Sometimes the most powerful change starts with a simple idea and a room full of women willing to say yes.
That is the heart of 100+ Women Who Care About Snohomish County, a growing group of compassionate women who believe that collective generosity can create real, visible change right here within Snohomish County.
The concept itself began back in 2006, when a woman in Michigan learned that babies in her community were sleeping in dresser drawers because families could not afford beds. She invited friends to bring $100 each to a single gathering. In one hour, they raised $10,000. That moment sparked a movement that now includes hundreds of similar groups across the country.
Snohomish County's 100+ Women Who Care took shape in 2019 after co-founder Janet Bacon attended a Giving Circle in Seattle. “On the drive home, one of my friends asked, ‘Why are we going into Seattle to do this?’” she recalled. “And I thought, she’s right. Why don’t we have this here?”
What followed was refreshingly simple and a little bold. Janet invited a few friends to gather around the kitchen table, and decided to start a group. “We honestly had no idea what we were doing,” she laughed. “But we figured, how hard can it be? Let’s invite people and see what happens.”
The mission is simple and powerful: bring women together, pool resources, and support nonprofits that serve Snohomish County. Every dollar stays local. Every impact can be seen, felt, and celebrated in the community these women call home.
Since launching in 2019, this group has turned small, individual contributions into an extraordinary force for good. Each member commits to giving $100 at each Giving Circle, three times a year. Alone, $100 is meaningful. Together, it becomes transformational. In one hour, those individual gifts combine into $20,000, $30,000, or more for one local nonprofit. Since launching, the group has donated over $443,000 to organizations serving Snohomish County.
What makes 100+ Women Who Care truly special is what it does not do. It is not a nonprofit. It has no bank account, no overhead, and no administrative fees. Every dollar goes directly from members’ hands to the selected nonprofit. “We’re a conduit,” the co-founder explained. “We connect women who want to give with nonprofits doing good work. That’s it. The money never passes through us.”
Giving Circles are designed to be meaningful, efficient, and fun. “It’s high energy,” Janet said. “Someone once told a friend, ‘You have to come. It’s like a sporting event.’” Music fills the room before the meeting starts, greeters welcome newcomers at the door, and laughter ripples through the crowd. The meetings begin promptly at 7 p.m., move efficiently, and end with a powerful reminder that something meaningful just happened.
The heart of the group is anchored in three core values: integrity, generosity, and elevate. Integrity means members show up and follow through. Generosity reflects gratitude and shared responsibility. Elevate is the belief that when women lift others up, the entire community rises.
And the proof is undeniable. Over the years, funds have supported food banks, shelters, recovery programs, youth services, and family-focused nonprofits like Interfaith Family Shelter, Hungry Hearts, Everett Recovery Café, SnoCo Volunteer Search and Rescue, and many more.
This momentum is no accident. It is fueled by relationships, trust, and joy. Themes like belonging and community shape each gathering. Members donate food, organize tea parties, bring desserts, and even help with parking solutions. “You get a bunch of women together,” Janet said candidly, “and they get things done.”
If you have a passion for making a positive impact, this is an open invitation. Come as you are. Bring a friend. Bring your checkbook. Leave knowing that in just one hour, you helped change lives in your own community.
The next Giving Circle will be held on May 4, 2026 for more information visit 100womensnohomish.com or email 100womensnohomish@gmail.com