San Diego Women’s Foundation named Outstanding Philanthropic Organization in San Diego

News Release:
November 19, 2004

Contact:
Simona Valanciute, The San Diego Foundation
619-846-3832,
Simona@sdfoundation.org

SAN DIEGO – November 19, 2004 – Last week, the San Diego chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals selected the four-year-old San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) as San Diego’s “Outstanding Philanthropic Organization for 2004.”

The honor was bestowed at a luncheon sponsored by the AFP in recognition of “National Philanthropy Day.” At the meeting, the AFP named its 2004 Outstanding Philanthropic awards in the categories of San Diego’s best individual, volunteer, organizational and corporate charitable efforts.

To qualify for the award, private foundation, civic organization, or grant-making service organization must demonstrate commitment through financial support and by encouraging others to take leadership roles in philanthropy in the community.

In receiving the Organization award, Julie Dubick, current SDWF president and a founder said, “It’s unusual to see an organization as young as SDWF honored. We’re thrilled by the AFP’s recognition of our organization’s effectiveness in making a positive impact in the community.”

The San Diego Women’s Foundation is a volunteer-based organization with over 230 active members. Each SDWF member formally commits to contribute $2,000 a year for five years. SDWF has built an endowment fund of $780,000 that will benefit the San Diego region in perpetuity and has granted over $608,000 into San Diego County at the close of its fourth annual grant cycle.

Dubick said, “The San Diego Women’s Foundation was founded in 1999 as a way to increase the participation and leadership of women in philanthropy in a new way. Women have always been visionary leaders in the realm of charitable giving, but they tend to donate as individuals.”

“Through SDWF, women philanthropists can combine their own financial contributions into a powerful single fund. SDWF acts as a cohesive whole in systematically building, growing and granting out results-based charitable donations.”

“The San Diego Women’s Foundation was created because women in San Diego saw that nearly every major city in the United States had a Women’s Foundation except for San Diego. That fact spurred local women to create their own organization,” said Dubick.

Each year the Foundation focuses on a particular objective. These have included Health & Human Services, Civil Society, Economic & Employment Development, the Environment, and Arts & Culture. Dubick noted that “The Women’s Foundation doesn’t just give to women and children; we think all issues call for the involvement, leadership and resources of women.”

“SDWF offers women the resources to help ensure women of everyday means have the opportunity, education, information and organizational effectiveness to become powerful philanthropists that, working together, can truly affect their communities,” Dubick concluded.

The San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) is s a supporting organization of The San Diego Foundation.

For information on The San Diego Women’s Foundation, please call 619-235-2300 or visit http://www.sdwomensfoundation.org.

Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation is San Diego’s largest nonprofit foundation and leading philanthropic organization. The mission of The Foundation is to improve the quality of life in San Diego by promoting and increasing responsible and effective charitable giving. Visit The Foundation on www.sdfoundation.org or call 619-235-2300.