adding money held in reserve, the Women's Fund awards totaled $485,000.
Lois Mitchell, President of the Orfalea Family Foundation and the Orfalea Fund, said, "In continuing the Orfalea focus of community collaborative partnering, we are honored to match all individual contributions enabled by the Women's Fund. Together our collective support to local agencies will truly make a caring and significant impact:'"
Established in 2004, the Women's Fund has grown steadily, attracting more members every year. Grants resulting from the $140,000 collected in 2004 provided assistance to single mothers and dental care to the children of low-income families. The following year, $200,000 was raised and grants focused on the problems of teens and domestic violence. Last year, members were concerned with education and the physical and mental health of children and teens.
The four recipient agencies of this year's awards were Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM), and the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. The amounts received were $180,000, $100,000, $100,000 and $105,000 respectively.
Part of the Fund's success is that members know that almost all their contributions (minus a minimal amount for expenses) go directly to charity. Working with existing community service providers and conducting careful research, the Fund decides on areas of greatest need within the scope determined by the members. Further fine-tuning results in a ballot on which the members vote. This process is conducted with such dedication and thoroughness that it attracted the attention of the Orfalea Fund.
Members and supporters of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara translate their values into action to serve as a catalyst for change on behalf of the women and children in our community who face daily challenges of poverty, violence, discrimination, and lack of education and opportunity. They understand that when women and families prosper, communities thrive.
The Fund has come a long way and is truly making a difference.
2006 Articles
WOMEN'S FUND
On the Town, February 5, 2006
by Lorraine Wilson
(reprinted with permission from
the Santa Barbara News-Press)
The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara is committed to funding projects that affect women, children and families. The nonprofit fund works under the umbrella of the Santa Barbara Foundation and thus has no staff or overhead expenses.
Every dollar donated gets to the charities chosen for the year. Even the once-a-year luncheon is donated this year again by Meredith and John Scott of EI Paseo Restaurant.
In its first year, the group was able to give $105,000 to complete the capital campaign for the Neighborhood Dental Clinic and give $35,000 to the St. Vincent's housing program for single mothers.
In 2006, founder Carol Palladini and Nancy Martz presented checks to Teen Center, which received $90,000 to furnish the center set to open on Chapala Street in September; Noah's Anchorage, a YMCA program for teens on the streets, which received $20,000 for a van; Planned Parenthood, which received $40,000 for their teen mentoring program, Adelante Amigos; and Domestic Violence Solutions, which received $50,000 for a program working to help teens develop safe, healthy relationships. In today's world, 20 percent of teens have experienced violence when dating.
Unless you join a committee, there are no meetings except the luncheon to give away money. A research committee examines each suggested charity and makes a site visit. All members vote on the choice for the gifts.
To join with a vote, you pledge $2,500. Or women can join in a group and collectively pledge the same amount and cast one collective vote.
Membership has grown in just one year to 80 members. For more information or to join, call Meredith Scott at 697-1954, or mail checks to: The Women's Fund, S.B. Foundation, 15 E. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara CA, 93101.
WOMEN'S FUND HELPS TEENS
Santa Barbara Foundation ADOBE NEWS, Spring 2006
The day was all about helping teens as the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara awarded grants totaling $200,000 to four local nonprofits: Domestic Violence Solutions received $50,000 for their Peer Education Program; Noah's Anchorage was awarded $20,000; Parks and Recreation Community Foundation was given $90,000 for the new Santa Barbara Teen Center; and Planned Parenthood was handed a check for $40,000 toward its Adelante Amigos youth development program. Awards will be used to provide young people with counseling, mentoring, bilingual after-school programs, and in some cases, shelter.
Established in 2004, the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara is made up of a group of committed women who have already given gifts totaling $340,000 to impact issues affecting women, children and families in the greater Santa Barbara area. Members contribute $2,500 or more annually and all vote on who the recipients will be. For more information, please contact Meredith Scott at 967-1954.
