We Hear You | 2016 Survey Results

Thanks to the 318 Women’s Fund members who responded to our May survey. (That’s an amazing 48% response rate!) Results from the survey will guide the Steering and Research Committees in the year ahead.

A detailed report of the survey results can be found on our website, but here is a summary of what you told us:

• Education is the top priority followed by Early Childhood Services. Mental Health and Domestic Violence came in as issues #3 and #4.
   
• You identified 92 agencies that deserve attention from the Research Committee. Almost all of the agencies are already on the Women’s Fund master research list. Three agencies that aren’t on the list and are within the Women’s Fund mission have been added.
   
• When asked about the size of Women’s Fund grants, 60% said size of grants is less important than the compelling nature of the programs and projects.
   
• Two-thirds prefer the Women’s Fund newsletter (over meetings with speakers) as a way to learn about relevant topics like local needs and trends in the nonprofit sector.
   
• Weekday afternoons are the most popular time to schedule Women’s Fund gatherings—like the Presentation of Grants event in the spring.

Thanks again to all who took the time to provide input. We value it. And we’re taking action!

An in-depth report about the May survey is available on our website. If you have any comments or questions, please contact the Research Co-Chairs.

Our 2016-17 Research Committee is at Work

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Pictured above (left to right): Ann Lippincott, Mary Genis, Sandy Schoolfield, Linda Maron, Catherine Grabowski, Irene Stone, Christine Lyon, Mary Stern, Ginger Langan, Sabina White, Jane Gutman, Michele Saltoun, Carolyn Jabs. Not pictured: Jacki Belt and Chris Levine.

Ten returning and five new members make up the 2016-17 Research Committee. They are already hard at work reviewing local agencies that could be candidates for the Women’s Fund ballot next spring because they address the needs identified by the Member survey.

After reviewing findings from the May survey, the Research Committee established five subgroups to explore these areas: Education, Early Childhood Services, Family Services, Mental & Physical Health and Domestic Violence.

During the summer the Research Committee will conduct exploratory research to identify agencies which address these needs. In the fall, they begin in-depth research that includes phone calls, in person interviews and site visits to see some of the programs in action. This is just the beginning of the year-long process that will culminate in the ballot that will be presented to our members next spring. Read more about the research process on the website.

If you have any questions or are interested in serving on the Research Committee in 2017, please contact co-chairs Mary Genis and Irene Stone.

News from our 2015-16 Grantees

Read about our grantees in the news:

• LuAnn Miller of Isla Vista Youth Projects was interviewed by Cynder Sinclair on TVSB, 805 Focus. Watch the interview.
• Thanks to the Women's Fund grant to TRADART, students at Santa Barbara High School received a lumber delivery for its inaugural Tiny Houses program. Read more.