Dear Friends and Community Members,

Our success within the world of philanthropy hinges on our founders’ initial commitment to strengthen the leadership of women’s and girls’ grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts. Their vision to reach out primarily to women philanthropists for capital as leverage in realizing racial, economic and social justice drives us to be the best in whatever we can achieve. It remains our firm belief that women’s struggles for social change historically impacts the whole community: family, friends, neighborhood, and society in general. Our recent grants to twenty community-based women’s and girls’ organizations sets in motion this belief.

In seeking long term sustainability, our trustees, the Board of Directors at the Boston Women’s Fund, recently decided to go forward with the completion of a five-year strategic plan. How do we start deciphering best practices at all levels within the Fund in order to qualitatively fulfill our mission? In chronicling our history we may learn: what functioned best or not during various times of our saga within the women’s movement? What exactly did we learn? What did we teach? Where are we today? What and how do we expect to achieve tomorrow?

In the midst of developing strategies for a successful future, the recent death of Kip Tiernan, one of the co-founders of the Boston Women’s Fund, reminds us of the power of the human spirit. Kip made bold choices to live her life struggling next to those oppressed, whether by race, class or other social injustices. In honor of Kip we urge you to remember this incredible woman with us at the Old South Church in Copley Square, Boston, on Saturday, September 10th at 11am.

As we move forward in our attempt to become the best we can, we need you to be there each step of the way. You make each achievement possible. Your support allows us to be bold in supporting our grantee community. The real changes that we witness in our communities establish the power of progressive philanthropy. This is your opportunity to be bold in supporting us to again meet another challenge by an outstanding woman philanthropist daring us to meet her $150,000 challenge grant. I urge you to continue your boldness in memory of Kip Tiernan and the many women and girls who today continue the struggle for a better world. Thank you for helping us to be successful.

In struggle,

Josefina Vázquez