THE WOMEN'S FUND
Montecito Journal, February 23 - March 8, 2006
A group of about 100 women met at El Paseo Restaurant for their second annual luncheon. The goal of the Women's Fund is to raise money for philanthropy without giving fundraisers. Founding Chairman Carol Palladini told me, "I read in the Los Angeles Times about a similar group and it made my heart race. We needed to do it in Santa Barbara."
As Carol told the audience, "I have only two words: awesome and incredible. In one-and-a-half years we have raised three hundred and seventy-eight thousand dollars by your writing checks." There are individual donations and group donations. Jane Eagleton encouraged to, "go see what your checks do." Last year the Women's Fund donated to the Eastside Dental Clinic and St. Vincent's program for single mothers.
Chair of the Research Committee Nancy Martz announced that the focus for 2006 was teens. At the luncheon Noah's Anchorage Youth Crisis Center received $20,000 for a new van while Adelante Amigos of Planned Parenthood got $40,000 to bring a six-year program to Santa Barbara for at-risk girls designed to "change their lives." Another $50,000 went to Domestic Violence for its Safe Healthy Relationship Program. Two teens from the new Santa Barbara Teen Center on Chapala Street (due to open in September) said they were "blown away" by the $90,000 the Center received for equipment and furniture.
Elna Scheinfeld and Meredith Scott will be co-chairs of the Oversight (Steering) Committee in 2006. Jo Gifford and Melissa Brooks are in charge of the Research Committee for funding charities. Meredith and her husband, John, underwrote the entire luncheon at El Paseo, which they own.
The Santa Barbara Foundation has underwritten 211 operation expenses for the Women 's Fund. If you'd like to be part of this group, which affects women, children and families, call the Foundation's Donor Relations Officer Laura Wyles at 963-1873, ext. 114 or Meredith Scott at 967-1954.
TAKE A BOW
by Karna Hughes, April 18, 2006
(reprinted with permission from
the Santa Barbara News-Press)
The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara recently donated $90,000 to the Parks & Recreation Community Foundation for the proposed Santa Barbara Teen Center at 1235 Chapala St. Funds will be used for furnishings and equipment.
"This gift represents a century of car washes for us," said Jeff Hurley, a member of the Santa Barbara Youth Council.
SANTA BARBARA WOMEN'S FUND SUPPORTS SHARe
Domestic Violence Solutions Newsletter, Spring 2006
The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, a donor-advised fund created in 2004 by local philanthropically minded women, presented DVS with a check for $50,000 at a luncheon in January.
The funds will be used to underwrite the costs of SHARe...the Word, DVS' peer education program. Safe, Healthy, Adolescent Relationships (or SHARe as it is called for short), addresses the issue of teen dating violence through compelling classroom presentations about healthy versus unhealthy relationships.
2005 Articles
DONATIONS HELPED TO CHANGE
FAMILIES' LIVES
by Marilyn McMahon, November 6, 2005
(reprinted with permission from
the Santa Barbara News-Press)
Carrie and Mario Zaragosa and their four children are among the families whose lives have been enriched by the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara.
So are Nicole Lumbattis, Justine McCoy and her 1-year-old son, Christian.
The Zaragosas and Ms. Lumbattis are patients at the Eastside Family Dental Clinic at 923 N. Milpas St.
Ms. McCoy participates in the program for Affordable Transitional Housing and Services program at St. Vincent's.
Because of sizable donations from the Women's Fund, they have benefited from expanded services provided by the two organizations.
For the Zaragosas, who have no insurance, the clinic is a lifesaver.
"After my children receive the treatment they need and my husband has a root canal, I plan to have my teeth cleaned," said Mrs. Zaragosa. "The clinic staff make the visit to the dentist a positive experience for the children, so they are excited about dental hygiene. As a matter of fact, my son Mario likes the dentist so much, he eagerly anticipates his visit every time."
