Local women FLIP over new fund-raising initiative

When the United Way of the Ozarks decided to put the word out this year about a new initiative for women, those involved with the effort were amazed at the response.

The idea for Female Leaders in Philanthropy, the Women's Initiative of the United Way of the Ozarks, had been tossed around for three years before the program began this year, according to Women's Initiative chair Sally Hargis.

During that time, United Way staff and committee members had been gathering information from other United Way agencies around the country and the Women's Philanthropy Initiative.

"There are a few United Ways that are working with women, and we felt like we needed a different way to do that because women give differently and just (give) to really fill the need," said United Way of the Ozarks vice president Nancy Fazzino. That, plus the fact that Roseanne Bentley is chair of the United Way's campaign this year, led those behind the effort to decide that this was a good time to expose the community to the idea, Hargis said.

FLIP is designed "to help women better understand their power and influence in humanitarianism and altruism, and to realize their potential in charitable giving," according to the United Way.

Fazzino said, "It's really about relating to women in a different way than the United Way's used to."

A June kick-off luncheon at Highland Springs Country Club attracted 160 women who paid their own way to learn more about the new initiative. Women were involved in roundtable discussions at the luncheon to identify the community needs and issues that were most important to them.

Four areas were identified, Hargis said. They are domestic violence, women's health, substance abuse prevention and at-risk children.

The women also expressed interest in setting up mentoring programs and community partnerships.

Women's Philanthropy Initiative

Many women don't consider themselves to be philanthropists, when in fact they are, as shown in results from a survey recently conducted through the United Way of the Ozarks.

That's despite the fact that "women traditionally are the ones who have volunteered countless numbers of hours to see that kind of benefit," Hargis said. "Now, because more women are in the workplace and have more disposable income, they're making gifts along with that volunteer time. ... I think that is the realization that the women's initiative provides that those gifts are not often recognized, even by the women themselves, as being significant."

Hargis hopes FLIP will provide some recognition for women who are giving their time and money to worthy community causes, and that recognition will then encourage other women to get involved.

Another way women give differently than men, Hargis said, is their desire to see how their contributions make a difference. There are six C's of women's giving, she said. They are:

change women have a desire to bring about change, which is the No. 1 motivation for giving;

creation women have the desire to create something new that will benefit their community;

connection women want to feel a connection to an organization they support;

commitment women are committed to giving, and they do so, in large part, through volunteering;

collaboration women generally "look at how organizations can work together with other groups or programs to create partnerships and collaborative effort," according to the United Way; and

celebration women want fund raising to be fun and to celebrate successes.

So far, the United Way of the Ozarks' idea for a women's initiative seems to be a success.

In addition to the women who attended the June luncheon, many more have contacted the United Way about getting involved.

A letter recently went out to about 600 women, informing them about four projects that have been added to the Aug. 14 United Way Day of Caring. Those projects center around the four key areas identified at the luncheon.

"We're hoping the addition of those projects to Day of Caring, rushed into existence because of the enthusiasm at the luncheon, that there will be the sense that women's initiative is continuing to challenge that energy for something positive," Hargis said.

A symposium on the issue of domestic violence may be held this fall, Hargis said.

The Women's Philanthropy Initiative has been allocated $25,000 in the upcoming campaign, Fazzino said, including $10,000 for an endowment to support the effort for the future and $15,000 that will be available for grants, it is hoped by 2004.

Anyone who fills out a United Way of the Ozarks donor card will be able to specify whether they want their donation to go to FLIP.

Member agencies and nonmember agencies will be able to apply for grant money, Fazzino said, and the Women's Philanthropy Initiative may set up itsown allocations committee and grants committee.

Hargis hopes FLIP will be an ongoing initiative that will provide women the opportunity to see the impact their dollars and time have on the community, and that the creative ideas the women come up with will result in solutions to some of the problems facing the community.

"The most interesting thing about the women's initiative to me is that there will be a way for women to participate," said. Hargis. " The women's initiative should give women an opportunity to make the most of their volunteer dollar and their volunteer time."