Social Capital IN ACTION Lysa Hegland, Scott Community College Foundation

Women’s Giving Network Women Supporting Women History Established in inaugural members 5 ad-hoc committee members Initial Target Audience Female Foundation Board of Directors 1 st female College President Wives of male Foundation Board of Directors Current internal list of female donors and prospects Community contacts made at Chamber and Women’s Connection events Leads provided by engaged female foundation members Kick-off Communications Letter mailed to all WGN prospects

Launch Letter  Connecting forChange Women’s Giving Network Giving by women for women Women’s Advancement Scholarship Fund A program of the Scott Community College Foundation  Dear: Ms. Smith  Scott Community College Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of a new scholarship: Women’s Advancement Scholarship. This scholarship will be a $1,000 award offered annually to a non-traditional female student, one who is not a new high school graduate. Preference will be given to a woman who has financial need and who is a first-time college student.  The Foundation’s short-term goal is to offer a $1,000 annual scholarship to a female student for the academic year. The long-term goal is to build a $20,000 endowment, thereby supporting women’s education for years to come.  [ First Name], as an active member of our community, and a supporter of higher education, we invite you to become part of the group of dynamic and active local women who will create and fund this new scholarship. In this inaugural year of the Women’s Advancement Scholarship, each community member who donates a minimum of $100 will become a part of the first ever Scott Community College Women’s Giving Network – a recognition reserved for community members showing a commitment and understanding of the role education plays in helping women achieve their educational and professional goals. Those joining the Women’s Giving Network by March 15, 2012 will be invited to an exclusive culinary tea held in the Scott Community College Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Center on April 20, 2012 The culinary tea will include a wide array of “tea time” traditions, along with a delicious selection of teas and mouth-watering desserts. Complete details about this special event will follow.  Your donation in any amount to the Women’s Advancement Scholarship Fund will be tax-deductible to the full extent of the law, as the Scott Community College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your donation will also be recognized in the Foundation’s annual report, and, unless you request otherwise, your name will be identified as a contributor to the scholarship.  Ideally all of our inaugural donors will not only make a donation this year, but also will commit to making an equal donation in each of the next four years. Such commitments will go a long way in establishing an endowment of $20,000 to make this scholarship self-sustaining. However, additional donations are not required. The Foundation greatly appreciates donations in any amount, large or small, from any and every community member who wishes to encourage and support the educational advancement of women.  We ask that you please carefully consider supporting this scholarship. You may send your donation for this scholarship in the enclosed return-reply envelope. Your check should be payable to the “Scott Community College Foundation” with a memo notation that it’s for the “Women’s Advancement Scholarship.” Please contact me if you have any questions (563) or any of the committee members listed below.  Sincerely,  Lysa Hegland Assistant to the President & Foundation Director Scott Community College  Women’s Giving Network Committee Members: Linda Miller  Dr. Teresa A. Paper  Diane Stanley  Mary Stewart  Khara Coleman Washington

Launch Luncheon Hosted on campus in Culinary Arts Center Intimate networking setting, not formal. 20/30 members attended Scholarship Recipient: Heather Shook shared her story

First Year Scholarship Recipient Women’s Advancement Scholarship  Heather Shook Heather obtained a 4.0 GPA in the Fall of her first semester and because of the opportunity provided to her she has now expanded her educational goals beyond just a certificate program to entering in to the Nursing Program at SCC. The support she received from the Women’s Giving Network empowered her to achieve dreams she thought to once be impossible. Heather shared in her thank you to the Women’s Giving Network: It had been twenty years since I finished my high school education when I decided this spring that further education was something that I needed to do for myself and my family. As wives and mothers many of us put our goals and needs aside thinking that we are doing what is best for our families. In reality if we work to improve our circumstances that is what will benefit our families. I am learning this through experience thanks to receiving the Women’s Advancement Scholarship from the Women’s Giving Network. I had applied for admission to SCC this spring and was planning to begin classes in the fall. Then, as often happens, life changed for me and I almost walked away from college. Receiving the scholarship helped me because it not only eased the financial burden for me this fall, but it also gave me the confidence that I could do this. I know I can do this now thanks to the support of this great network. Thank you again, so much, for your support! Heather Shook

Summer & Fall Socials  Members were asked to volunteer to host a networking social in their home or work. There is a Summer and a Fall Networking Social. Important: No other meetings for this group!  Socials were held in the evening with the goal of connecting current members and inviting in other women to the group.  Current members received both hardcopy invites and an e-invite to share with their friends.

Network Connection Summer Social Thursday, July 12 th 6-9 p.m. Welcome to the Scott Community College Women’s Giving Network We will be hosting two social events this year to celebrate together and to introduce other women to the good work of the network. *Attendees will not be asked to donate at these social events. Please join us and bring other women who would enjoy learning more about Scott Community College and the Women’s Giving Network. Summer Social Thursday, July 12 th 6-9 p.m. Teresa Pirkin’s Home Example Drive – Bettendorf Please RSVP your attendance by July 2 nd to

Social Agenda  Goal is to connect and create deeper relationships at the events with the donors.  The evening is relaxed and not over stated.  Event lasts from 6-8 p.m. College President informally stands up at 7:30 thanking all who attended and gives a brief intro on the goals of the network and accomplishments to-date.  The current scholarship recipient is in attendance and offers an update on how their classes went for the prior semester and a sincere thank you to the group.  New prospects brought to the evening are asked to sign-in the guest book. No formal ask is made that evening. A follow-up mailing is shared following the event thanking them for attending and explaining again how to become a member. No hard sales tactics are used.

Quantitative Results Membership Growth: 2012 – 30 initial members 2013 – 45 members and 2 matching gifts 2014 – 63 members and 3 matching gifts Scholarships Awarded: 3 deserving women received much needed tuition assistance - $1000 each Funds raised: $ – $ – $6800 Currently WGN has raised $11,000 of their $20,000 goal

Intrinsic Benefits  Two new female Board of Directors recruited to the Board.  Three of the WGN members and their spouses have established their own annual scholarships.  One WGN member served on another community board and secure commitment for WGN to be the recipient for the funds raised at their annual mud run  An outstanding alumni was identified within the group and she gave a moving speech at the 2015 Dean’s reception.  A Phi Theta Kappa pioneer was identified and they gave the opening remarks at the new officer inductions.  15 of the members also attended the Foundation’s annual fundraising dinner in Donating to the general scholarship fund.  The college now has 63 more advocates and voices in the community.