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Together...we learn
Founders MessageIn 2012, the Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida began as an experiment with just ten enthusiastic and like-minded women. Since then, our membership has grown exponentially every year. To date, we've awarded nearly $820,000 in grants to organizations that support women and their families in Collier and Lee counties. Our grants benefit a broad spectrum of our community, aiding children, teens, and seniors, while focusing on critical areas such as education, healthcare, legal services, mental health, domestic violence, human trafficking, housing, and disaster relief. Throughout this journey, we've met incredible, dedicated individuals who tackle these issues daily while sharing our desire to ignite positive change. As an added benefit, our members have forged deep friendships that extend beyond our organization. We're immensely proud of our achievements to date. We're also deeply grateful to our passionate members who have helped us expand our initial dream far beyond expectations—to empower women and families while strengthening our community. Filled with anticipation, we invite you to join us as we embark upon the next phase of this most rewarding journey! Sincerely, Nancy and SueWGC's History—OUR STORY 2012-2023Sweet Beginnings: How Dessert Sparked a Movement
|  Nancy Cohen and Sue Guben First WGC Members sitting left to right: Nancy Cohen and Diane Lepola. Standing left to right: Mana Holtz, Marty Howard, Jane Doherty, Sue Guben, Barbara Knepshield, and Karen Biernesser. Not shown: Linda Penniman and Sally Gleason. |
Sue Guben's path to founding the Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida began with a delicious key lime mousse she served at a Naples dinner party. As guests praised her dessert, Sue shared that she had learned the recipe from women she met through her role in the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle where she monitored a grant for a Culinary Arts program at a homeless women’s shelter.
Together...we are guided by our Vision, Mission, and Values |
VisionTo ensure women and their families who need assistance have the resources that provide hope for a sustainable future "The Women's Giving Circle partners with the Collier Community Foundation to leverage their staff expertise, community knowledge, internal processes, and fund management. Our two organizations support shared priorities and are proud to partner in improving the quality of life throughout our community."The Collier Community Foundation | MissionTo improve the lives of Southwest Florida women and their families through collective giving to organizations that support those in need Caring deeply about our community, we help women by:
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Together...we support women and their families"The Women's Giving Circle is different: it functions as a donor, and over the years, it has addressed varying high-priority community needs such as children’s wellbeing; at-risk teens; and seniors to name just a few. This ability to help SWFL families holistically and flexibly is one of the many special aspects of WGC that attracted me to become a member!"Sheila, one-year member |
Together...we lead our all-volunteer organizationOur Leadership PhilosophyThe Women's Giving Circle of SWFL is an all-volunteer organization that uniquely empowers women to take an active role in philanthropy and community betterment. We believe that when women unite with a shared purpose, we can create a profound impact on the lives of vulnerable women and their families. By pooling our resources, our collaborative model not only amplifies individual contributions and ensures each woman has an equal voice, but it also strengthens our bond with the community. We are committed to pursuing equity and inclusion in our membership, grantmaking, programs, policies, and leadership. At the heart of the WGC's mission is our dedication to education and outreach. We prioritize building personal connections, cultivating relationships among our members, and improving the broader community. By engaging directly with various nonprofits, we deepen our understanding and effectiveness in targeting pressing issues. Our approach to informed philanthropy ensures our giving efforts are thoroughly researched, thoughtfully planned, and consistently impactful. We are proud to be affiliated with the Collier Community Foundation and Philanos. |
Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida |
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TreasurerCarol Horowitz Special Projects ChairNoreen Thomas Grant Evaluation CochairsMargie Bluestein & Judy Mehlman Membership CochairsSandy Kidd & Susie Trapp Community Outreach CochairsLinda Penniman & Mo Winograd | SecretaryCandice Mill Grant Research CochairsSusan Bailey & Lesley Hill Grant Monitoring CochairsNatalie Fisher & Joanna McGee Program CochairsMelissa Frisvold & Noreen Thomas Communication CochairsCeleste Campos & Laura Fitzgibbons |
Founders
Nancy Cohen & Sue Guben
Board members can be contacted here. |
 Serving Lee and Collier Counties, Florida 1110 Pine Ridge Rd Ste 200, Naples, FL 34108 |
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The Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida is
Affiliated with Philanos, the leading national women’s giving circle network