Women of Worth

The following is the presentation Dia Maurer gave to NAWBO-NW on December 10, 2009.

Prior to this economic downturn, the national foundation for women business owners released the results of a survey on the charitable practices of almost 400 prominent american businesswomen. More than half of the women surveyed donate $25,000 or more a year to charity, and 19 percent give $100,000 or more a year. More than half also volunteer their time.

The majority (54 percent) make philanthropic decisions without consulting someone else. Even more (86 percent) cited a charity's mission and efficiency as key factors in their giving decisions. More than half wish to feel an emotional connection to the charities they support, and most of the participants want the organization to keep them informed about its activities.

Women want emotional ties to the charities they support. "studies out of ucla about women philanthropists, which have been going on for nearly a decade, show that women philanthropists as a rule get involved with an organization before they make a gift. Then they will make a large gift and stay involved."

I am so grateful for this opportunity to speak with you tonight because it drove me to do some research – i read about women in history who have founded non-profits.

Women’s emphasis in a historical context was on aiding soldiers and families during war or disasters. In the 1700’s women founded the society for the relief of poor widows wih small children. In the 1800s women founded the ywca and the female moral reform society to aid the poor. Through philanthropy, women engaged socially and shaped public policy. In 1875 sophie smith founded smith college. About the same time, mary elizabeth garret gave a large gift to johns hopkins on condition of opening medical education to women. It was a woman who ‘remembered the alamo’. In 1902, clara driscoll saved the alamo from demolition with her charitable gift.

There is a growing movement by women and for women in the non-profit sector. In 1979, there were 5 foundations formed by, and dedicated to women’s issues. In 2008, there were 140. Think about the heightened education about breast cancer as an example of the power of women to highlight a womens’ issue. That pink ribbon is everywhere!

Women own 1/3 of businesses in the us. Women now control over half of the private wealth in the us & make 80% of all purchases. Women will inherit 70% of $41 trillion in intergenerational wealth transfer in the next 40 years.

A recent study also showed that women in the us give an average of 3.5% of their wealth to charity, while men give an average of 1.8%. My favorite new quote is ‘women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.” And this quote comes from a male.

In 2006, a major phenomenon took place….two sisters decided to get serious with the money they inherited from their father, h.l. Hunt. One sister put up $4m and one put up $6m – and then they got matching gifts to start ‘women moving millions’. The organization’s goal is to improve the lives of girls and women. Members give $1m or more. During this economic crisis, they raised $180m last year (their goal was $150m).

Then there’s the global fund for women – largest grant making organization in the world dedicated to advancing women’s rights internationally – awarded $8.7m in 2009.

Have you been involved in our local women helping women organization? They raised $240,000 last spring.   Since 1993, whw has raised nearly $4m to support programs that help women & children - in spokane – talk about powerful! Transitions is proud to have been chosen to receive funding more than once from this women-driven fund.

To a great degree, the charitable giving by women either through funds like whw or directly, focus on improving the lives and opportunities for girls and women.

Now for some less inspiring news…..individual giving has experienced the steepest one year decline on record. However, the results of the latest whw lunch and transitions’ recent people who care events show that a weak economy does not mean a weak philanthropic sector – especially when women are involved. Though funding is down (in every sector), we find hope in the generosity of people who care.

Non-profits that serve people experienced an average of 12% decrease in funds last year. Non-profits that serve animals declined 5%. Our state has a $2.9b shortfall in the next budget– service providers are very concerned. We see funding decrease as we watch the need grow.

Women tend to be caregivers, we socialize and come together in groups to form community. We nurture and give of ourselves – we tend to build relationships and we give most when we are most engaged. Think of your volunteer work, think of the women you’ve helped achieve education through nawbo.

Women network naturally. Women build coalitions and community. Women share resources gladly. These skills are just as important in the non-profit sector as they are in nawbo.

I couldn’t locate viable estimates on the percentage of women who volunteer, but if you count ‘family’ volunteering, i’ll bet it’s 100%. By ‘family volunteering’ i mean babysitting grandchildren, mentoring younger family members – those no interest loans you make, assisting elderly parents and children without the means to afford a home of their own.

Women serving on committees and board of directors is now ‘normal’….it used to be considered ‘diversity’ if you had women on the board. With transitions, we’re striving for gender diversity by having men on the board!

75% of the non-profit labor force are women (wish these were higher paying positions, but they are emotionally and spiritually very fulfilling). I looked around the room last week while at an annual meeting for affordable housing and saw so many females that lead non-profits in spokane, a partial list includes:

    volunteers of america        habitat for humanity
    arc of spokane                vanessa behan crisis nursery
    common ground            ywca
    spokane housing ventures    community frameworks
    impact capital                interfaith hospitality netwok
Leadership spokane
Spokane low income housing consortium

This is a segment of our society where women are often selected as leaders. The causes women support are as varied as we are – from emily’s list for politics to micro-enterprise for economic development.

Did you know that - in spokane - families with a female head of household with children under the age of five have a poverty rate of 47.5%. Nearly half of all women in this category live in poverty. Nationally, 50% of women with children who are homeless cite domestic violence as a factor.

