What’s the origin of 100 Women Who Care?
100 Women Who Care was started in November 2006 by Karen Dunigan of Jackson, Michigan as a simple way to raise money efficiently and quickly for local charities. At their first meeting, the group of over 100 women each wrote a check for $100 directly to The Center for Family Health, their chosen local charity. In total, the women raised $12,800 to buy 300 new baby cribs.
What motivated you to launch a chapter in southern Maine?
100 Women Who Care was the answer to my key personal and professional goals. As a busy life coach, I was looking for active, ongoing ways to express my gratitude and to give back to the community I grew up in. Initially, I was inspired by the simplicity and elegance of the concept. Knowing how difficult it is for local nonprofits to raise the funds required to carry on their work—and how easily even the best volunteer's intentions can be thwarted by today's busy schedules—100 Women Who Care seemed to be the perfect solution.
I wanted to make it easier for local women with little time for volunteering to get involved in philanthropy that made a difference, to give them the opportunity to write a check and be part of a significant gift to the community. As an individual, it’s difficult to make a large impact, but individuals working together can harness a collective power to contribute in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
Almost 10 years ago, 65 women said “Yes” to 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine and we took off running! The response from women in the area has been tremendous, and today we are 395 women strong from 49 local cities and towns.
How does the group work?
Our work thrives on the idea that together, we can do more, turning individual acts of kindness into collective action that strengthens our community and makes our world a better place for all.
Four times each year, members of 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine gather together. We spend time socializing and networking before getting down to business: choosing a local organization to receive our collective donation. At each meeting, we draw the names of three nonprofits nominated by our members and hear short, heartfelt presentations from each of the organizations about why they should receive our donation. After each presentation, our members ask questions for five minutes, and then we vote by secret ballot. Each member writes a check for $50 to the charity that receives the most votes.
Leveraging the power of collective gifts allows our donations to create meaningful impact and improve lives. By pooling our financial resources together, we’ve awarded $566,000 to advance the work of 39 nonprofits in southern Maine. These nonprofits run the full spectrum of helping Mainers, including veterans, immigrant families, children with disabilities, survivors of human trafficking, terminally ill young adults, incarcerated youth, pregnant women, fishermen, victims of domestic abuse, and more.
What is the significance of keeping 100% of contributions in the community?
One of the appeals of the 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine is that all of the money donated stays local and members can see the direct impact they are making. Members have even become personally involved with these organizations as volunteers and board members. It’s incredibly gratifying to see the ripple effect generated by uniting a large group of women working collaboratively toward a common philanthropic effort.
What are the benefits of a female-only delegation?
Women philanthropists are change-makers and community-shapers. As a community, we are vibrant. We come from cities and towns throughout southern Maine and represent a wide range of perspectives, talents, and experiences. What unites us is that we share deep concern about what’s happening at the local level and want to be part of addressing what has to change. Our community is our super power—we bring so much to the table, from our talents to our passion to our energy. We are women with a purpose!
To get involved, visit 100womenwhocaresouthernmaine.com or contact founder Deb Bergeron at 207-232-0048 or deb100women@gmail.com.
As an individual, it can be difficult to make a large impact, but individuals working together can harness a collective power to contribute in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
Our work thrives on the idea that together, we can do more, turning individual acts of kindness into collective action that strengthens our community and makes our world a better place for all.
