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  WINDY CITY TIMES

The Art of Giving: Lavender Fund
by MARIE-JO PROULX
2005-01-12

This article shared 4242 times since Wed Jan 12, 2005
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Pictured Seated, from left: Leslie Reambeault, Penny Allen and Carol Nolden. Back: Christie Dailey, Suzanne Kraus, Mary Morten and Jane Saks. Below: Donors and fundies gather. From left: Penny Allen, Jane Saks, OPALGA Youth Program Director Susan Abbott, OPALGA board member Lisa Pearson and CFW's Isabel Stewart.

#2 A Thank You Reception to the initial donors of the Chicago Foundation for Women [CFW] Lavender Fund. Check presentations were made—$3,000 was given to COH [Center on Halsted] and OPALGA [Oak Park Area Gay and Lesbian Association] in addition to the grants each organization received in the fall grant cycle, for a total of $10,500 to each group.

In 1999, led by its chair of the board, Mary Morten, the Chicago Foundation for Women ( CFW ) set up a task force to look at how better to serve the interests and needs of the lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

The following year, the Lavender Fund was created and its goal was to raise $100,000 in order to begin its grant-making activities. Last month, founders and friends of the Lavender Fund held a Thank You Reception to acknowledge the initial donors and award checks to two partner grantees.

CFW was the first women's fund in the U.S. to develop affinity groups of diverse women to lead community outreach efforts. The organization's Leadership Councils focus on four constituencies: African American, Asian American, Latina, and lesbian. While they strive to reflect and support different ( sometimes overlapping ) categories of women, all Councils share the same overarching goals of providing philanthropic tools to community organizations and acting as conveners on issues.

Morten, who is also a past president of Chicago NOW, remains involved with the Lavender Fund in her role as Consultant Coordinator. According to her, there is now a need for the endowed fund to expand and attract a more diverse pool of donors. The time has come for 'an extended effort to reach the larger community,' she said.

With approximately $30,000 currently in the kitty, the potential for an increase in contributions seems ripe.

Penny Allen and Jane Saks, the Lavender Fund's current co-chairs, are optimistic and FUND from cover

ready to take on the challenge. Allen said, 'We're very excited about the future of the Lesbian Leadership Council and the Lavender Fund. Over the last several months, there has been a renewed interest in the work of the Council and the giving opportunities through the Fund.'

Saks is also confident that awareness can be raised, '… we will take a leadership role in providing a voice for important issues in the LBT community,' she added.

Morten mentioned that they particularly want to explore quality-of-life issues. To this effect, a research project on giving attitudes in the LGBT community is under way. When the report is released in March, it is hoped that it will yield new ideas and suggest tailored fundraising strategies. In the meantime, giving to the Lavender Fund through CFW is as simple as including a note with a check.

Asked about the possibility of establishing a scholarship in gender studies, Morten explained that this option is not being considered right now because the Lavender Fund deals with organizations, not individual applicants. An arrangement with a designated institution whereby partial tuition could be subsidized is not planned either.

CFW's 18-year history and the $10 million in grants it has already distributed make it a respected and unique member of Chicago's not-for-profit landscape. But it is not unusual for lesbian donors to want their money to go to lesbian-oriented causes and programs.

This preference is precisely what the Lesbian Community Cancer Project ( LCCP ) tapped into when choosing its name. CFW's annual report for 2003 shows that LCCP received a Capacity-Building Program Grant of almost $20,000.

In early December, CFW moved into its new offices at One E. Wacker. The prime location should promote the organization's visibility, which would in turn help the Lavender Fund raise its profile.

For more information on the Lavender Fund, including volunteer opportunities, see www.cfw.org or contact mmorten@cfw.org


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