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Together...We Learn
Founder's 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
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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..JPG)
Original WGC Members back row: Karen Biernesser, Linda Penniman, Barbara Knepshield, Mana Holtz, Marty Howard, Diane Lepola, Nancy Cohen. Front row: Jane Doherty, Sue Guben, Sally Gleason.
To 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 | To 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 |
The Women's Giving Circle SWFL Leadership TeamPhilosophy The 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. |
The 2025-26 Leadership Board
WGC Cochairs: Lesley Hill and Julie Van Egmond |
TreasurerCarol Horowitz Organizational Development ChairNoreen Thomas Grant Evaluation CochairsJudy Mehlman and Laurie Robinson Sammons Membership CochairsSusie Trapp and Christine Washburn Community Outreach CochairsLinda Penniman and Mo Winograd | SecretaryCandice Mill Grant Research CochairsSusan Bailey and Sue Guben Grant Monitoring CochairsNatalie Fisher and Joanna McGee Program CochairsMelissa Frisvold and Noreen Thomas Communication CochairsCeleste Campos and Laura Fitzgibbons |
Founders Nancy Cohen and Sue Guben
Board members can be contacted here. |
How We Operate
Members Make a Yearly Tax-Deductible Contribution of $1,100 $1,000 of each member's yearly contribution is applied directly to community grants and $100 is applied to operating expenses. Every member makes the same yearly contribution, and each member has an equal vote when approving grant awards and other key decisions. | Members Can Be As Engaged in WGC Functions As They Desire We have Fall and Spring member meetings each year and recognize seven standing committees. Members are welcome to join the committee(s) that aligns with their interests. Committees include Grant Research, Grant Evaluation, Grant Monitoring, Membership, Programs, Outreach, and Communications. Committee meetings, educational tours of local nonprofits, and lunch bunch gatherings are planned throughout the year. We operate November through April, with limited off-season functions. | Experience Hands-on Involvement in Every Aspect of Grantmaking Our three grantmaking committees provide opportunities to learn about the needs of our community, develop relationships with those on the front line of addressing these needs, and meet other women with similar interests. These committees, based on their good stewardship, recommend WGC grants awards to 501c3 nonprofit organizations whose programs promote self-sufficiency for disadvantaged women of all ages an their families in Lee and Collier counties. |
Copyright © 2024 Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida® All Rights Reserved. | Quick Links |
The Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida is a fund of the Collier Community Foundation.
Affiliated with Philanos, the leading national women’s giving circle network