HISTORY How long has 100 Women Who Care been in Franklin County? 100 Women Who Care Franklin County is newly founded in November 2017 by Karyn Rocheleau, Trisha Woodward, Annette Hannah, Jacqui Hood, and Judy Ashley. The group is managed by a volunteer Steering Committee of the founding members who oversee the operations, in addition to the quarterly meetings.
DONATIONS
How do I nominate an organization for donations? Only members who have signed a Membership Form and are current on their contributions may submit a non-profit organization for consideration. Please refer to Nominate a Charity for more information.
Which organizations can be considered for donations? In order to be considered at a meeting, a non-profit organization must have a strong presence in and serve the residents of Franklin County, Vermont. We encourage any member to nominate a non-profit for consideration. Any charity or non-profit must be a registered 501(c)3 and willing to provide tax receipts to all members who donate. Those nominated must agree in advance of the meeting to send tax receipts directly to each of the donating members. While non-501(c)3 organizations are still eligible for consideration, contributions to non-501(c)3 groups are not tax deductible, so members must be aware of this status prior to voting. No political, religious, international or national organization may be nominated. National or international organizations with a local chapter may be nominated; however, the funds must be used only for a project that serves the Franklin County area.
100 Women Who Care Franklin County is an open and affirming organization, and does not discriminate. All are welcome regardless of race, color, ethnic or national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, age or gender identification. It is our expectation that any 501(c)(3) organization proposed as a recipient also adheres to these values.
Is my contribution tax deductible? Yes, your contribution is tax deductible if it is made payable to a 501(c)(3) organization. Checks are written directly to local organizations, not to 100 Women Who Care. Please contact your tax advisor or visit the IRS website for further information.
How are organizations chosen to receive donations? Only members who have signed a membership form and are current on their contributions may nominate a non-profit by submitting a completed nomination form. All nominations must be received at least one (1) week prior to the meeting. Three organizations will be selected at random to be presented at each meeting.
If the organization you submitted is selected, you will be asked to give up to a five (5) minute presentation (please, no Powerpoint presentations or videos), explaining why your chosen organization should receive the donation. Each presenter will then have at least five (5) minutes for Questions & Answers. Presentations can include posters and flyers, but no computers or other electronics may be used.
Can I donate more than $50 per meeting? Absolutely! And, in addition to your donation to the chosen organization, you can donate to the other nominated organizations, too.
Can I just send the donation to the non-profit organization myself? No. The goal of the 100 Women Who Care organization is to make a large collective donation on behalf of the whole group. We want to be able to support this endeavor and together give up to $5,000 at a time to make a large impact on our community, with each member’s donation being part of the larger donation. We also need to be able to track your donations so that you get credit for the donation and remain eligible for submitting charities and voting at meetings.
What if I already donate to an organization that is chosen? You will be expected to make your 100 Women Who Care contribution to that organization in addition to any contributions you normally make. The intention of 100 Women Who Care is to make an additional impact on organizations in our community above and beyond our normal giving.
MEETINGS
What if I can’t attend a meeting? If you cannot attend a meeting, you can do one of three things:
You can send a blank, signed check with a trusted friend to the meeting. They will write in the name of the organization that is chosen and give it to the organizers on your behalf. They do not vote on your behalf. We can only count the votes of members who are present.
or
After a meeting is over, you can contact a steering committee member or other member to find out which organization was selected. You can then write your check and mail it to the designated Steering Committee member and we will present it to the organization on your behalf. Recipients will also be posted on our Facebook page and web site.
or
Send a blank, signed check in advance of the meeting to: 100 Women Who Care Franklin County, c/o Karyn Rocheleau, 21 Summit Place, St. Albans, VT 05478
If you select this option, the Steering Committee will fill in the name of the selected organization on your behalf. Only members who are current in their contributions are eligible to vote. We can only count the votes of members who are present at the meeting. If you are unable to attend a meeting, please take a minute to let us know on the Meeting Regrets page.
When will meetings be scheduled? Our meetings are held four times a year in February, May, August and November:
5:30 – 6:00 pm: Check-in and Mingling
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Meeting
How long do the meetings last? Meetings are intended to be very short, generally lasting no longer than 60 minutes. However, you may come to the meeting early – or stay late – in order to spend time socializing and getting to know other members.
Will the meetings always be in St. Albans? This will be determined by polling the membership.
Can I bring a friend to a meeting? Of course, you can! However, in order to vote, she will need to sign a Membership Form and become a member.
Can I share one membership with another woman? Although we do not encourage sharing memberships we do understand that it may be necessary for some people, so two women can share one membership. Both of you are most welcome to all meetings and can be listed separately on our mailing list, but collectively you will only have one vote. You will sign one Membership Form and be responsible for one $50.00 donation per quarter.
