WOMEN UNITED™ is a global giving circle of 70,000+ women leaders in more than 165 communities dedicated to creating a world of opportunity for everyone. Since 2002, this exclusive giving circle has raised and invested more than $1.7billion. WOMEN UNITED™ launched in Greater Victoria in 2019 and currently has 40 members.
Vision:
We are more powerful together. We can build a sustainable community and bright future for our present and future generations. To be a powerful force for social change, where women are key drivers of philanthropy in local communities, across the country and around the world through both giving and volunteering.
Membership and benefits:
All leadership donors $1,200 and up are welcome to join Women United.
Members have the opportunity to join a community of like-minded donors who contribute their personal passions, best ideas, and unique strengths to the mission of building stronger communities.
Benefits of getting involved include volunteering time, expertise and talent; networking and collaborating with key business and community leaders at exclusive events; and learning more about social issues facing our community.
To qualify for membership and recognition in WOMEN UNITED™, gifts of $1,200 and over (lump sum or monthly) must be made exclusively to United Way. Designations to external charities that are not part of United Way’s priority areas are excluded from recognition totals. If you would like to find out more about this giving circle, please contact womenunited@uwsvi.ca
Milica Ivaz, Co-Chair
Milica is a Financial Consultant who is passionate about empowering women to be financially successful. She is active in her community and a champion for Camosun College Together for Health. She has served as a Board Member with Community Living and the Victoria Foundation. She has also volunteered with the Saanich Water Polo School, Campus View Parent Advisory Committee, University Women’s Club of Victoria. and the United Way Southern Vancouver Island.
Sue Wilson, Co-Chair
Sue is now happily retired but active in supporting her community. Her professional career was in the field of information technology, primarily as applied to improve efficiencies and information sharing in the health and human services sectors. Her volunteer experience includes serving as chair of Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV) in Toronto, serving as a board member for Beacon Community Services from 2011 to 2017, and currently working with Victoria Women’s Transition House in Victoria. As a longtime supporter of United Way in Ottawa, Toronto and Victoria, she is committed to improving the lives of others in the community. As an original member of Women United in Victoria, Sue is very interested in working with concerned women to provide focus on the particular causes of concern to us. Sue’s interests include travel, yoga and taking walks in beautiful Victoria with family and friends.
Terms of Reference
United Way Southern Vancouver Island – WOMEN UNITED – TERMS OF REFERENCE
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the WOMEN UNITED (WU) is to bring together women throughout the region who donate $1,200 or more annually to United Way Southern Vancouver Island, to amplify the impact of their collective gifts, increase philanthropic support for the UWSVI and support strong resilient communities. Gifts made by WU members benefit local programs and services that help individuals and families in the region. Donations can be directed to one of United Way Southern Vancouver Island’s three areas of Action; Seniors, Families in Need and Mental Health and Addictions; or to one of the key initiatives under the areas of action.
OBJECTIVES:
- Engage WU members on issues of concern that affect local women and their families
- Mobilize resources to meet existing and emerging needs
- Host events to provide networking and social opportunities for members
- Partner with other groups and organizations with similar goals
- Recruit women philanthropists to join Women United
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Women United Committee Structure
The Women United Committee will consist of two co-chairs in partnership with one or more staff liaisons.
The Committee is responsible for:
- Coordinate and execute fundraising activities that align with UWSVI’s fundraising areas of focus and overall community fundraising goals;
- Annual WU planning and membership recruitment strategy;
- Oversight of all WU activities;
- Reviewing the Terms of Reference for WU annually;
- Being an advocate and ambassador for United Way and WU;
- Whenever possible, one or both of the co-chairs of WU will be invited to sit on UWSVI Cabinet as a representative of WU;
- Whenever possible, to participate in grant review committees that make community investment decisions;
- Ensuring all committee members sign a confidentiality agreement;
- Serve in this capacity for a term of one year with opportunity for renewal;
- The co-chairs will effectively manage the committee operations, including the requirement to:
- Set the meeting dates for the committee on an annual basis.
- Set the agenda in partnership with the staff support from UWSVI.
- Facilitate scheduled meetings.
- Act as a conduit of feedback from WU members to UWSVI staff (the Community Relations Officer and the Director of Development).
The Community Relations Officer serves as the day-to-day contact for WU, supporting the co- chairs in coordination of meetings and information sharing. The CRO supports the coordination and executive of the WU AGM, and the WU main fundraising event each fall.
The Director of Development provides support and stewardship for individual donors (WU members) facilitating the process to becoming WU members.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Recommendations to UWSVI will be made by consensus. The co-chairs will determine the best method for resolution if consensus cannot be achieved.
Members must participate in 75% of planned meetings, meetings, fundraisers in order to maintain their status on WU.
WU meetings will be held to align with key dates and campaigns or as determined by the committee; the AGM will be held in April each year.
Minutes will be taken for all WU meetings to record the recommendations and action items.
MEMBERSHIP
WU members have the opportunity to join a community of like-minded women who contribute their personal passions, best ideas, and unique strengths to make positive change.
Membership Benefits include:
- Opportunity to network and collaborate with key business, community leaders and like-minded women in the community.
- Opportunity to improve the lives of women and their families in vulnerable situations, through financial resources and gifts of personal time and talent.
- Learn more about critical issues facing our community.
- Gain public profile as a community leader – be recognized as a Leadership Donor on the UWSVI online Donor Wall; receive invitations to Leadership Donor recognition events.
- Volunteer opportunities.
To qualify for membership and recognition in WU, gifts of $1,200 and over must be made to UWSVI. Donations can be made as either a one-time or on-going monthly gift. Designations to external charities that are not part of the UWSVI’s Areas of Action are excluded from recognition totals. WU members must opt in to participate in this giving circle and be willing to volunteer time and resources to WU events and fundraising activities.
BACKROUND:
Since 2002, 70,000 women leaders in more than 165 communities have raised and invested more than $1.7 billion through WOMEN UNITED.
Our Vision:
To be a powerful force for social change, where women are key drivers of philanthropy in local communities, across the country and around the world through both giving and volunteering.
Our Spirit:
Hope and Passion powers Opportunities.
Our Beliefs:
- We get things done.
- We engage others to galvanize and solve problems.
- We are building a sustainable community and bright future for generations to come.
- We are more powerful together.
- What you/we give you/we get back.
- We are a welcoming circle of helpers where there is always room for others.
- We believe in optimistic outcomes.
Our Character:
- Transformational
- Influencers
- Fun
- Compassionate
- Nurturing
- Empowering
- Impactful
- Leadership
- Reciprocity
Our Focus:
Making positive change
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
WU hold an annual fundraising event (each fall). A second “easy” fundraiser may be planned for late spring.
Ideas for the fundraiser (eg: an event or a matching fund or any other idea) can be raised through UWSVI staff and/or from individual members.
Ideas should be presented to all WU members, through a Co- Chair, during a membership meeting or through a special email communication to decide:
- Type of event
- Fundraising dollar target
- Which UWSVI funded program, service or Area of Action will benefit Members will be asked to vote and be given a deadline to vote. Decisions would be based on consensus achieved to the deadline.
Individual members are encouraged to support/volunteer with fundraising events by joining a Fundraising Event Sub-committee.
The Co–Chairs will be a member of the Fundraising Event Sub-Committee.