Women's Fund November Monthly Update
Welcome to the monthly e-update of the Women's Fund of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation.  Yes, we're sending this QUICKLY before November ends ... and it will soon be time for the December e-Bulletin!

• Do You Have "30/30 Vision"?
  Pat Jorgenson, fund raising manager for the Women's Fund, would like to connect with individuals interested in participating in the "30/30 Vision" project.  We are looking for 30 people who would give $1,000 each toward the Women's Fund Endowment.  That $30,000 total will bring us to the half-million dollar milestone, halfway toward our ultimate goal of building a million-dollar endowment to improve lives in our communities!  If you are interested in more information about 30/30 Vision, contact Pat Jorgenson by calling (701) 234-0756 or via e-mail at womensfund@areafoundation.org.
• 2010:  Celebrating 10 Years of Changing Lives!
  Did you know that the year 2010 will mark both the 10th anniversary of the Women's Fund and the 50th anniversary of the F-M Area Foundation?  We are planning some very special events in 2010 to celebrate our successes and continue to build for the future.  Watch for opportunities to celebrate with both FMAF and the Women's Fund in the new year!
• Women's Fund Announces Grants
  This fall, the Women's Fund's grants committee awarded $11,186 in grants to programs in our three focus areas:  economic well-being of women and girls, children in need of care, and women in leadership.  After consideration of the 21 applications from local agencies and organizations, the committee recommended eight for grants approved by the F-M Area Foundation:

              - Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley - $1,000 for SMART Girls project promoting positive values and
              behaviors and positive peer pressure among girls in a critical time of adolescence
              - CHARISM - $686 for Living, Learning & Leading program, which trains staff to reinforce literacy and build positive
              social skills for New American and low-income children
              - Child Care Resource & Referral - $2,000 for North Dakota Quailty Rating & Improvement System Pilot to guide and
              support early care and education programs and equip families to make informed decisions
              - Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity - $2,000 for Women Build, which promotes women in construction while
              addressing housing needs
              - Legal Services of Northwestern Minnesota - $3,000 for Women's Income Initiative (WIN) to expand income and
              benefits available to low-income women and female heads of households
              - Tri-College University - $500 for NEW Leadership Development Institute to encourage civic participation and
              provide leadership training for women
              - Village Family Service Center - $1,000 for Nokomis Scholarship Program, providing funds to support families with
              households headed by single mothers and/or women pursuing secondary education
              - YWCA Cass-Clay - $1,000 for Shelter Children's Services to support homeless women with children in need of
              early childhood education and child care while residing in the shelter

              It is thanks to your gifts and support that we are already able to make grants annually to benefit women and
              children!

• Benson to Chair Programs Committee
  We're happy to announce that Gail Benson of Trollwood Performing Arts School/Future Builders has agreed to chair our programs committee, encompassing the subcommittees of "Habits of the Heart" and "35 Under 35." Our collaboration in the "35 Under 35" young women's leadership program is in its second year and is well underway, thanks to subcommittee members Karen Skjold and Janet Drechsel. Gail's presence as programs chair should go a long way toward repackaging and jump-starting "Habits," our longstanding program that teaches young women about philanthropic giving. Watch for more information about that in the coming months!

             Our Women's Fund Leadership Board now comprises these officers and committee chairs: Becky Bakke and
             Karen Stensrud, co-chairs; Stacey Griggs, past chair/secretary; Sheri Gronhovd Schrock, finance; Jill Wilkey,
             member at large; Debbie Coston, fund-raising events; Gail Benson, programs; Janet Drechsel, research;
             Catherine Black, publicity; Lisa Schwinden, grants; and Harriette McCaul, donor relations. Steve Guerber and
             Cher Hersrud are liaisons from the F-M Area Foundation staff, and Sandy Korbel is the F-M Area Foundation
             board liaison. Thank you!

• Help Us Build Our List!
  Please feel free to pass this on to other friends of the Women's Fund - and if there are people you want to make sure we have on our e-mail list to receive this e-update, send us their names and e-mail addresses! Thank you!

The mission of the Women's Fund of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation is to improve and impact the quality of life for all people by enriching the lives of women and girls in the Fargo-Moorhead area communities. We continue to build our endowment fund, with the goal of raising $1 million or more to be able to support programs "now and forever" that benefit women and girls. If you would like to make an additional donation to the Women's Fund, visit the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation's Giving On Line page. Thank you for your past gifts of time, talent and money and for continuing to be our "ambassadors" in the community for the Women's Fund!

Becky Bakke & Karen Stensrud
2009 Women's Fund Co-Chairs