Ms. Lumbattis, a young, single woman with a low income, said the dental clinic has been a "blessing. The clinic has been able to cover much of the costs associated with rebuilding my mouth, my smile and hope."
"I don't know what I would have done if there had been no PATHS program," said Ms. McCoy, a 19-year-old single mother who grew up in Simi Valley.
"I dropped out of high school in 10th grade and am working on my GED now. I'm thinking about becoming an X-ray technician. I've learned so much about parenting, communicating with my child and others, and money management since June when I came to St. Vincent's."
Terra Basche, development director for the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, knew nothing about the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, but when she heard that it had donated $105,000 to the clinic, "It gave me goose bumps. The amount was awesome. It was so perfect because it finished our $1.4 million campaign for the Eastside Family Dental Clinic, which opened Oct. 21, 2004."
Formerly the Carrillo Family Dental Clinic, it was at 923 Laguna St. There was a four-month waiting period for non-emergency service.
"There was one dentist and two operatories (dental chairs and related equipment) in less than 8000 square feet," Ms. Basche said. "In our new clinic, there is a one-month wait and five operatories. We have expanded the client base from serving only children and their caretakers to singles and homeless. We are currently seeing an average of 475 patients per month, or 5,700 per year, which is more than double of that in our previous location."
As St. Vincent's, the $35,000 donation from the Women's Fund is being used to keep three mothers in the PATHS program for one year, according to Sister Alicia Martin, executive director.
"We have 21 mothers and 38 children in the program and it costs us $1,500 a month to fund each one," she explained.
"Each woman pays us $350 a month from her welfare check, and we provide the ancillary services such as case management, weekly classes in parenting, self-esteem, money and anger and stress management. Childcare is also provided. Our goal is to prepare them for certificated programs so they will be able to support themselves and break the cycle of poverty and abuse."
To enter the program, the mothers must make a commitment to change their lives, she added. (Reprinted with Permission of the Santa Barbara News-Press)
Women's Fund of Santa Barbara
On the Town, February 6, 2005
by Lorraine Wilson
(reprinted with permission from
the Santa Barbara News-Press)
It was a thrilling experience for me to attend the inauguration. No, it was not in Washington, D.C., but here in Santa Barbara.
It was the beginning of a new philanthropy run by women with the umbrella support of the Santa Barbara Foundation.
It is simply called the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara.
And how it functions is also simple. Women pledge an annual gift of at least $2,500 and they vote for the charity they would like to see funded that year.
Women can also group together and collect the same amount and have one collective vote.
There are no functions to support, no decorations to plan, only the gift and the vote-and once a year, possibly, a luncheon to disperse the funds. So easy.
Carol Palladini is the leader of a committee of founders of the Women's Fund and said,
"We intend to use all the money collected for the charities. We thank committee member Meredith Scott for providing today's luncheon at the El Paseo, which she and her husband own.
We do not intend to use any of the funds to pay for luncheons. If we have to, we will have tea and crumpets in some member's home."
She challenged the members to a goal for next year of $250,000 and said, "It is doable if each of you renew your pledge and invite one other person to join."
The two charities to receive funds for 2005 were announced: St. Vincent's represented by Sister Alicia Martin, received $35,000 for their work with single mothers.
The funds will be spent on education programs to help the women become independent, said Sister Alicia.
The second recipient was the Neighborhood Clinic' Dental Clinic and David Landecker, executive director, said, "This gift of $105,000 will complete our capital campaign for the Dental Clinic next door to the Eastside Neighborhood Clinic and help those in need. Thank you."
Members at the luncheon (not everyone could make it) in addition to the founders included: Patty Bliss, Jan Baxter, Lynda Fairly, 2nd District County Supervisor Susan Rose, Carole Ackerman, Natalie Myerson, Michele Brustin, Carnzo Clark, Ginni Dreier, Phyllis de Piccioto, Claire Van Blaricum, Dianna Frank, Nancy Edebo, Cindy Lyons, Carole MacElhenny, Sheila McGinity, Ann Pless, Carol Thompson, Maryan Schall, Ann Lawler, Judy MccKee, Maggie Day, Michel Nellis and Jacqueline Caster, who founded an organization in Los Angeles that was used as a model.
