Submitted by the San Juan Island Community Foundation

In October, six proposals were selected by Women’s Fund members to share $8,000 of grant funds. The San Juan Island Women’s Fund is a pooled donor-advised fund of the San Juan Island Community Foundation. For nearly 15 years, more than 100 local women have pooled their annual membership fee of $100 or more to fund local non-profit projects. The projects include: Family Umbrella Group (preschool scholarships), San Juan Island Family Resource Center (special needs parent support group, kindergarten kickoff event and Spanish language for human services professionals), San Juan Island Library (English language learning) and Island Stage Left (equipment replacement).

Founded in 2003, the San Juan Island Women’s Fund’s mission is to educate and expand the pool of local women engaged in philanthropy, combine and build resources to make a significant impact in our community and increase awareness of important issues facing San Juan Island non-profit organizations. To date, the Women’s Fund has donated $217,000 to more than 40 local nonprofits.

Women’s Funds have been established all over the country to engage women in the power of collective giving. To make an impact through local collective grant-making, consider joining. Sign up at sjiwomensfund.org or call Carrie Unpingco at the Community Foundation at 360-378-1001. For more information about the Women’s Fund, contact Amy Saxe-Eyler, at amysaxe@me.com or 360-317-8120.