MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON TONG ZHANG

While I was born in China, I grew up in Oregon and consider this place my home. I moved away for a long time after high school, living in Seattle and in Baltimore. In Baltimore the nonprofit I worked for received funding from the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle. While I was never a member, I was really impacted and impressed by the community. When I came back home in 2015 I started looking for something similar in Oregon and I learned about ninety-nine girlfriends. I wanted to be a member but at the time I wasn’t in a place financially to join due to our priorities of starting a family. Shortly after, I learned about the Fellows Program and joined in 2018 as a Fellow. I’ve been part of the organization ever since.

I’ve been involved in many different projects within the organization, the most long standing of which is as a ballot mistress with the amazing Jude Lieberman. Seeing the votes come in every year is something I’ve appreciated being a part of for a long time. I am also on the Governing Board where we verify the financial health of the organization but also keep an eye out for the strategic vision. I’ve been on many advisory boards and councils before but this is my first time serving on the Governing Board of a philanthropic organization, which has proven to be a really great learning experience for me.

I joined ninety-nine girlfriends to meet women like me who are interested in making an impact in the community. I’ve stayed because I continue to meet women unlike me who continue to grow and challenge my perspectives on how to use philanthropy for meaningful impact. There are too many folks that I’ve met over the years to mention them all but I especially wanted to give credit to two of them, Deborah Edward and Barbara Hilyer. They have always helped me think differently about tackling tough challenges and I am grateful for what I have learned from them and others in the organization.


Tong Zhang

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON KIMBER CAVENDISH

I met Tammy Wilhoite for the first time a couple of weeks ago over a lovely cup of coffee. We chatted about our lives and my renewed membership with ninety-nine girlfriends. As the conversation was winding down, she asked how I felt about writing a Member Spotlight. I thought about what I would say to all my new Girlfriends about myself and my renewed desire to join. Here’s what bubbled up for me.  

I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father owned property in Reno and my mother built a bed and breakfast on the central Oregon Coast. During my younger years, I was a professional Can-Can dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. I worked for Club Med teaching snorkeling, I opened an aerobics studio in Eugene in the mid 80’s and yes, I wore leg warmers!! 

In my mid-twenties, after a serious running injury, I decided to head back to college to become a physical therapist. When I graduated 7 years later, I moved to Austin for two decades.In the early 90’s, the entrepreneurial  seed planted by my parents sprouted. I opened a PT clinic, remodeled a bunch of homes, and had a baby girl. In 2008, I designed, built and operated a boutique hotel in Austin called Kimber Modern. 

Being the entrepreneurial type is exhilarating and scary, starting your own business is scary, the fear of failure is super scary, financial ruin even scarier. But there's something that drives you to pursue your ideas, your dreams, your passions…   

The humans who have the fighting spirit, the grit, the resilience, the determination and the heart to start their own businesses and risk everything are the people I admire the most beyond measure. The small non-profit organizations that are applying for grants and trying to make a difference in this world, for the better, are my heroes.  

By renewing my membership, I pledge to be engaged and involved in the application and voting process and to learn as much as possible about the people and organizations that are applying. An award of $100K is a game changer and such an immense honor.  

Additionally, the prospect of meeting many of you, in person, is very exciting to me. Being part of a like-minded women’s giving collective, that’s so impactful and critically important, truly fills my soul.

Kimber Cavendish

JOIN THE FELLOWS PROGRAM

With the advent of our new membership options, what has been an invitation-only program for just a few members aged 20-35 is expanding to include all interested members 35 and younger. The current Fellows are eager to welcome you to leadership development opportunities, small learning events, occasional social events, and as many one-on-one mentoring matches as possible. Please contact Michelle Hynes at the Fellows Program if you’re interested in joining or helping out. Watch this space for more information in the new year. 

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2024: HOW ARE EQUITY, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL MOBILITY RELATED, AND HOW CAN OUR PHILANTHROPY SUPPORT POSITIVE CHANGE?

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“How are equity, poverty, and social mobility related, and how can our philanthropy support positive change?” 

This question will guide our Member Education programming for the year and is something to remember throughout our grant-making. Learn more about our annual learning questions at this link.

RACIAL EQUITY WORK FINDS A NEW HOME

Our Racial Equity Committee (REC) is moving into the Member Education Committee as the Racial Equity Team. The outstanding members of REC have helped lay a foundation through our Equity Statement, moving beyond land acknowledgments and establishing our Racial Equity Resource page. They will continue this vital work of striving for racial equity as part of our Member Education Committee. Having racial equity embedded in both our grantmaking and member education moves us closer to our goal of embedding racial equity in all that we do. 

