Real Change Now.
Our Mission is Bold.
Empowering women and girls across the Fox Valley to dismantle barriers, challenge the status quo, and step into their limitless potential.
Our Vision is Bright.
A future where women look up to see only open sky and opportunities.
Women and girls make up half the population—and with it, half of human potential. When we empower girls, we elevate the next generation. When we remove barriers for women, we unlock a transformative force that leads to healthier families, improved economic stability, and a better future for our community.
We are Done Settling for Less Than Our Full Potential
The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that shines a light on issues affecting women and girls. We expand the conversation and amplify our combined voices and resources to make transformational change through grants, advocacy, and education for women and girls in Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, and Northern Winnebago counties.
Together, We are Change-makers
Since our founding in 1995, thousands of supporters have made donations to the Women’s Fund. When pooled together, these gifts, both large and small, become real investments in the current and future needs of women and girls across the Fox Valley region.
Why a Women’s Fund? Because when women and girls thrive, the whole community thrives. Yet, historically, less than 2% of charitable giving in the U.S. is directed specifically to organizations serving women and girls. By focusing our resources where they are needed most, we address critical gaps, amplify voices too often unheard, and create opportunities that ripple through families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Our funding grows potential for the Fox Valley woman, expands the choices available to her as she walks confidently into an empowered future, and is backed by the support of thousands of women and their allies.
“With two daughters of my own, I want to set an example of giving back to the community. I love supporting the Women’s Fund because my donations affect many different organizations and programs that help women and girls.”
Beth Davis, Former Women’s Fund Board Member
We Stand with Women
Since our establishment, we have awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to programs that support and emphasize advocacy for women and girls. Grants have been awarded to over 120 different Fox Valley area nonprofits that offer diverse programs addressing our priority areas:
- Continuing education and training
- Mental and emotional wellness
- Life skill mentoring and support
Why Women and Girls?
We focus on women and girls because when they thrive, so do families, communities, and entire economies. Yet, women and girls continue to face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities and potential. At the Women’s Fund, we invest in solutions that center women and girls—because equity for them means progress for all.
We’re Guided by Our Values
To create a just and sustainable society, women and girls must have opportunities, unlimited by gender, to develop and use their individual talents, abilities and skills, along with the freedom to make their own decisions, guided by their personal values and beliefs.
Our values are the guiding principles and core beliefs that shape our decisions and actions in support of our mission.
Empowerment
She can. And she does.
We raise issues and our voices. But we don’t just talk the talk, we boldly walk the walk and lock elbows with the women and girls in our community to define new rules of the game to include what’s best for all of us.
Equity
Her life on her terms.
We take on the systemic barriers that limit the opportunities for women. We support reform that allows women and girls the agency to create their own future, free from the constraints of societal expectations or bias.
Community
Together, further.
We are women (and allies) who support other women. We share resources, knowledge, and a common voice knowing that every win for a woman is a step forward for us all. We are cheerleaders and coalition builders, storytellers and system disruptors.
Resolve
We do the work.
We will see it through – we are driving meaningful change and we rise to the challenges facing the women of our community—we shine a light on the issues, bring people together to solve real problems.
Potential
Limitless possibility is hers.
Our individual and collective potential is at the heart of all we do. It’s the spark that fuels our ambition and inspires transformation. We blaze trails for women to step into her power.
As a women’s fund, we express our values by promoting and supporting:
- Open and respectful communication in all forums.
- Full participation of women and girls of all backgrounds, including diversity of race, class, age, religion, culture, sexual orientation and other identities.
- Informed, educated, innovative action designed to have a positive, measurable impact on the lives of women and girls.
- Collaboration among organizations and individuals working to benefit women and girls.
Women’s Fund History and Founders
Destined for More.
The Women’s Fund of the Fox Valley Region was founded on two principles: change is required, and we will see it through to reality. Our founders combined their vision and resources to pour their energy and funds into a focused effort to shift the status quo that did not serve them or their community.
Established as a field of interest fund in 1995 by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Inc., the Women’s Fund was created as a permanent funding source specifically to address the growing needs of women and girls in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin. Our 106 founding donors contributed at least $1,000 each to create an endowment fund of more than $130,000.
In 2005, the Women’s Fund became a supporting organization of the Community Foundation and a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
As a community of donors, volunteers, grant recipients, and staff, they knew that making real change often requires creative, gender-based solutions.
“The continued growth of the fund is an inspiring thing. It doesn’t stand still. It’s moved forward continually. A great part of my professional life was being involved with helping the Women’s Fund grow.”
Ruth Haviland, Women’s Fund Founding Donor
Our Board of Directors
Sarah Jansen
Board President
Community Volunteer
Rebecca Kellner
President-elect
Plain & Simple Legal
Michele Nevins
Treasurer/Secretary
Oh Snap! Pickling, LLC
Heather Beresford
Plexus
Michelle Dejno
O’Connor Connective
Trina Doxtator
Dox Advisory
Kristy Hesse
Community First Credit Union
Lisa Jermain
Community Volunteer
Teresa Knuth
NAI Pfefferle
Kamala Mischler
Fox Valley Technical College
Raisa Ramos
Find Joy Off the Path
Lori Schumacher
Galloway Company
Kim Wetzel
ACOCA Cafe
Staff
Julie Keller
Executive Director
Reach Out to Me For:
- Collaborative partnerships
- Establishing a new fund
- Speaking engagements
- Fun Fact: Julie has a passion for travel and reading, so she enjoys exploring local libraries wherever she goes.
Stacie Hazlett-Rothe
Communication and Outreach Specialist
Reach Out to Me For:
- Girl-Powered Giving
- Brighter Female Futures (B.F.F.)
- Grants/Communications
Fun Fact: Stacie embodies “granny behavior” as an avid knitter and dedicated gardener, she is always wearing at least one item that she has made!
Terri St. Lawrence
Development Manager
Reach Out to Me For:
- Supporting the Women’s Fund
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Learn about the Women’s Fund
- Fun Fact: Terri is our “retro queen!” She loves all things vintage and loves to go search for the perfect find. She also has a deep love for Arizona and her dog, Creed!