Mrs. Palladini gave us all an ideal to remember when she said, "You have not given money to a fund. You have given money to real people."
WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA
Santa Barbara Foundation ADOBE NEWS, Spring 2005
The identities of the first recipients of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara were revealed at a special luncheon on January 31. More than 50 women watched David Landecker of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics receive a check for $105,000. This award completes the organization's campaign to build a dental clinic.
A broken arm did not deter Sister Alicia of St. Vincent's Institution from accepting an award of $35,000, which will be used to help low-income mothers and their children.
For more information on the Women's Fund, please contact Raynette Cornejo at 963-1873 ext 114, or access the Foundation's website: www.sbfoundation.org.
MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT
Women's Fund getting more bang for bucks
The South Coast Beacon, February 10, 2005
By Leslie Dinaberg
Looking for a low-key, high-impact way to tap into the power of collective philanthropy, Carol Palladini was inspired when she read a Los Angeles Times article about the Everychild Foundation. The idea is simple. Take the time, energy and money spent on mounting and attending elaborate fund raisers and write a single check once a year.
The appeal was also simple: "Many women in the Santa Barbara area feel not only a need, but an obligation to be a powerful force for good in our community," Palladini wrote in the invitation letter to the inaugural members of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara.
A few short months after that initial request, the Women's Fund awarded its first donations on Jan. 31, giving $105,000 to the Santa Barbra Neighborhood Clinic's Eastside Family Dental Clinic and $35,000 to two St. Vincent's programs, PATHS (Program of Affordable Transitional Housing and Services) and Casa Alegria, an infant and toddler care facility.
"A group of women had been meeting at the Santa Barbara Foundation to talk about women and philanthropy," explained Palladini. That group eventually evolved into a founding committee that included Palladini, Peri Harcourt, Shirley Ann Hurley, Jean Kaplan, Dale Kern, Joanne Rapp, Elna Scheinfeld, Meredith Scott, Ann Smith, Kay Stern, Marsha Wayne and Fritzie Yamin, as well as Raynette Cornejo, the Santa Barbara Foundation liaison.
Their intention was to take a year to develop the plan for the Women's Fund, "but people started calling and saying "when can we write checks?' which is amazing because usually you have to cajole and pull money out of people," said Palladini.
"All it took was a letter of invitation to 500 women and the money started coming in, " said Palladini.
Each member contributes a minimum of $2,500 per year, which is then deposited in a Donor Advised Fund administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation. At the end of the year, 90 percent of the funs collected are donated to one or more local nonprofit organizations.
"Our umbrella for giving is meeting unmet needs for women, children and families in the greater Santa Barbara area," said Palladini. "The main goal is not to divvy it up in little tidbits, so that the impact of collective women's giving is really felt."
Granting is decided by a simple majority vote of members. Women who wish to ease the cost of dues may form a donor group, which then shares one vote in how the money is spent.
To join, send a check payable to the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, c/o Santa Barbara Foundation, 15 E. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara 93101. For more information, contact Palladini at 565.0342 or e-mail her at carolpall@earthlink.net.
EASTSIDE FAMILY DENTAL CLINIC
Newsletter, April 2005
Carol Palladini, founding Chair of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbra, presents a check to David Landecker for the final $105,000 needed to complete the Eastside Family Dental Clinic Capital Campaign in January 2005. Also pictured is Sister Alicia Martin, Executive Director of St. Vincent's, who also received a generous donation from the Women's Fund.
