As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara can be grateful that we have had a fifth straight year of growth. If you have not sent in your renewal or pledge, please do so now as we are trying to "wind up" by December 1 to receive matching funds from from the Orfalea Fund and to determine amounts for the agencies on the ballot. The Research Committee is finalizing the ballot now. The first article below written by Sarah DeTagyos gives a snapshot of the Women's Fund research process. Ballots for voting will be sent to members on December 26, so be on the lookout! (There will be no newsletter in December.)

The Women's Fund received the Light of Hope Award from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the children they serve at their recent Forgotten Children event. The inscription reads: "We appreciate your vision, patience, and generosity for our casa at CASA." In 2006, the Women's Fund granted $180,000 for CASA's new headquarters, which are now completed. CASA is keeping their "Forgotten Children" signs through the holidays and placing them in local businesses and stores to augment CASA's annual appeal. If you have a location for a forgotten child sign, please call or e-mail Maria Long: 879-1773 or maria@sbcasa.org.

Girls Inc. is seeking adult women to mentor 7th and 8th grade girls. The Women’s Fund in 2007 gave $55,000 to Girls Inc. for this new teen mentoring program. If you can be a mentor, contact Gina Gonzales-Carbajal, 963-4757.

During the recent Tea Fire, the Family Service Agency's 211 Helpline was praised in helping communication during the intense situation when the 911 emergency was overtapped. The second article below relates a more typical situation for the 211 Helpline. The Women's Fund in 2007 gave $75,000 in gap funding to keep this vital communication service going.

From an article Americans Still Giving, Despite Economic Meltdown (AP 11/21/08): “At a time when people have things and they know that other people don’t, Americans’ generosity wins out.” This has been true of our Women's Fund members this year. Thank you.

Happy Holidays,
Jo Gifford, 2008 Oversight Co-Chair

• Do our own thorough research;
• Make grants large enough to really help women, children, and families;
• Have Fund members be the decision makers;
• Give away all the money collected annually.
  

• Presentation of Funds Luncheon (Feb): Members suggest nonprofits to be researched by the voluntary Research Committee.
• Membership Mailing (April-May): Renewing and new members vote for issues to help direct the Research Committee’s focus and to suggest nonprofits to be researched.
• Community Panel (April-May): Using member input and expertise of community leaders, the Research Committee selects the issues and nonprofits to research based on critical needs for the current year.
• Research Reports (June-Nov): Research Committee members each investigate one or two agencies in depth. Written reports are drafted, which include program goals, audiences served, collaboration and outreach methods, measurements and results, financial reports and other important information. Researchers also do site visits to agencies being considered. Completed research reports are shared with committee members and highlighted in presentations made by researchers at each committee meeting.
• Ballot Preparation (Dec.): The Research Committee proposes a ballot of agencies/programs based on much discussion and analysis of the research – all within the context of the most critical community needs for the current year.
• Voting (Jan.): The ballot is mailed to members who vote on the agencies/programs they want to see funded. Each individual member and each group get one vote.
• Presentation of Funds Luncheon (Jan-Feb): Members learn which of the well-researched agencies on the ballot received the most votes and celebrate the distribution of awards to the deserving recipients.