She Gave - A Women's Giving Circle
A fund dedicated to engaging women of all generations in the power of community philanthropy.
We invite you to join a diverse group of community-minded women who want to improve and enrich the lives of women and girls in Macon County. Our mission is to invest in the economic self-sufficiency of women and opportunities for girls in our community. We know that women and girls have what it takes to lead us all to a brighter future when given the resources to do so. Become a part of this extraordinary group today - the larger our circle grows, the greater the impact on our community.
The She Gave Women's Giving Circle brings together women with common interests to learn about community issues and effective philanthropy. Members of the She Said Women's Giving Circle will pool their donations and decide together to make grants that have an impact on local issues.
Members make a minimum annual contribution (or contribute a $5,000 lifetime donation) to the She Gave Women's Giving Circle. Your investment also entitles you to invitations to She Gave VIP activities and events and to cast a vote at an annual meeting to decide how the circle’s pooled funds should be granted to local organizations.
The She Gave Women's Giving Circle Fund is an endowed fund under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Macon County (CFMC). The CFMC provides She Gave with fund management and administration support, $50 of annual dues support administrative costs, marketing and events for the giving circle. Additionally, annually 1% of the fund balance affords She Gave with professional investment management.
An endowment is a permanent fund established where the principal remains intact and a specific percentage is distributed annually. The She Gave fund will have a 5% annual distribution to fund grants. However, in April 2024, the She Gave Women's Giving Circle will be awarding a minimum of $20,000 in area grants following a generous lead gift from the Ann Haab estate.
What She Gave Membership Means
Members of the She Gave Women's Giving Circle:
- Collaborate and network with a diverse group of generous women who value improving opportunities for women and girls in Macon County.
- Learn about community issues and effective philanthropy.
- Share the joy of giving - together!
- Attend funding luncheons, hear from local nonprofit organizations, decide together issues to support, review grant applications and make funding decisions together.
- Receive complimentary attendance to annual membership luncheon, annual funding luncheon, VIP After Party for That's What She Said, and an annual wine and cheese holiday party.
Reasons to Join:
- Make new friends
- Be more equitable in your giving
- Build or share power
- Build your network
- Make systemic change for a specific issues you care about
- Learn more about your community and the field of philanthropy
Join
Membership is open to any woman who desires to further the mission and goal of the She Gave Women's Giving Circle through financial support.
The She Gave Women's Giving Circle is pleased to offer three levels of members.
- Membership for women age 40 and over: $500 per year (may be paid in two installments $300, $200)
- Membership for women age 39 and under: $250 per year (may be paid in two installments $150, $100)
- Lifetime membership: $5,000 (may be paid in two installments $2,500, $2,500)
New members can "join" and existing members can "renew" at any time during the calendar year. Membership donations must be made in full by November 30th annually. Membership is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
We offer three different payment options: online via credit card, mail a check or CFMC Donor Advised Fund (DAF) transfer.
To pay online: Access this link to join, enter your donation amount and in the additional notes box, please enter your birthday and if you're paying in two installments, and then select add to cart and follow instructions to check out.
To pay via check: Print the invoice and complete the information.
Make the check payable to: The Community Foundation of Macon County
In the purpose section insert: She Gave Women's Giving Circle
Mail the check and invoice to: The Community Foundation of Macon County, 101 South Main, Suite 400, Decatur, IL 62523
To pay via CFMC Donor Advised Fund (DAF):
Login to your donor advised fund (DAF)account.
Select the following for an internal grant: She Gave Women's Giving Circle
Then indicate the amount of your donation.
Or, contact a member of the CFMC staff to transfer your donation.
Upcoming Events
- October TBD, Advisory Board Meeting at TBD
- December TBD Holiday wine & hors d'oeuvres party at TBD
- February 17, Voting for Funding Luncheon at Richland Community College
- April 6, VIP party at the Decatur Club following That's What She Said Event (must purchase individual ticket to the event at the Lincoln Theater).
- September 28, Raise the Bar Annual membership luncheon at Richland Community College
- December TBD Holiday wine & hors d'oeuvres party at TBD
Other opportunities to participate in social, networking, volunteer, educational and grant funding events.
2023-2024 Advisory Board and Membership List
The She Gave Women's Giving Circle has an advisory board composed of 13 female community members.
Our 2023-2024 advisory board members are philanthropists, leaders, community builders, advocates, and communicators - and a resource for our donors and nonprofit partners working to improve the lives of women and girls in Macon County.
- Susan Avery
- Natalie Beck, CFMC staff liaison
- Jamie Brunner
- Molly Strader Fruit
- Shani Goss
- Ashley Grayned
- Johnette Mitchell
- Dr. Juanita Morris
- Jill Reedy
- Melanie Schelling
- McKenzie Sloan
- Abby Svoboda
- Betsy Tanner
All advisory board members must be current in their financial commitment (annual donation) to She Gave.
Advisory board member terms will be for three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Former advisory board members shall be eligible to be re-elected to the advisory board after a one-year hiatus.
Officers of the advisory board shall consist of a chair (or co-chairs) and vice chair (or co-vice chairs) to be elected for a two-year term at the board's October 2023 meeting.
Once the giving circle has completed its first two years, advisory board officers will be elected at the annual membership meeting.
Once the giving circle has completed three years, new advisory board members and those standing for a second term shall be elected by a majority of the membership in attendance at the annual meeting.
- Promote the She Gave giving circle
- Make annual contribution
- Plan for the future
- Review rules and procedures
- Establish grantmaking priorities and strategies
- Make grant recommendations
- Monitor grants and evaluate past grants
- Keep informed on issues pertinent to the women's fund and women and girls in our community
We're grateful to the following women who have joined the She Gave Women's Giving Circle and make a difference in the lives of so many (membership list as of September 19):
- Susan Avery*
- Missy Batman
- Natalie Beck*
- Jamie Bruner
- Chasity Casey
- Laura Cornille-Cannady
- Linda Doom
- Molly Strader-Fruit*
- Shani Goss
- Ashley Grayned
- Amber Hooker
- Linda Huck
- Becky Lutt*
- Johnette Mitchell
- Rachel Moran
- Dr. Juanita Morris*
- Jamie Muscato
- Dr. Dana Ray
- Jill Reedy
- Tina M. German-Roberts
- Melanie Schelling*
- Marie Shaffer
- McKenzie Sloan
- Abby Svoboda
- Betsy Tanner
- Sheryol Threewit
- Katie Warnick
- Desiree Wright
- Stacey Young
Honorarium Membership: Ann Haab (1937-2023)
*Denotes lifetime membership
Nominate a nonprofit/church/school for grant consideration
All current members of the She Gave Women's Giving Circle fund are eligible to nominate a charity for funding consideration.
- Nominee must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, school, government agency or church serving Macon County, IL.
- Projects or programs must strengthen women and girls in our region, improve their lives or fuel growth or change.
- Operating grants may be considered for organizational transitions or to build capacity.
- Any project, activity or event that will be completed before the grant is awarded.
- More than two grants per year to any given organization.
- Organizations that practice any form of discrimination.
- Pollical activities or organizations.
Nomination form will open in December.