A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT

DEAR FRIENDS,

Women’s Fund is celebrating 25 years! It doesn’t seem that long ago that we hosted our 10th Anniversary event at the Convention Center where we celebrated the bold vision of our founder, Dr. Diane B. Brashear, as well as The Indianapolis Foundation and CICF for believing in the interesting notion of a fund concentrated on improving conditions for women and girls. Now, upon our 25th Anniversary, we have become a formidable force for change and are well-regarded for our community leadership. Nearly 200 Advisory Board members have dedicated their time, talent and treasure over the last 25 years to make central Indiana a place where all women and girls can thrive.

Our mission has always focused on creating options and opportunities for women and girls, with a strong emphasis on the path from poverty, to economic stability, to economic security. We have always aimed to ensure our funding reaches those who are ignored, silenced, and unappreciated. Over the last several years, Women’s Fund has joined our colleagues at CICF on a learning journey regarding the history of racism and the systemic barriers – both laws and norms – that prevent true and equitable access to opportunity. We realized we could do better, so with that, we joined CICF in their commitment to eliminate systemic racism in our community over the next two generations. We adapted our Mission Statement to align with CICF’s to be very clear about our commitment.

OUR MISSION:

WOMEN’S FUND OF CENTRAL INDIANA MOBILIZES PEOPLE, IDEAS AND INVESTMENTS SO EVERY WOMAN AND GIRL IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS AN EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH HER FULL POTENTIAL – NO MATTER PLACE, RACE OR IDENTITY.

This mission is our guidepost, and we endeavor to always refer to this when we make decisions. And, when we make a mistake, we want to be called in so we can learn, attempt to make reparations and then honor those who were hurt by our mistake by not doing it again.

OUR PEOPLE

We have always centered diversity in our decision-making, as it is critical to engage and listen to many different voices in creating strategy and making decisions. We know one person is a token, two is company and three change the conversation. By having diversity in our leadership and decision-making bodies, the conversation is changed, inherent bias is chipped away, and we begin moving towards cultural competencies and equity. Our Board leadership and committees are all co-chaired by at least one woman of color, all of our committees are at least 50% women of color. Beginning in 2022, we will have our first Black Board Chair and membership that is 50% people of color.

OUR FUNDING

We have a strong commitment to ensuring our funding is having a significant impact on helping every woman and girl reach her full potential no matter her place, race, or identity. Over the past 25 years, we have accomplished the following:

  • 467 grants, totaling almost $9 million to 117 different organizations

  • 1999 – our first grants – $5,000 surprise unrestricted grants to 11 key women and girl serving organizations

  • 1999 – $15,000 to Dress for Success Indianapolis to help launch the organization

  • 2007 – $337,785 to help ten organizations enhance their long-term sustainability

  • 2010 – 5-year, $500,000 grant to Grameen America to help launch a local branch to provide micro-loans to women experiencing poverty

  • 2019 – 3-year, $750,000 grant to Asante Children’s Theatre to enhance girls and their mental wellness resiliency

  • 2020 – 40 grants totaling $311,390 to address the disproportionate impact COVID-19 had on women, girls and the organizations that serve them

I appreciate all the donors who have supported Women’s Fund, whether your first gift was last week or 25 years ago. Every gift, of every size, made a positive difference for women and girls in our community. And, because we are primarily endowment based, those contributions will live forever so we can always be responsive to the changing needs of women and girls in our community.

Thank you for believing in Women’s Fund. I am truly grateful for each of you.

Kindest regards,

Jennifer Pope Baker
President
Women’s Fund of Central Indiana