I first looked into this group 10 years ago and all of the local chapters were no longer accepting new members. I just learned of a new chapter forming as well as a 10 year old chapter of 55-85 yr old professional woman accepting new members. Many in the 10 year old group are retired but some still active in their career. I am guessing that there are some member here who have been involved and I would like to hear about your experiences.
Thanks!
I have never heard of this! I would like to hear more.
https://diningforwomen.org/
Interesting. Never heard of this group. Sounds like all you need to do is donate to the cause once a year to be considered a member. We could have our own virtual group here on CC!
My spouse has been involved with Dining For Women for the past 7 years or so, both locally and nationally. It’s a quality organization, for sure.
The national organization picks one organization each month to receive a meaningful one-time grant, usually I think in the range of $400,000 - $500,000. The recipients are all organizations working to improve the lives of women outside the U.S., mostly in the Third World, and mostly run by women. The issues and approaches can vary widely month to month – one month it may be microlending and distribution channels for female artisans, another month support for sex workers to change their lives, and then maybe one of the many cookstove or water projects going on, or local sanitary pad manufacture and distribution.
Local groups get together once a month for a potluck dinner, and the women contribute cash, which is what is aggregated to fund that month’s grant. (The contribution is supposedly what they would pay for a meal at a restaurant; of course that means different things to different people, which is completely fine.) The local groups get a package, usually including a video, providing information about that month’s grant recipient and the issue it is addressing, and the women in the local group discuss it during/after dinner. The people in the groups tend to be (or become) friends, so it’s both a nice social experience and a chance to learn something, to get the benefit of others’ perspectives, and to contribute to making a difference. Local groups are size-limited to ensure they remain personal and everyone’s voice can be heard, but multiple groups can (and do) co-exist in the same community. The national organization also provides some opportunities for deeper engagement, through national committees, seminars, or trips to visit grantees.
The organization is run mainly by volunteers. It has a small, high-quality professional staff that supports volunteer committees in evaluating applications and to some extent monitoring grantees. Because of the one-time nature of the grants (which may nonetheless be spread out over a number of months), as a practical matter most of the grantees have some pre-existing engagement with U.S. or other Western charities that are ensuring proper use of funds and basic management competence.
The organization was founded and remains based in Greenville SC. A relatively small number of women, mostly from around there, contribute a lot more than monthly dinner money to support its limited administrative structure and staff. In large part because it started there, it is strongest in the South, and it is very big-tent and nonpartisan in its politics. It is not particularly focused on growing – there isn’t a large paid staff with an incentive to attract new members. It seems to be most attractive to women in their 50s and older (which is the generation of its founders), and other than in a handful of local areas it does not do much to reach out to younger women.
As far as I know, it’s no boys allowed. At least, that’s the case in my neighborhood, and even in my home when we host the meeting.
^^ Thanks for that explanation!
I see several local chapters. I’m interested to hear more. I’m not a very brave “joiner” socially. I like the idea of a virtual CC chapter! 
Grants are up to 50K
JHS, thank you for the great explanation.
abasket, I am not a joiner but like their goals and the fact that it is a small group. I had used your link and contacted a chapter near me and received an immediate response. As I had two choices I picked the one that “has wonderful food and discussion” vs the “casual potluck” group just forming. It was nice to have a choice. I will not meet for the first time until April as this group is celebrating Woman’s Day, March 8th, with groups gathering from the surrounding area. Hope you post if you join.
gouf78–then we can wear our pj’s?
I apologize for being so off on the monthly grant. Yes, apparently it’s one-time grants of $35-50,000, and most months there are also further commitments to former grantees of up to $75,000 over three years. Essentially, what they have done over time is to spend everything raised from the local chapters’ dinners on grants and related program expenses, and to do separate fundraising to cover their administrative expenses and reserves.
I had never heard ot this group. There are only a handful of chapters in my state, none close to where I live or where I work. But I am thinking of contacting one of them. Even if it is a bit far, it would only be once a month. Looks very interesting so thanks for posting.
If you look at the national chapter information they are open to new chapters. If you attended a few meetings that are not close to you then you might get interested in forming one near you. Just a thought.
I will post back after my first meeting in April.
There is a similar organization called 100 Women Who Care.
Thanks for posting about the organization. There is a chapter fairly near me and I indicated that I wanted the chapter president to contact me, but it’s been 24 hours and still no contact.
Our only Oahu chapter is full according to the website. It seems like an interesting organization.