Past articles about the WF
The name plate on the bench commemorating the life and legacy of RSF Women’s Fund founder Gayle Gillies-Mize.
JULY 30, 2020--2:46 PM
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund recently announced that a bench commemorating the life and legacy of its founder, Gayle Gillies-Mize, is now installed in the very heart of the community she so humbly served for over 50 years. Gillies-Mize founded the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund in 2004 in an effort to engage women in collective philanthropy. Since that time, the RSF Women’s Fund has awarded over $4 million in grants to local and regional nonprofit organizations, and touched the lives of thousands.
Next time you’re in the RSF Village, head toward the large oak tree at the southwest corner of Village Park. Like Gillies-Mize, the bench underneath that tree will serve as a pillar of philanthropy, and encourage members of the community to engage in thoughtful conversations for years to come.
A dedication ceremony will be held later this year (to be announced).
To learn more about the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund, visit rsfwomensfund.org, contact Korri Ball (womensfund@rsffoundation.org) or Judy Oliphant (judy@dwoent.com) for membership information, or attend an RSFWF event this fall, pending COVID-19 restrictions:
Sept. 10: “Mix & Mingle” lunch (Pony Room, Rancho Valencia)
Week of Sept. 14: 2020 Grant Celebration
Week of Sept. 21: 2021 Grants Kickoff
Oct. 14: “Mix & Mingle” Happy Hour (member’s private residence)
Nov. 10: General/Speaker Meeting (RSF Golf Club)
Nov. 16: “Mix & Mingle” Happy Hour (member’s private residence)
Nov. 17: New Member Social (member’s private residence)
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/news/story/2020-07-30/bench-honoring-rsf-womens-fund-founder-gayle-gillies-mize-now-installed-in-village-park
The bench commemorating the life and legacy of RSF Women’s Fund founder Gayle Gillies-Mize.
MAY 23, 2020--12:20 PM
A site visit to the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. WRC will receive $31,750 for its “Bright Futures Transition Housing Program.” (L-R): RSF Women’s Fund members Kathy Stumm, Franci Free, Cynthia Hudson, Nikki Ream, WRC employee, RSF Womens’ Fund member Allison Williams, and WRC employee.
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund has pooled member funds to relieve suffering and to support communities throughout North County San Diego through cash grants totaling over $4 million during the past 16 years.
This year, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Grant Team (Cynthia Hudson, Mary Consalvi, Alchera Ayyad, Mara Buchholz, and Nikki Carmody Ream, along with their work groups) had to repeatedly adapt the Women’s Fund’s established rigorous vetting process. When the coronavirus made physical site visits to the potential grantee organizations impossible, the Grant Team quickly rescheduled the remaining trips to “Virtual Site Visits” using various videoconferencing applications. Then, when the voting presentations and selection process could no longer be made at a RSF Women’s Fund General Membership meeting due to social isolation guidelines, this process was moved online. Potential grantees submitted brief video presentations and members were able to view the presentations and vote online through the organization’s website.
The RSF Women’s Fund has voted to fund the following 10 significant projects in the community totaling $357,000:
Per Candise Holmlund, RSF Women’s Fund advisory chair, the membership tentatively plans to celebrate the grantees and the RSF Women’s Fund’s record-setting grant season with the new grant cycle kickoff in the fall. Holmlund states, “We look forward to celebrating the success of our grantees along with the continued vision of our original members and founder, Gayle Gillies Mize. Gayle’s legacy is one we are committed to growing for many years to come.”
In light of the COVID situation, the membership’s focus this year pivoted nimbly to awarding money where they thought they could best serve the community with immediate relief. Says Grant Co-Chair Mary Consalvi, “Every year we receive applications for more grants than we can possibly fund. Our vetting process is rigorous, and in the final analysis, the decision is made by a membership-wide vote. This year it is apparent that our members were looking to help organizations at the forefront of providing assistance to those who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. I am really proud of our choices this year, and am happy to be a part of such a generous and civic-minded group of women.”