Together with Direct Relief International and Cottage Hospital, Eastside Family Dental Clinic was able to provide a Free Dental Clinic Min March 2005 for low-income individuals in need. Direct Relief has been a wonderful partner, offering the valuable time and talent of Direct Relief's Domestic Program Officer, Martha Angeles, to assist in organizing the activities of the Dental Education Center.
"The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara was thrilled to give our very first large grant to a project that so completely fits our mission. We desire to collectively have a major impact in addressing unmet needs of women, children and families in our community and are proud to be a part of this wonderful new dental clinic, " said Carol Palladini, Founding Chair.
ONE-INDUSTRY TOWN
The Dish, May 3, 2005
by Martha Smilgis
(reprinted with permission from
the Santa Barbara News-Press)
If Washington, D.C.'s focus is politics and L.A.'s is showbiz, there's a good case to be made that S.B. revolves around fundraising. Rare is it to find a denizen who has not served time on the charity circuit...Now, for those stymied by board burnout, savvy can-do lady Carol Palladini has launched The Women's Fund, a generic, no-frills approach to giving.
Under the watchful eye of the Santa Barbara Foundation, Women's Fund's members write checks ($2,500 per vote) that go directly to projects affecting local women and children (such as dental care). The Women's Fund streamlined approach is for those who want to bypass "queen bee" lunches and galas and opt instead for quick efficient action. (565-0342)...
EVERYCHILD MODEL INSPIRES
SANTA BARBARA GROUP
Everychild Foundation Newsletter, May 2005
When Santa Barbara resident Carol Palladini read about the Everychild Foundation in an article from the Los Angeles Times, she was excited by the possibility of starting a similar group in her area. Palladini contacted the Foundation to learn about the Everychild model in detail.
In the spring of 2004, the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara was launched, with an initial goal of recruiting 40 founding members donating annual dues of $2500 to fund unmet needs benefiting women, children and families in Santa Barbara.
Nine months later, on January 31, 2005, the Women's Fund presented its first two grants, totally $140,000. Coincidentally, the Fund's first grant went to complete a new dental clinic supplying services to the poor and uninsured==much like the first Everychild grant for the QueensCare dental van.
As Founding Committee Chair Carol Palladini comments, "Our 2005 membership invitations will soon go out, and we'll be having some coffees in hopes of gaining many new members and growing our fund to $250,000 this year! The Founding Committee of the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara is so grateful for the wonderful model given us in the work and great success story of the Everychild Foundation."
WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA: Chapter Two
Santa Barbara Foundation Adobe News, Summer 2005
Last year, a core group of concerned and caring women came together to form the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation. The fund was an immediate success: it raised more than $150,000 in a few short months. In January of this year, the group awarded $105,000 to complete the Eastside Family Dental Clinic capital campaign and gave $35,000 to St. Vincent's to help single mothers and their children create stable and successful lives.
Encouraged by this success, Fund organizers are looking to give even more in 2006. They hope to enlist 50 new members and significantly increase the size of the awards. It's easy to participate: write a tax-deductible check for $2,500 or more a year and you will be assured a vote to decide the distribution of funds. You may choose to combine your donation with other women to make the $2,500 contribution. Your group will share one vote. You also have the option of donating $100 or more and receive an invitation to the grant presentation in January.
Membership checks will be accepted until December 15, 2005, but you must join by June 30, 2005 if you wish your charitable interests to be considered by the Women's Fund committee.
If you want to join a dynamic group of compassionate women, please contact Raynette Cornejo, Donor Relations Officer, via email: rcornejo@sbfoundation.org or by phone: 963-1873, ext. 114. You may make your contribution by credit card by calling 963-1873 or going online at www.sbfoundation.org. You can also send a check to Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, c/o Santa Barbara Foundation, 15 East Carrillo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
WOMEN'S FUND
Santa Barbara Foundation, Adobe News Fall 2005
Established in 2003, the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara made its first gifts, totaling $140,000, to two area charities in 2004. Members voted to complete the new Dental Clinic of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and to help the Paths Program of St. Vincent's in its support of single mother families. This year, the excitement has spread and the Fund has already surpassed last year's total, with over $160,000 contributed in just the first half of 2005!