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LEARNING LINK: INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY

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“I am not here to be right. I am here to get it right.” —Brene Brown

As Girlfriends, we always look for new ways to impact our region. But to do that, we must be willing to listen, consider alternate viewpoints, and change our opinions based on new information.

Intellectual humility allows us to open ourselves to new ideas and approaches. In a compelling two-minute video, Dan Pink offers simple approaches to increasing our intellectual humility. For a great story on how to use intellectual humility to improve relationships, listen to this inspiring TedTalk.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON BECKY JACKSON

Becky Jackson

I was introduced to ninety-nine girlfriends by a friend who was a Girlfriend (and remains one), and I found it compelling to think of a women’s grant-making movement in Portland. I then met another friend from the same circle, who was a Girlfriend also, and a volunteer. I did not hesitate any longer and joined in 2018. I now have 6 years of working on the Grant Review Teams, and I love it!

When I joined ninety-nine girlfriends, I wanted to do so with engagement. I considered my skills and interests and landed on grant review from the get-go. I know business and making human resource and financial assessments, so I thought I would have something to offer in the grant review process. What really had meaning for me was to learn about the needs of Portland and the people and programs who were seeking to serve those needs. From there, I found it rewarding to help with the work to find the best places to put our funds to work for impact. In the process I have met many wonderful volunteers and program staff members who are also working for good outcomes for our city.

Being a Girlfriend and working in grant review has given me a deeply meaningful experience in philanthropy. I have met people who are working tirelessly for equity and opportunity. The Girlfriends are all talented and fun to work with, and I have made new friends. The programs we sponsor are grateful, and their communities are rewarded with expanded support. It is a huge win for all involved. 


IMPACT PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEIR REPORTS

As we wrap up 2023, we hope you will take a moment to join us to celebrate the incredible work and accomplishments of our Impact Partners, who work in the ever-changing landscape of the nonprofit sector, where challenges seem ever-present. We invite you to review their impact reports now on our website. As you browse these reports, we hope you will join us in taking pride in our tangible impact. Our Impact Partners have submitted various testimonials that speak to the scope, depth, and overall impact of their work – and demonstrate the value of our collective support in bolstering their efforts. 

We look forward to another year of standing together – not only in our contributions to grantmaking but also in our collective commitment to making a difference in our communities! Continue reading here.

To quote our various Impact Partners, our awards have helped organizations increase capacity, empower workers, foster intergenerational equity through art and activism, increase the depth of their services for youth, hone internal communications, return to in-person programming, build financial security, bring women hope, and so much more. 

Here are just a few highlights: 

  • Black Food Sovereignty Coalition’s regenerative urban farm put on its largest CSA, distributing over 4000 pounds of produce (and serving 50 families who are a part of WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center!).

  • WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center provided critical services to women who need access to vision care resources, storage fees for program participants, and furnishings for those transitioning into permanent housing.

  • Constructing Hope graduated 42 community members and placed them in new careers with an average starting wage of $23.51/hr.

  • Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center + Rosemary Anderson High School (POIC+RAHS) have enrolled and graduated two cohorts of trainees from The Culinary + Hospitality Emergent Fellowship Academy. During the graduation ceremony, Chef Kiara Hardy, the Culinary Director of the POIC Kitchen, congratulated the graduates and emphasized that they can now work "as  professionals in any kitchen you set foot in." 

  • Trash for Peace’s Ground Score program launched a new website, providing the project with a vital fundraising and marketing tool.

  • Voz Workers Rights' Education Project offered 35 training opportunities in habitat restoration, forestry, arborism, invasive and noninvasive plants, and general green jobs skills in different languages.

  • Dr Martin Luther King Jr School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA) is starting to use the school's windows as a giant canvas to display some of the student artworks, making their work more accessible to the broader King neighborhood. 

  • BRAVO Youth Orchestras provided three incredibly robust summer music camps supporting ~150 students who otherwise may not have had access to music and the arts. They also gave a shoutout to their liaison, Anne Castleton, who will be playing with the BRAVO Community Orchestra Winter Concert on Friday, Dec. 15 at Buckley Center Auditorium!

  • Wisdom of the Elders has been working to build capacity – from bringing in an Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) Admin/Outreach Coordinator, to supporting multiple cohorts of BIPOC interns and individuals in developing skills in ITEK-informed environmental restoration.

LEARNING LINK: GIVENATIVE LIST

As a Wrap-up of Native American Heritage Month, we share this GiveNative List for your consideration.

Native Ways Federation recognizes that Native-led organizations know their communities, their strengths and how best to help their people. Investing in Native-led nonprofits is the best way to support positive change in these communities. Click here to see GiveNative participating organizations.

