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Who ARE these women? Researchers!
Where do you think you’ll find this impressive group of women? An anthropologist, pediatric nurse, clinical psychologist, CEO, CFO, human resources manager, lawyer (3), editor/writer (2), Peace Corps volunteer, pharmacist, professional singer and educator (3).
At a Women’s Fund Research Committee meeting, that’s where! The new 2018-19 research team is in place with six returning and seven new researchers, led by co-chairs Maureen Ellenberger and Sandy Schoolfield. Research Secretary Carolyn Jabs rounds out the committee—16 remarkable women in total.
To get to know them better, view their individual photographs and biographies.
This photo of last year’s and this year’s Research Committees was taken in May at the Presentation of Grants. (Pictured from left to right) Front row: Michelle Saltoun, Sandy Schoolfield, Mary Genis, Patricia Gregory, Ginger Langan. Second row: Ann Lippincott, Sandy Lin, Cathleen Grabowski, Maureen Ellenberger, Carolyn Jabs, Kim Holmquist, Melinda Staveley, Irene Stone, and Sabina White. Not pictured: Mikki Andina, Valerie Grace, Laura Lashever, Christine Lyon, Robin Masson, Revae Moran, Janis Salin and Lori Tremer-Huey.
The Research Committee is already hard at work reviewing prospective local agencies for consideration for the Women's Fund ballot next spring. The Committee expects to review at least 35 agencies and programs in depth, before substantially narrowing the list for the members' ballot in March 2019.
If you have any questions about the process or are interested in serving on the Research Committee starting in May 2019, please contact the Research Co-Chairs, Maureen Ellenberger and Sandy Schoolfield.
Research Survey Results
Many thanks to the 353 Women’s Fund members who responded to our June survey asking for the community issues you think are most important for the Women’s Fund to consider. (That’s a 39% response rate!) Results from the survey will guide the Research Committee in the year ahead.
A detailed report of the survey results will be on our website soon, but here is a summary of what respondents told us:
- The four top priorities are: Mental Health, Housing Assistance and Homelessness, Domestic Violence and Abuse and Early Childhood Development.
- There were 105 agencies identified for the Research Committee to consider. Almost all of the agencies are already on the Women’s Fund master research list; 17 agencies that aren’t on the list and are within the Women’s Fund mission have been added.
- 69% said that you understand our research process that is used to develop the ballot each year.
Thanks again to all who took the time to provide input. We value it!
Thank you: Lama Dog
A big thank you to Pete Burnham of Lama Dog, who generously donated 10% of sales of the popular lager tap #17 to the Women's Fund during May and June.
He just sent a check for $1,818 to support our 2018 Site Visit Kick-Off on September 24.
If you stop by Lama Dog, please be sure to thank him!
Grantee Corner: Raising the Roof
The Women's Fund is literally raising the roof for kids in Carpinteria. Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Women's Fund, the kids of United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County's Carpinteria Club will be given shelter from the storm.
In just over six weeks, work is finished on rebuilding and repairing the roof which had suffered significant damage due to heavy rains in early 2017, causing flooding of three key programming rooms. It was only a matter of time before the problem came back. There was significant dry rot and water damage to the more than 40-year old flat roof.
The work done by Action Roofing was not only repairing and replacing parts of the roof but also "pitching" the roof in key areas to keep water from pooling ever again. Even some club kids have been hard at work on the project.
Women’s Fund members will soon get to see the impact this grant has had by visiting the Carpinteria Club during our fall Site Visit season.
Ask Melissa
Melissa Gough, our Finance Chair, has been getting questions from our members about the 2018 tax law as it relates to charitable contributions. Here are her answers to two frequently asked questions:
1. Can I still take a tax deduction for my Women’s Fund contribution in 2018?
The short answer is yes if you itemize your deductions on your 2018 tax return. As always, this question should be discussed with your tax advisor, but here are the basics:
If your total itemized deductions are higher than the new doubled standard deduction for 2018, then yes, your contribution would be deductible. Cash is generally deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), and gifts of appreciated stocks or bonds held at least one year are generally deductible at fair market value up to 30% of your AGI. In addition, donating appreciated securities avoids all capital gains taxes, regardless of whether or not you itemize.
2. Can I make a tax-free transfer from my IRA to the Women’s Fund?
The answer is yes, even if you don't itemize, since this provision did not change with the 2018 tax law. The key is to transfer the funds or securities directly to the Women’s Fund, rather than withdrawing the funds then writing a check to the Women’s Fund. An individual may continue to donate all or part of the annual required minimum distribution (RMD) if over 70 ½ years old, up to $100,000 each year. The donations from an IRA are NOT tax deductible (they never were). However, the donation reduces the amount of the RMD that is taxable as ordinary income. There also could be a side benefit of reducing or eliminating “high-income” Medicare premium surcharges.
If you have other questions, please feel free to email Melissa.
Membership Corner
Four dozen women enjoyed Lalla Brutoco’s hospitality under her garden tent as we honored our Individual Members at a reception on July 11. In addition to hearing about our results and strategies, attendees provided thoughtful ideas to address some of our challenges—like developing new leaders, attracting younger members and offsetting our rising expenses resulting from our successful growth. Special thanks to Lalla for hosting and to Mission Wealth for underwriting this reception.
NEW MEMBERS
We have a goal of attracting 120 new members in 2018 and we are half-way there! Welcome to our newest 2018 members (since May): Jane Byman, Mary Ann Campbell, Maggy Cara, Cathy Cash, Linda Doll, Sue Fridley, Jane Giles, Janet Healy, Esther McKinley, Christine McNamara, Suzanne Mellicamp, Karen Mims, Amelia Mullaney, Carrie Mullen, Susan Neuman, Nancy Nielsen, Joyce Pettit, Lida Souza, Caroline Thompson and Connie Wernet.
Our new 2018 members have been invited to a welcoming and informative Women’s Fund reception on August 9 at Garden Court on De La Vina (past Women’s Fund grantee). Prospective members have also been invited. If you have someone interested in the Women’s Fund and you would like her to attend on August 9, please contact membership@womensfundsb.org.
- It helps the Research Committee size the next grants pool.
- It helps the Membership Committee avoid the year-end crunch (and you from getting renewal reminders!)
- We earn interest on our dollars throughout the year.
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