A site visit to Mama’s Kitchen prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. Mama’s Kitchen will be receiving $50,000 for its “Cancer Nutrition Program.” (L-R) RSF Woman’s Fund members Allison Williams, Mary Consalvi, Judy Oliphant, Site Visit Leader Danya Pineda, and Mama’s Kitchen Director.
In addition, to address immediate urgent needs, the Advisory Board voted to contribute a portion of the annual interest from the Gayle Gilles Mize Memorial Endowment Fund in the amount of $7,000 to support the North County COVID-19 Response Fund at the RSF Foundation. This fund immediately assists nonprofit organizations working on the front lines to meet critical needs related to the COVID-19 crisis across the San Diego region.
Grant Co-Chair Cynthia Hudson said, “I joined the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund three years ago, when I moved here from Washington State, as a way to meet empowered local women who care about community and giving back. The way our organization came together in the last month to ensure that we completed our grant cycle, to help keep our local nonprofits doing good at a time when their services are needed more than ever, cemented my faith in our group. The members stepped up and got it done. RSF Women’s Fund puts a lot of time into researching the organizations we fund, but we also put a lot of heart into what we do. The members care about the people of San Diego. I love doing good with a community of other people, and the Fund has been a wonderful way of achieving that goal.”
Here are a few of the “Thank You’s” received from the recipients of the cash grants:
To join in support of these organizations that need aid more than ever, visit rsfwomensfund.org or contact RSF Women’s Fund at (760) 230-2761 for more information.
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/story/2020-05-23/amid-covid-19-the-rsf-womens-fund-adapts-quickly-and-awards-grants-totaling-357k-to-local-charities
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/news/events/story/2020-03-26/rsf-womens-fund-grant-cycle-continues-amid-covid-19-new-realities
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/photo-galleries/story/2020-01-28/rsf-womens-fund-hosts-annual-white-party-bubbles-blanca
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund held its annual White Party, Bubbles & Blanca, Jan. 23 at a private home in RSF. Attendees were encouraged to dress up in their favorite winter whites for the event. Since 2004, the RSFWF has served as a means for women in Rancho Santa Fe to join together in meaningful ways and give back to the greater San Diego community.
For more information, visit rsfwomensfund.org.
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/photo-galleries/story/2019-11-25/rsf-womens-fund-hosts-united-nations-diplomat-at-general-meeting
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/photo-galleries/story/2019-09-24/rsf-womens-fund-hosts-author-meet-greet
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary and its 2019 Grant Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 p.m. at the Del Mar Country Club.
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund was established in November 2004 as a way for members to join together in meaningful and engaging ways and give back to the greater San Diego community. The power of many women giving together has helped the organization make a significant impact on community-wide needs with focused collective grant making. The RSF Women’s Fund is a donor-advised fund of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation and has awarded nearly $3 million dollars in grants to date.
For 2019 the RSF Women’s Fund will be awarding over $300,000 to the grantees. They will be receiving their checks and a fun celebration will follow. Please attend the event for the culmination of the organization’s hard work this year.
The event will also featured the Mission bay Preservationists, one of the nation’s premier traditional youth jazz bands.
The 15th anniversary of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund and Annual Grant Awards were elegantly celebrated on May 15 at the Del Mar Country Club to mark over $3.7 million that the members have collectively granted to local charities.
Gallery:
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/photo-galleries/sd-rsf-women-s-fund-and-annual-grant-awards-20190521-photogallery.html
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund “Grant Proposal Presentations” event took place April 23 at the RSF Golf Club.
https://www.ranchosantafereview.com/lifestyle/photo-galleries/sd-rsf-women-s-fund-hosts-grant-proposal-presentations-event-20190501-photogallery.html
Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund
Established in 2004 | tax #95-3709639
162 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Suite B30, Encinitas, CA 92024
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