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WIN-WIN

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Based on our recent strategic planning efforts, we are changing our annual membership contribution to be more inclusive. The contribution options are now $300, $600, $1200, $1800, and $2500. Please join at a level that is meaningful to you, understanding the bigger our pool of money, the bigger our grants, and the greater our impact.

Everyone will have an equal voice within the organization, regardless of contribution amount. These new options will welcome more Girlfriends to participate in collective giving while continuing to provide significant grants. Definitely a win-win!

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON JACKIE GORDON

I was introduced to ninety-nine girlfriends by Tammy Wilhoite when she had recently become involved with the organization. She was an enthusiastic ambassador and I joined very shortly thereafter. I grew up in a home where my mother, (who had 7 children) found the time to be an active “boots on the ground” volunteer with Meals on Wheels, her church, and Girl Scouts. She also visited nursing homes and seasonal migrant camps to donate clothing and food. She taught us by example and brought us along to help in her efforts. My father ran a business and he was able to practice a level of giving back to the community through his business. He was particularly focused on supporting community and civic events, children’s sports teams and donating to the development of public sports facilities. I’m fortunate to have had such good role models who instilled in me a desire to support nonprofits engaged in important work in our community. 

When I joined ninety-nine girlfriends, I was (and still am) in a busy time of my life. I knew that I could not become actively involved, but I wanted to be part of the overall effort. I appreciate the pooling of money for a greater impact and the trust-based philanthropy model that ninety-nine girl friends uses, which includes the thorough vetting process of the grant review teams. 

The voting process is an opportunity to learn about the good work of the finalists. I have supported some of those organizations outside of ninety-nine girlfriends. 

I am impressed with the volunteers at ninety-nine girlfriends and the amazing organization they have created. I respect that the organization continues to evolve and has embraced equity and inclusion. The member updates keep me informed and educated on all things “ninety-nine”.

I’m proud to be a member and I will continue to spread the good word!

IMPACT PARTNERS IN THE GIVE!GUIDE!


Over 30 of ninety-nine girlfriends’ past and current Impact Partners and Finalists are in Willamette Week’s annual Give!Guide! The 2023 edition is the publication’s 20th effort to highlight the work of some of our region’s non-profits and support their fundraising through a two-month, community-powered campaign. If you have the capacity to make additional contributions to nonprofits this season, consider providing some continued support to our amazing network of community partners – see the full list here! 


MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON BETHANY THOMAS

Bethany Thomas

I first heard of ninety-nine girlfriends through my work. I am a co-founder of the local nonprofit, Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO), and was a member of the staff for 13 years until I transitioned to a board role. After ECO received a $100,000 ninety-nine girlfriends’ grant in 2019, I was inspired to join. I saw firsthand how impactful the large grant was to our organization and wanted to be a part of providing such an impact to other organizations in our community.

The impact is what most strongly appeals to me about ninety-nine girlfriends. Together we do so much more than we could do as individuals. I'm also grateful for the giving circle that is ninety-nine girlfriends; I appreciate the opportunities to meet others who care deeply about their community. 

In addition to ninety-nine girlfriends, I pursue my interest in collective impact as the Founder and Board President of Earth Day Oregon. Earth Day Oregon operates a statewide campaign that directs attention and donations to Oregon-based nonprofits on April 22nd, Earth Day. Earth Day Oregon presents an occasion for businesses and individuals to support the Oregon nonprofits that prioritize the planet year-round. Since 2019, we have helped our partners raise more than $1.2M and have just launched our efforts for Earth Day 2024. If you know of an Oregon nonprofit that helps advance any of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, please suggest they check Earth Day Oregon out! They may want to be a partner this coming year.

Outside of my work in the nonprofit world, I am raising three boys (10, 12, and 14), I create music, and I enjoy running, hiking, and eating good food. I am lucky enough to have always called Oregon home, and I am grateful for the opportunities that ninety-nine girlfriends offers to engage, connect, and contribute to my community!


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LEARNING LINK: LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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November is Native American Heritage Month. The National Museum of the American Indian provides wonderful resources to increase your understanding and awareness.

One of the many things we learned via Indian Country 101 is land acknowledgments are a terrific first step in honoring Indigenous peoples who lived on and stewarded the land for generations before us. We also learned that acknowledgments can be a bit performative without involving action in support of Native Peoples and Tribal Nations that are alive and thriving today. At our Awards Celebration, we will share a poem by Rena Priest, member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, and recent Poet Laureate of the state of Washington. Check out our Land Acknowledgment and Beyond Land Acknowledgment Guide by the Native Governance Center to learn more.