So while women are a major force (and growing) in philanthropy, many women stand in need of philanthropy.

Last month, i was at a presentation on health issues – put on by nawbo - and the woman speaking shared that earlier in her life she had a child out of wedlock and for a time, she was homeless. This woman is now a physician at rockwood clinic.

I don’t have to encourage you to become involved and to volunteer…you know your valuable time, talent and treasure can be used to better someone else’s life and you already support each other! But if you find yourself with extra time, energy or resources, transitions would be honored to partner with you to make a lasting difference in women and children’s lives.

This board should help me show you the structure of transitions. We are the ‘umbrella’ organization for four different programs serving homeless and low income women and children in spokane.

These programs were started in the 1980’s and early 90’s by women - different groups of catholic sisters who identified gaps in services for women and children here in spokane. We are sponsored today by the dominican sisters, the sisters of providence, the sisters of the holy names and the sisters of st. Francis of philadelphia.

In 1995, these astute women decided that the mission and values of each of the programs were the same, and they could be more effective by combining into one organization – one e.d., one finance mgr., one development dir. Next year we’ll celebrate 15 years of this structure called transitions.

I want to tell you a story today.

Story of susan (name changed, circumstances a collection of stories i’ve heard)
Child of alcoholics, negligent situation at home & little support. Susan was abused by an older family member.
Began drinking at a young age, moved on to drugs
Became pregnant, got married, turned out to be an abusive relationship
Had the baby, tried to make the marriage work – it didn’t
Wound up separated, broke and went back to using
Susan was now 23, a single mother and homeless
In order to provide a roof over their heads, she moved in with some shady folks & began selling drugs to support her habit & buy diapers.
She was arrested, the baby was taken away, and susan was sent to jail for a short time.
Upon release, she had no place to go & nobody to help her stay clean & sober.
She began using again, but even that didn’t dull the pain.
She came to the women’s hearth – one of >100 women per day. She found some food, some fellowship, and over 90 classes per month – all free. She attended 12 step program meetings and was referred to treatment. She stopped using.
At the hearth – there was healing art (writing, music, knitting)
Showers & hygeine products
Friendship & non-judgmental support
Susan received referrals to other resources – legal direction to get divorced & begin the process to get custody of her child.
Susan applied for & eventually was accepted to miryam’s house where 10 single women live with intensive counseling and 24 / 7 staffing
Life skills classes
And she creates ‘a plan’ - school, work, recovery
After a year of hard work, susan regains custody of her child
She moves to transitional living center
16 units, more independent living
Parenting classes weekly
Group sessions weekly / recovery support
Must be going to school or working
Her child receives care at educare –on-site daycare
For children who need special assistance for ‘attachment / bonding disorder’. Homeless children have experienced trauma that should be addressed to provide future succes.
Susan completes school in the 2 years at tlc
Her child becomes emotionally healthier
She finds work & obtains a voucher for affordable housing assistance
Susan has stabilized her life & that of her child
She is working toward total independence
Susan could be someone you know….someone you care about…..and she is definitely a child of God.

What transitions is up to these days….

We are serving women coming from incarceration, providing renter responsibility training and transitional housing, in partnership with goodwill job assessment & training and voa for housing location assistance for affordable rentals for people with a criminal background. Our goal is to help women launch successful lives, free from the courts.

A new service at the women’s hearth is the recuperative care room – a place where a few women can rest for a few hours in a safe place during the daytime. A couple years ago we had a frequent participant that came in with a cane, then a walker. She was soon to have a wheelchair. She was approved for a hip replacement and was thrilled! The problem was, she didn’t qualify for rehabilitation, so she was released from the hospital to her sro – with no help.

The new leaf bakery café job training program is our latest endeavor – it is a ‘start up’. Think of them when you need ‘food to go’. This program provides 6 months of training in the food service industry and helps to remove barriers to employment. Our graduates have gone on to culinary arts school, jobs, & other education. One woman was hired by transitions to manage our kiosk at catholic charities office building at 5th & division.

Sometimes, people ask what we need & i would be remiss if i didn’t speak to that

Women at tlc and miryam’s pay 1/3 of their income for their housing….an average of $85 per month. We need money for staff – that’s our largest budget item – paying women to help women.

We also need volunteer dentists to help women overcome the shame of their toothless smiles….from dv or meth

I know that most of us are juggling and struggling with the commitments of business, family, community and have very small amounts of time for ourselves. The idea of increasing our level of service seems overwelming. To speak to that pressure we feel to give more time, talent & treasure, i want to close with a quote from someone who has inspired philanthropic service in tens of thousands of us around the world.

This individual wanted each of us to remember that it wasn’t the size of our gifts and contributions but the joy we are capable of receiving from our gifts of money and time.

This individual said, and i’m quoting –
“small things with great love,
It is not how much we give,
But the how much love we put into the giving.

It is not how much we do
But how much love we put into the doing.
To God there’s nothing small.”

The individual who said this is of course, mother theresa, one of the most powerful philanthropic women of our age – and she didn’t have a dime.

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Contact info: dia maurer, transitions 1002 n superior, spokane wa 99202, 328-6702, dmaurer@help4women.org, website www.help4women.org