Membership and donations will be accepted until December 15 when a ballot will be sent to all members to choose this year's recipients. The results are kept secret until the Presentation Luncheon, held in January.
Local women appreciate the power of combining contributions to make a larger impact on critical needs in the community. They simply write a single tax deductible check of $2,500 or more once a year. That check joins others to be deposited in a Donor Advised Fund administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation and is given to two to three nonprofits in the greater Santa Barbra area. Women who wish to east the cost of dues may form a membership group. They share the one vote a $2,500 contribution allows. Memberships are on the rise this year, as more women see a powerful way to collectively help women, children and families in our community.
If you would like to know more the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, please contact Tanya Gonzales, Vice President of Development, by phone at 963-1873, ext. 117, or via email at tgonzales@sbfoundation.org. Donations may be made online at www.sbfoundation.org.
COLLECTIVE GIVING: Women's Fund
of Santa Barbara takes a new tack when
it comes to supporting local charities
by Marilyn McMahon, November 6, 2005
(reprinted with permission from the Santa Barbara News-Press
"Been there, done that" might well be the motto for the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, a dynamic group of local women who decided they had had enough of spending their time and energy raising money for local charities.
They were tired of going to endless committee meetings, planning decorations, selling tickets for benefits and working volunteer hours. Carol Palladini is one of them.
An active volunteer with Planned Parenthood and Court Appointed Special Advocates while living in Pasadena, Mrs. Palladini continued her commitment to the two organizations when she moved to Montecito with her husband nine years ago. In March, Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties named her Volunteer of the Year.
"I was heavily involved but getting burned out," she said. "When I read the article in the Los Angeles Times about Jacqueline Castor, it resonated with me. It told how she had "grown tired of traditional benefit dinners that were difficult to sell out, left organizers exhausted and reaped little gain in relation to the effort involved.'"
The article, which appeared three years ago, told how Ms. Castor, a former lawyer and now full-time mother, had found a simple way to help the needy-write out a check for $5,000 once a year and get other women to do the same. When the money was pooled, they could make a significant contribution to one charity. In their case, it was the Everychild Foundation.
"That idea clicked with me," Mrs. Palladini said. "I had to do this."
A core group of six from the Women in Philanthropy group at the Santa Barbara Foundation gathered in January 2004 in the spacious living room of her home in the foothills of Montecito. It was supposed to be an exploratory session to see if the idea was feasible, but soon the women were hammering out basic guidelines.
- Keep it simple-no board of directors, no scheduled meetings, no grant proposals, no fund raising events.
- Raise a lot of money without spending much time and effort.
- Anybody can make a donation, but only women can be voting members.
- To be voting members, a woman must contribute a minimum of #2,500 annually.
- Women wishing to make smaller donations could form a group to collectively make the $2,500 and decide together how their single vote would be cast.
- The focus would be on funding meaningful projects affecting women, children, and families.
- The fund would also focus on educating and inspiring women to become leaders in philanthropy and to demonstrate the impact of collective giving.
In the brief time the fund has been operating, its success has been beyond the founders' wildest imaginations.
"Our goal was to raise $100,000 the first year, but when word got out, we began to get calls from women asking where they could send their money," said Mrs. Palladini with a laugh. "We had $100,000 in several months. There was no cajoling, no convincing. It was not drudgework.
In less than six months, they had a total of $157,000, which they put into a tax-deductible Donor Advised Fund administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
As much as they disdain anything that smacks of organization, the founders decided they needed three committees, which meet sporadically. Mrs. Palladini and Elna Scheinfeld are co-chairwomen of the Oversight Committee, which ensures that the fund is working as intended and monitors the use of funds by recipient organizations.
