Next Right Step

Zonta Club of Olympia is the premier sponsor of the Next Right Step.

NRS is a wrap-around fund that pays for non-crisis, one-time expenses that are barriers to a woman’s self-sufficiency. Women can access up to $500 for expense related to maintaining transportation, legal, education, employment, health and housing.

The Next Right Step fosters self-sufficiency by providing just-in-time aid to motivated women who lack resources for things like taking a class for work, fees or car repairs for transportation to work and child care. 

NRS funds are dispersed through Family Education and Support Services (FESS). FESS already serves the target population, screens applicants and pays the vendor or agency directly (not the woman). 

Please join us in building a better community by helping one woman at a time take the next right step in self-sufficiency.

Next Right Step Giving Circle

The Next Right Step Giving Circle and Next Right Step Zonta collaborate to raise money for the same program. 

When you become a Giving Circle member your donation will improve the outcome for 2-5 women this year. Together we make our community stronger.

What is the NRS Giving Circle? 

A Giving Circle is simply a group of people who band together to pool their philanthropic money and make charitable donations to a cause we all care about. The NRS Giving Circle honors and builds on the 7- year legacy of Zonta’s NRS. The Giving Circle raises money for the same cause and together we amplify our power and make a greater impact.

By becoming a Giving Circle member, your donation can positively influence the lives of 2-5 women this year, contributing to the strength and resilience of our community. Join us in making a lasting impact!

As of 2024, Zonta Club of Olympia will be donating $2000 annually. Interested in being a supporter? 

Learn more here.

Discover the ways in which Next Right Step has supported and empowered women

From 2017 to 2023, the Next Right Step, in partnership with the Zonta Club of Olympia, has contributed $87,600, impacting the lives of 260 women in Thurston County. Here are a few stories of women who were able to take the Next Right Step

Next Right Step (NRS) helped this single mom regain her independence. We paid fees to reissue her driver’s license and paid for copies of her children’s birth certificates to secure housing. 

NRS Grant $419  

This woman got behind due to a broken wrist that kept her off the job. NRS paid her utility bill so she could catch up and prevent late fees from adding up.  

NRS Grant $235

This NRS grant paid for specialty training resulting in a pay increase. It also paid to replace her car’s starter, fixing her transportation problem. $125 for training, $165 for car repair. 

NRS Grant $290

Sometimes $20 can be an obstacle to those striving for independence. NRS paid the for a background check needed for employment.  

NRS Grant $20

"I am sitting in my vehicle absolutely amazed and beyond blessed. I truly hope you understand the blessing that you and those you work with have given us. We are so grateful; we are so relieved. This grant payment will allow me to work as a case manager for cascade community health, and more importantly will allow our family a warm spot to sleep and function from amidst this sobering, life changing experience. God Bless all of you there. And the only hope I have outside of stabilizing our little family, is to be able to be a positive success story for FESS to reflect on and to be able to be in the position of giving back and paying forward these blessings. I am grateful to all of you there at FESS. thank you thank you thank you." -NRS Grant Recipient

Supporting Next Right Step: 

Ways to Make a Difference

Host a Party with A Purpose

Here are just a few ways Zontians are donating:

 

Zonta Club of Olympia contributes 100% of your donation to the Next Right Step.

Facebook Fundraisers

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