Women's Leadership Council is a collaboration
of women committed to significantly improving
the quality of life in the Twin Cities through focused
philanthropic giving, advocacy and volunteering.

Members support the program with an annual
financial gift of $2,500 or more.

View our 2009 Grants Reception Slideshow (held May 14).

Steering Committee (from left):
Front row: Terri Ferrise, Jean Nitchals, Mary Merrill, Ann Burns, Shari Mathewson
Back row: Lori Helmer, Megan Mourning, Kari Johnson, Jeri Meola
Not pictured: Susan Pryce

Page Index:
Vision / Objectives / Results
Upcoming Events
Membership
Program Support
Public Policy
Committee Opportunities
Volunteering

Vision / Objectives / Results

Vision

Women's Leadership Council strives to ensure our community's children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school.

By making investments to ensure all children are fully ready for school, the Council is helping give children the tools they need to succeed.

Our efforts are closely aligned with United Way's Early Learning Initiative, a comprehensive community plan for addressing school readiness.

Jeri Meola
2009 Women's Leadership Council Chair

2009 Objectives

• Increase Council membership by raising awareness of the critical importance of early childhood education.
• Identify and invest in programs that support the Council's mission.
• Demonstrate measurable results through Council investments.

Results to date

• Members: 150
• Funds raised: Over $850,000 through membership, one-time gifts and board matches.

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Upcoming Events

Annual Membership Luncheon—Thursday, September 17
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jackson Room at Travelers Foundation

Celebrate our 2009 successes and network with other Council members. Lunch provided.

Educational Seminar—Tuesday, October 27
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minneapolis Offices

Join us for a public policy workshop with guest Marcia Avner from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.. Lunch provided.

• View photos from past events.

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Membership

Circle Member ($2,500-$4,999)
President's Circle Member ($5,000+)

• Membership benefits include special council events, service opportunities on council committees and recognition opportunities.
• The Council was created to raise additional funds to address critical issues in the community. A contribution to the Women's Leadership Council in addition to an annual United Way campaign gift is desired.
• Donors contributing $10,000 or more annually to United Way are considered members of the Tocqueville Society and are recognized locally and nationally.

More info.

• View current member listing.
• View the Council Overview (PDF).
• Get a pledge form (PDF).
• View our spring 2009 newsletter (PDF).
• For more information on Women's Leadership Council or to become a member, e-mail Shari Mathewson or call 612-340-7465.

Member Profiles:

Terri Ferrise, 2010 Chair-elect of Twin Cities Women's Leadership Council and United Way of America Women's Leadership Council board member

Jeri Meola, 2009 Chair and founding member of Women's Leadership Council

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Program Support

The Council was founded in 2005 and is in its fifth successful year of funding important programs that support both children and their parents.

• 2008 details
• 2007 details
• 2006 details
• 2005 details

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Public Policy

On March 3, attendees at the year's first educational seminar learned more about early childhood education at the legislative level from Richard A. Chase, Ph.D., consulting scientist, Wilder Research, Missy Thompson, vice president, United Way Early learning Initiative, and Lisa Venable, facilitator, Early Childhood Legislative Caucus.

More important, though, they took away tools to ensure their voices are heard at the legislature. We can all be advocates for children by making our views known to our public officials. More information about getting involved can be found at the below resource links.

Minnesota House of Representatives
Early Childhood Finance Committee
House Bill Introductions
Weekly Agendas for Hearings

Current House bills related to early childhood care and education
House File 40 (PDF)
House File 641 (PDF)

Minnesota Senate
Senate Education Committee
Legislative Contacts

Wilder Foundation Research
"The cost burden to Minnesota K-12 when children are unprepared for kindergarten"
Early care and education (ECE) facts

Other Resources
Child Care Works
Children's Defense Fund Minnesota
Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
Early Childhood Caucus
Public early care and education governance (PDF)
Ready 4 K

Committee Opportunities

We are always looking for volunteers to serve on one of the working committees:

• Building the Circle—Identify strategies and events to engage new members and retain current members.
• Volunteer Opportunities—Identify volunteer activities/opportunities that provide meaningful engagement.  This committee works hand-in-hand with the Program Funding and Education and Awareness committees.
• Education and Awareness—Develop strategies and identify opportunities to build awareness among women in our community,  Members review the impact of the United Way focus areas and the Council's community goals.
• Program Funding—Identify strategies and investment opportunities to achieve the Council's objectives.
• Steering Committee—Responsible for the overall development and implementation of the Council's strategic plan as well as provide support and direction of Council committees.  This committee is led by the chair, chair-elect, immediate past chair, Council committee chairs and designated United Way staff.
• Nominating Committee—Responsible for annually identifying and recommending the new chair-elect. This committee is led by the immediate past chair, current chair, chair-elect, co-chairs of the Building the Circle Committee, two Council members at-large (to be appointed by the Steering Committee) and the Women's Leadership Council donor consultant.

For more information, please e-mail Shari Mathewson or call 612-340-7465.

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Volunteering

Interested in volunteering with one of our supported programs?

Check out United Way Caring Connection where you can search for Women's Leadership Council volunteer opportunities within the programs we support. The Council provides multiple volunteer opportunities throughout the year that typically involve a social/networking opportunity as well (lunch/dinner). Check out our Upcoming Events for more details.

View past volunteer opportunities.

If you have any questions and/or are interested in volunteering, please contact Anne Policinski or Marge Sagstetter.

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