Women Who Care: When Small Gifts Make a Big Difference

Six years ago, two local visionaries brought together a room full of women to create a giving circle. The event was called 100 Women Who Care. The premise of the gathering is brilliantly simple: get a group of people together, give a relatively modest amount each, and collectively make a meaningful donation to a local nonprofit—without the time and expense of a traditional fundraising campaign.

The inaugural event in Faribault started with the gathering of 100 women, each contributing $100, then each person nominates their favorite Faribault charity. Three finalists are drawn. After a short message from each finalist, everyone votes. Half of the total dollars collected went to assist the growth of the Faribault Foundation, the other half was presented to the non-profit with the most votes.

In 2023, the event also became an opportunity to introduce the founders of the Women Who Care Endowment. At that time the Board of Directors of the Faribault Foundation voted to grant the dollars raised at future Women Who Care events to build and promote their endowment with the other half providing fast grant dollars for local 501(C)3 organizations.

Over the years, 100 Women Who Care grew well beyond 100 participants, and the event name has evolved to simply “Women Who Care”.

The Faribault group can’t take the credit for this philanthropic concept, the 100 Who Care Alliance started in Jackson, Michigan by a woman named Karen Dunigan in 2006. Today it includes over 700 giving circles nationwide. And it isn't a nonprofit or an official organization, it’s volunteer-driven, with no membership, just a commitment to make a difference together.

It also isn't just women anymore. There are groups of men and youth as well. Locally a group of men have organized the 100 Men on a Mission each fall.

To date, the Women Who Care event has provided grants to: Believet (Dogs for Veterans), Hope Center, Light of Hope Cancer Foundation, Community Action Center, and Ruth’s House

This year’s event will be hosted by the 310 Event Center on Thursday, October 1st. starting at 6pm. The event is generously sponsored by Community Resource Bank. Women can make their donation for the event ahead of time at FaribaultFoundation.Org or by calling (507)-805-8800 or stopping by the Faribault Foundation at 530 Wilson Ave.

The Men on a Mission event will be held Thursday, December 10th at 6pm at the American Legion.

-Christine Shaffer-Brown, Faribault Foundation Board Chair