Member Spotlight on Leslie Mullens

I joined ninety-nine girlfriends in May (just under the wire!) after new friends invited me to a riveting event at The Reser. At the time I recall feeling instantly at home - welcomed within a community of like-minded women with a bias for action. The past several months have reinforced and deepened that sense of belonging - being seen, understood, and valued for what I'm able to contribute in this moment. Exactly what we long for from our girlfriends.

Our trust-based collective giving model is a revelation at the forefront of philanthropy. I've so enjoyed this year's selection process, and am ever-grateful to the women who were able to do all of the early legwork and relationship building to deliver an inspiring and powerful slate of contenders for 2023's grants. 

It was a privilege to open my home to one of the finalist viewing parties. Tammy & the team made this so easy and fulfilling. The girlfriends divide and conquer, making it so that no one person has to take on too much work, and helping each of us who want to contribute beyond our dollars find ways aligned with our time and talents. I'm so grateful to have found such an evolved group for my soft landing as a Portland newcomer!

After calling Maui my home for 20 years, I made a leap to Portland in 2020 in search of four seasons. Since my arrival, I've been making new friends, laughing my way through the Pickleball Learning Curve at the MAC, and hiking more diverse terrain than I could've imagined. 

I'm still building a PNW book of business for my company - I lead a boutique consulting firm that strengthens executive teams and amplifies their impact through strategic planning, team coaching, and leadership development. Our Hawaii clients still take me there often (especially during the Portland winters!), but the plan is to be here more and there less over time.

Community and connection are so important to me - I thrive when I get to lean into the things I love with friends, and I'm definitely looking for more friends here in Portland. Hiking with my pups, exploring new restaurants (they're still ALL new to me!), symphony, music, history, art, wine, local politics and issues...my curiosity is boundless!

I know the Member Spotlight is an introduction of sorts. I hope you'll take it as an invitation, as well. There at least 250 of you I haven't met yet!

Girlfriends! We’d love to spotlight you. Please contact Andra to learn more.


INDIAN COUNTRY 101 WORKSHOP

Member Ed Committee Members Barbara Hilyer, Kathy Masarie, and Jody Scheer

“Thank you so much for the fantastic workshop on Indian Country that you all organized yesterday. The readings were so helpful in grounding us in a stronger understanding of the history of US-Native American relations. Loved how you brought clothing, books, and other Native American resources to the tables. And so appreciate the do-it-yourself lunch process! Great energy, great learning, and a great time to reconnect with Girlfriends. Thank you again!” - Deborah

We learned so much at our Indian Country 101 workshop. Leaders Barbara, Kathy, and Jody guided us in discussions about thought-provoking topics and shared visuals and resources to keep us thinking about Indian Country and where we go from here. They are working on a resource list that will be shared with the membership in the near future. If you couldn’t attend the workshop, we strongly recommend you dig into Indian Country 101 on your own. There is so much to learn about the history of Indigenous people in America, the systemic policies used against them, and the resilience that allows them to thrive to this day.

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LEARNING LINK: RECLAIMING NATIVE TRUTH

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Reclaiming Native Truth Call to Action

This short video shares some of the work of First Nations Development Institute, whose mission is to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. They invest in and create innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities. Click on the link below to launch the video.

BRAVO YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

Have you been yearning to sing in community or keep your talent on an instrument sharp? BRAVO Youth Orchestras has two opportunities for community members of all ages to join them in making music!

Bravo Community CHOIR welcomes and accepts all people from ALL walks of life to come together with one sole purpose: Spreading Love Through Music! The choir has an eclectic repertoire and rehearses on Thursdays from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 pm at Bakery Block, Suite 110, 2222 NE Oregon Street in Portland. No one is exempt from participating in this choir! BRAVO welcomes anybody and everybody. If you have questions, please contact Choir Director Joshua Sommerville at joshua@oregonbravo.org.

BRAVO Community ORCHESTRA offers the opportunity to students, BRAVO staff, and community musicians to play and learn new repertoire in an orchestral environment, developing listening skills, fostering respect for others, and a sense of belonging. They rehearse on Fridays from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Buckley Auditorium on the University of Portland campus, 5000 N Willamette Blvd in Portland. For more information, please contact Orchestras Manager Marian Gutierrez-Curiel at marian@oregonbravo.org. 

You can also catch two Bravo Youth performances later this year:

  • BRAVO Winds SUN Showcase – at 4:45 pm, Thursday, December 7, 2023, at James John Elementary School, Featuring the BRAVO Wind Students from Cesar Chavez and James John.

  • BRAVO Community Orchestra Fall Concert – at 7 pm, Friday, December 15, 2023, at the University of Portland, Buckley Center Auditorium.