How It Works

Becoming a Member

You can join anytime! The minimum annual membership is $100, but women are encouraged to give more if they are able.

Pooled Funds

All membership funds are pooled and deposited into the San Juan Island Women’s Fund Donor Advised Fund at the San Juan Island Community Foundation (SJICF). The San Juan Island Women’s Fund (Women’s Fund) Grants Committee acts as steward for the funds by reviewing funds and grant requests, along with providing oversight for administrative expenses incurred on behalf of the Women’s Fund. The Grants Committee share results at the Annual Meeting held each year.

Grant Requests Review

As grant requests come into the SJICF (3 cycles per year),  the Women’s Fund Grants Committee reviews them and votes to determine which ones to recommend to the membership for funding.

Voting

The recommended grants are then sent via an electronic ballot (Google Forms as of June, 2023; previously Survey Monkey) to the entire membership. Members vote to rank their grant preferences.  All voting information is secure and anonymous.

Grant Awards

The ballots are tallied and funds are rewarded in order of the highest to lowest results until funds are exhausted. Final results are forwarded to the SJICF. The SJICF staff issues a check to each grant recipient on behalf of the Women’s Fund.

Annual Meeting

The Women’s Fund members meet once a year, at the annual meeting. Members are able to network, hear from grant recipients and SJICF staff while (in the past) enjoying a wonderful lunch. The Annual Meeting is generally when members renew their membership. Beginning in 2023, to accommodate those who work, we changed our venue to a SOCIAL in the early evening instead of a lunch.

Delicious bites from local caterers and restaurants at the Annual Social – June, 2024.
Photo by Val Curtis at Treehouse CDS.

Policy and Oversight

The Women’s Fund operates under our established policies (see document below). Member feedback is always welcome! If you’re interested in joining the Grants Committee, becoming the next Women’s Fund Coordinator, or helping out in other ways, please contact Vikky Dauciunas, the current Women’s Fund Coordinator, at sjiwomensfund@gmail.com.