In another time, women would get together in female membership organizations, hold fundraising events, and then present a local charity with a cheque.
But in recent years these organizations, faced with declining memberships because many women now work, have for the most part folded their tents.
Lori Rudniski (left) of WISH and Laura Lomaw of the WEF say women themselves best understand the needs of women in our community.
Unfortunately, while those female organizations are no longer around, the needs they met in the community are still there.
Marsha Cowan, chief executive officer of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, said that's part of the reason why a group of women got together 15 years ago.
What the women came up with is now known as the Women's Endowment Fund. It was launched in 1994 and is located at the Jewish Foundation.
"We wanted to promote women's philanthropy," said Cowan, who was one of that group of women.
"We wanted women to take a look at their philanthropic potential, which we didn't feel was happening. They have the ability to make philanthropic decisions on their own. This provides a vehicle."
Cowan said the women quickly decided it would be an endowment fund, like the Jewish Foundation and the Winnipeg Foundation. This way the fund would last forever because any money given in grants would only come from interest generated from the capital.
"We also decided we wanted to promote women's philanthropy, to help women in Manitoba and to support women's issues in Manitoba," she said.
The fund started modestly, with several women calling their friends and getting together to contribute a total of $5,000.
"We called it friend-raising," Cowan said.
That $5,000 has now grown to more than $683,000, with more than 500 individual funds started by women -- and men.
It also has a goal of reaching $1 million within the next few years.
Laura Lomow, co-chairwoman of the WEF, said the fund has come a long way in a few short years and it will continue to grow.
"More women are holding the reins of their own money, but sadly there's still a disconnect between women making these choices," she said.
"A lot of people are intimidated by philanthropy. They think you have to be rich, but that's a travesty. It is not the case at all. You can start a fund with $100.
"It is not overwhelming -- and then you can grow your fund."
Cowan said the best part of the Women's Endowment Fund is it has been able to contribute more than $150,000 into the community.
"We restrict our applicants to those in Manitoba," she said.
"We've given money to 54 organizations through the years. They don't have to be Jewish. We pretty much support grassroots."
A few years after the fund was initiated, it handed out its first grant, $350, to Alpha House.
This year the WEF will hand out more than $30,000.
One of the organizations the WEF has helped is WISH (Women in Second-Stage Housing).
Lori Rudniski, executive director of WISH, said her organization was thrilled to recently receive $5,000 from the fund.
WISH helps 14 women with or without children, who have left an abusive relationship, by offering protective, affordable long-term housing and services. The women can stay in the housing for a year after they arrive.
"The grant allowed us to hire a family support position," Rudniski said.
"I truly believe because of their fund and their support we were able to launch this project. It has fulfilled a need.
"This helps families move in, get connected and feel supported. We feel very fortunate. Their grant allowed us to kick-start a very needed position.
"It has added to the quality of the experience for these women."
Lomow said the WEF looks at several areas for funding, including education, medical issues, social services, and advocacy for women.
Debbie Gray, the other co-chairwoman of the WEF, says a group of women sits down and looks through the grant applications.
"In the community, you know things are happening, but then we sit and do the grants and you find out there are so many committed people who have the ability to do things, but just lack the financial resources," Gray said.
"We give grants to help women's groups. Some of these groups are marginalized so it falls to women to know these things are important."
Gray said the WEF funds projects and doesn't give long-term operational funds.
Deadlines for grant applications are March 1 and Oct. 15.
To also help raise money and awareness, the fund sponsors an annual spring luncheon with $35 of the ticket going to pay for the lunch and the other $100 going directly into the fund. Past keynote speakers at the luncheon have included musician Heather Bishop and past University of Manitoba president Emöke Szathmáry.
As well, the fund hosts coffee-and-conversation meetings where they meet with women and tell them why they should start a fund with the WEF and how they benefit.
Lomow said the organization knows that by growing the fund they can give more help to the community.
"The need is overwhelming in this province," she said.
"We sit in the grant meetings and it is heart-wrenching. The demand is overwhelming and there is not enough money.
"Women need to help women. The biggest gift a woman can do is give an endowment gift."
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
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