This week all 2010 Women's Fund voting members will receive a ballot package describing the 10 nonprofit agencies that are candidates to receive 2010-11 Women's Fund grants. Thanks to your support and a generous matching grant from Betty Elings Wells, we have $565,000 to grant to worthy agencies this year.

Agencies that receive the most votes will receive grants announced at our exciting Presentation of Funds Luncheon at the Doubletree on Monday, May 2. Members who contributed $250 or more during 2010 will be sent a luncheon invitation in April.

. . .we hope you will get your Group together to discuss the ballot and finalize your Group's vote. To further enhance your group's discussion of the ballot issues, we suggest you visit the new section of the website detailed below.

As in past years, all members will receive ballot packages for review but only 2010 individual members and group captains will have official ballots for voting.

The deadline to return completed ballots to the Santa Barbara Foundation is 5 pm on April 8.

You will soon be receiving your ballot package in the mail. This year the Research Committee is providing additional information on our website that may help in your voting.  Following the link below you will be directed to to a section of our site which has:

• Explanation of the Committee's research process
• Overview of the issues surrounding this year's Areas of Community Need
• Links to additional resource materials.

. . .for underwriting the production and distribution of our ballot package. With more than 500 members, it's a big and complicated job and we couldn't do it without them!