Our 2011 membership mailing is almost here. The Women's Fund has grown - from 67 members in 2004 to 530 members in 2010 - almost entirely by personal contact.

• Mark your calendar for July 25-28 to come to the Carrillo Adobe (former Santa Barbara Foundation offices at 15 E. Carrillo) between 10am and 4pm to write personal notes on the prospect and renewal letters of women you know. Come any day(s) and times on a drop-in basis. It's fun, too!
  

• If you have a friend who has expressed interest in the Women's Fund, please send her contact information by email to: StinaHansWFSB@aol.com.

One of the many exciting messages in our membership appeal is the fact that we have $100,000 remaining from Betty Elings Wells' 2010 matching grant, so that every dollar donated in 2011 (above $350,000) will be matched 2-for-1, up to $100,000.

Memberships, contributions - even donations to underwrite WF expenses (see below) - all count toward our goal. So tell a friend about the Women's Fund today - this may be just the motivation she needs to become a member!

Don't forget that underwriting donations count in our total to trigger Betty's 2-for-1 match! If you would like to help, please contact us at info@womensfundsb.org.

Here are some underwriting opportunities for our upcoming membership appeal:

• 1,000 letters and pledge cards (printing, paper): $90
• 1,000 mailing envelopes: $310
• 1,000 reply envelopes: $190
• Postage: $714

As you know, generous underwriting last year resulted in NET ZERO expenses so that every dollar donated was part of our grants pool awarded in the spring.

More than 1,500 women, children and families were positively impacted by the programs of five local nonprofit agencies funded by the Women's Fund in 2010.

Click here for a summary of the final reports of our 2009-10 grantees describing the impact of their Women's Fund grants awarded in February 2010.

Each year, we ask our grantees to provide us with two reports - at mid-year and at year-end - describing how our Women's Fund grants are being used. These reports - plus our annual site visit where we tour the facilities of our most recent grantees - are part of our due-diligence to ensure Women's Fund grants are making a difference in our community.