Nancy Martz is chairwoman of the Research Committee, which accepts suggestions from members and the larger community about potential projects to fund.
"Last year, there was no formal committee to plan the luncheon at which the funds were announced. We all pitched in and made it happen," Mrs. Palladini said. "This year, Fritzie Yamin is the chairwoman.
With their framework in place and money in hand, Ms. Martz and her research committee went into action. The 12 members began by sorting through areas-of-interest cards filed by Women's Fund members.
"Then, we checked with other local foundations such as the Fund for Santa Barbara, Hutton Foundation and First Five to find out who was doing really good work," Ms. Martz said. "We also gathered information anonymously in a variety of ways to narrow our list down to several categories. It was exciting to learn about organizations in town-a real educational process."
Some committee members we so impressed they gave individual donations, according to Ms. Martz. "In fact, we're finding that many of our members are donating individually in addition to the Women's Fund.
Last November, the committee had completed its work and mailed ballots to voting members of the fund. Included were a description of each organization and how the money would be used.
"They told me they agonized over their sections," said Mrs. Palladini.
Chosen as recipients were the Eastside Family Dental Clinic, which needed $105,000 to complete its capital campaign, and St. Vincent's, which was given $35,000 for its Adopt-a-Mom Program for Affordable Transitional Housing and Services.
"It was very exciting to give away $140,00," said Ms. Martz.
"The big impact is important," stressed Mrs. Palladini. "A woman donating sizeable amounts of money makes a real difference in how she things about herself and the organization."
Mum was the word until the honorees would be announced at a luncheon scheduled Jan. 29, 2004-exactly one year from the date of the exploratory meeting==at El Paseo Restaurant. Fund members were kept in the dark, and so were the staff and volunteers at the two nonprofits.
The only people notified were the executive directors of each agency-Sister Alicia Martin of St. Vincent's and David Landecker, then head of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, under which the dental clinic operates. Each was invited to bring a key person from their organization.
"One of the most surprised people at the luncheon was Reilly Pollard, then president of the Neighborhood Clinic board of directors. David hadn't told him about the $105,000 donation because he sad he was told to keep it secret," said Mrs. Palladini.
Although 10 percent of all funds collected are held back for administrative purposes, mailing and outreach costs, none are used for the presentation luncheon, which was underwritten by fund member Meredith Scott and her husband John.
"We will not spend any of the money on feeding our members, and they appreciate that," said Mrs. Palladini, who said that the group's goal for this year is $200,000. "The Women's Fund is an idea whose time has come."
2004 Articles
WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA
Santa Barbara Foundation ADOBE NEWS, Fall 2004
An exciting new concept is germinating in our community: donate a modest sum once a year and have a significant impact on critical needs affecting women, children and families. No fundraising dinners to attend. No roping in your friends. No volunteering required.
A group of women, led by volunteer Carol Palladini, are hard at work on a local Women's Fund that is hoping to donate $100,000 a year to one or more local projects and organizations. The idea is simple. Take the time, energy, and money spent on mounting and attending elaborate fundraisers and write a single check once a year. That check will join others to be deposited in a Donor Advised Fund administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation and donated to one or more nonprofits in Santa Barbara County.
The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara will welcome anyone who wishes to contribute but women will be the only voting members. Each member will contribute $2,500 or more by June 30 each year. Granting will be decided by a simple majority vote of members and recipients will be announced in January of the following year. Individuals who wish to ease the cost of dues may form a donor group. They will, however, share the one vote a $2,500-contribution allows.
Considerable excitement is being generated as the core group of 25 women speak to friends and acquaintances. For those who wish involvement beyond check writing, there is ample opportunity to participate in planning and decision-making on three proposed committees, which will monitor donors and collected funds, research potential grantees, and make the grant presentations.
If you would like to know more about the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, please contact Carol Palladini via e-mail: carolpall@earthlink.net. Want to donate today? Please send your check to Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, c/o Santa Barbara Foundation, 15 East Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.