100 Women Who Care - Evanston

How long has 100 WWC been in Evanston?
It’s brand new! The original 100+ Women Who Care was started in Jackson, Michigan in 2006. More than seven hundred 100 Who Care giving circles exist throughtout the world today. Of these, over 350 Women Who Care chapters have spread throughout communities across the globe. To learn more go to 100 Who Care Alliance.

How do I sign up?

To become a member, you need to sign the Commitment Form and set up payment. After those two steps, you are all set! Click here and you will find all the instructions you need to become a member.

How do I donate each quarter?

You can set up online payments through our Grapevine platform. We recommend you read our instructions first, as there are a few tricky steps. Click here for the instructions. Click here to go directly to Grapevine.

*If you want to pay with check, just let us know by emailing us at 100womenevanston@gmail.com.

How do I nominate an organization?
Any current member who has signed a Commitment Form and who is a member in good standing may nominate an organization for consideration at a meeting. An Organization Nomination Form must be filled out 2 weeks prior to each meeting. Nominated organizations must be vetted to prove they meet certain criteria. Vetted = 501(c)(3) status, non-political, non-religious, and services Cook County (minus Chicago). We will not consider any organizations that perpetuate inequality or put human rights protected groups at risk. At the end of each meeting, three organizations will be selected from a hat. The members whose organizations are randomly chosen will be asked give a an informal 5 minute presentation at the following meeting.

What is a 501(c)(3)?
A 501(c)(3) is defined as “exemptions that apply to corporations, and any community chest, fund or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational purposes, to foster national or international amateur sports competition, promote the arts, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.”

What commitment am I making by becoming a member?
Membership in 100+ Women Who Care Evanston includes making an annual tax deductible donation of $400 ($100 per quarter) to local organizatins serving the Cook County (minus Chicago). Attendance at meetings is not mandatory but the donation is. Membership is for a one (1) year period of time and will renew automatically unless notice is given. Should you wish to discontinue membership, please contact us indicating your withdrawal from 100+ Women Who Care Evanston.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Yes, your contribution is tax deductible if made payable to a 501(c)(3) organization. Our payment platform "Grapevine" is a 501(c)(3) so the donation is tax deductible.

If my charity is one of the three picked, what do I need to say in my presentation?
Visit the Presentation Tips tab.

Do I have to nominate an organization?
No. Many women like to just show up and make a donation. While all members have the opportunity to nominate an organization, it is not a requirement of membership.

Can an organization nominate itself?
No, an organization must be nominated by a member.

Once an organization receives an award, can it be considered again?
Any organization that receives a $10,000 award must wait 2 years before it can be nominated again. The 2 organizations that receieve a smaller donation (the remainder after $10,000) must skip one meeting before being nominated again.

What is a Member in Good Standing?

A "Member in Good Standing" is a group member who has met their donation commitment, and is current with their donations for all quarterly meetings
In order to maintain the donation power of the group, members who are not in good standing will not be allowed to vote at the next quarterly meeting unless their donation for the previous meeting has been received.
Additionally, the organization nominated by a member who is not "in good standing" will not be eligible for consideration for a donation until that member is current on their donation commitment.

What if I don’t care for the organization that has been selected?
Each member commits to donating $100 per quarter ($400/ annually) even if they are unable to attend the meetings or do not care for the selected non-profit.

How do I donate if I can't attend the meeting?
Your payment will go through the Grapevine App that you set up when you become a member. If you are paying by check, please give it to someone to bring to the meeting. We cannot make our donation to the award recipient until all members have paid.

Can I just send the donation to the organization myself?
The goal of the 100+ Women Who Care organization is to make a large donation on behalf of the whole group. We want to be able to support this endeavor and give $10,000+ at a time to make a large impact in our community, with each member’s donation being part of the larger donation.

Can I write a check?
Our preferred method of payment is Grapevine. We have talked to women from other chapters and check collecting becomes very complicated/time-consuming. If you are paying with check, let us know here. Bring a blank check for $100 to each meeting. Please do not submit late checks!

How much of my donation goes to the administration costs of 100 Women Who Care Evanston?
Absolutely zero! 100 Women Who Care Evanston is organized and operated entirely by women who volunteer their time. We do not collect any money for administration. 100% of funds donated at a meeting go directly to the selected organization!

After four donation cycles, do I need to restart my Grapevine donations? Donations made through the Grapevine platform are designed to be ongoing (recurring), as the platform is built to facilitate and encourage long-term engagement and sustainable support for nonprofit organizations. However, you can cancel at any time. Our goal is to keep this up for years to come!

What does 100 Women Who Care Evanston do with my personal information?
Information collected will be used only for maintaining our membership lists. 100+ Women Who Care Evanston will not sell, give or otherwise share your personal information without your express consent, unless required by law. We do like to recognize our members via social media and other venues. If a member would like to remain anonymous they must let us know on the Commitment Form.

Can I bring a friend to the meeting?

Of course you can! However, in order to vote she will need to sign a Commitment Form and become a paying member first.

Word of mouth is the best way for us to reach our goal of 100 women.

Please invite your friends to join!