(Updated July 2007)

WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE BYLAWS

Article 1.         Name
Women Making A Difference is the official name of the founding organization.  The name and the logo are protected under a federal trademark.

The official name of this specific chapter is Women Making A Difference / Charleston.

Article I1.       Mission/Goals

Section 2.01    Mission
The mission of Women Making A Difference (WMD) is to build a community of women philanthropists, maintain a permanent endowment fund, and provide grants to institutions and initiatives that advance the well-being of women and children in Charleston County.

Section 2.02    Goals
The goals of Women Making A Difference (“WMD”) are to:

• Make a difference in the community by pooling and contributing volunteer time, talents and financial resources.
• Encourage community among ourselves and those we serve.
• Educate and increase awareness of local needs.
• Encourage self-sufficiency and well-being among those in need
• Promote volunteerism and effective philanthropy.
• Build a network that is a catalyst for positive change.
• Remain neutral and nonpartisan on any controversial or political issues.

Article 111.     Sponsor
WMD/Charleston has established a donor-advised fund as well as an endowment fund with the Coastal Community Foundation (CCF).  WMD will communicate with CCF and solicit its input and advice as warranted in connection with the efforts of the Grant Committee, pursuant to Article VIII.

Article IV.      Financial Contribution and Distribution
Membership is open to any woman who wishes to further the mission and goals of WMD through financial support and participation.  Payment of a minimum of $250 is required for membership.  Membership fees are due by June 30th in order to qualify for membership in any given year. 

Section 4.01    Annual Contribution of members through Membership Dues
Members make an annual contribution as Membership dues at one of the following levels:

Diamond                    
Members who donate $2,500 or more annually

Emerald                      
Members who donate $1000 - $2499 annually

Sapphire                     
Members who donate $500 to $999 annually

Ruby                          
Members who donate $250 - $499 annually

Section 4.02    Annual Distributions
At the end of the WMD fiscal year on June 31st, the membership funds will be accounted for and are distributed as follows:

10%    
Directed to the WMD Endowment Fund to ensure our mission and goals are supported in perpetuity.

1%      
Paid to the Coastal Community Foundation for administrative expenses

4%      
Reserved for WMD operational expenses: 1.5% for events, 1.5% for marketing and 1% for special needs. Any unused portion will be added to that year’s grantable funds. Use of these funds must be approved by the entire Executive Committee.

85%    
Directly to WMD grantees.

Section 4.03    Changes to Financial Contribution/Distribution
Any changes to either the annual contribution of members or the distribution shall be approved by and implemented by the WMD Executive Committee.

Article V.        Membership

Section 5.01    Responsibilities of Membership

• Honor financial commitment made to the WMD donor-advised fund.
• Participate in the work of the organization by giving advice, suggestions and direction as requested by the Executive and Grant Committees or other committees formed by WMD.
• Encourage participation of individuals and organizations that support the mission and goals of WMD.
• Attend WMD events to receive education and information and to review the year’s work.

Section 5.02    Benefits of Membership

• Participation in a dynamic organization of women empowering other women and children.
• Input into WMD’s annual goals and grant criteria.
• Opportunity to explore, network and collaborate with women of shared values.
• Education about non-profits, philanthropy and needs in the community.
• Eligibility for participation on the Executive Committee, the Grant Committee and any other standing committees of WMD.
• Volunteer opportunities within WMD as well as with the WMD grant recipients.

Article VI       Organization/Structure
WMD will have an Executive Committee, a Grant Committee and a Nominating Committee.

Section 6.01    Founding Members
The Founding Members of WMD are Katie Dukes, Weesie Newton and Nancy Snowden. 

• The Founding members are available as a resource to the Executive Committee.
• Responsible for working to introduce WMD into other communities. 
• Responsible for seeking and developing corporate support for WMD.
• The Founding Members will be a part of the Nominating Committee.

Section 6.02    The Executive Committee
The affairs of WMD, except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws and applicable laws, shall be bested in, conducted and managed by the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will consist of seven members of WMD with one member serving as the Chair of the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall determine which of its members shall act as the Chair and this member must have served on the Executive Committee for at least one of the previous years.   The members will hold two year terms. The terms are based on a normal calendar year and run January 1st – December 31st.  The Executive Committee members shall be determined by the Nominating Committee by December 31st each year and introduced by mail in January of the following year as well as at the February event each year.

The Responsibilities of the Executive Committee are defined as follows:

• Provide the vision for WMD: support the mission and goals of WMD through community connection, personal financial support and new membership development.
• Develop and oversee policies and programs that reflect the organization’s mission.
• Facilitate communication among committees as well as the membership at large.
• Report the organization’s financial condition and accomplishments annually to the general membership.
• Attend the regular planning meetings of the Executive Committee. A member may not miss more than three planning meetings without reasonable explanation to the rest of the committee.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings and events of WMD.

Section 6.03    Specific Positions/Responsibilities of the Executive Committee

Chair of the Executive Committee

-     The Chair of the Executive Committee is responsible for the overall workings of the Executive Committee and focusing on the implementation of the mission of WMD.

-     Responsible for calling and running all Executive Committee meetings.

-     Responsible for promptly sending meeting notes and following up by email with Executive Committee Members after each meeting.

-     The Chair is elected by the other members of the Executive Committee and must have served on the Executive Committee for at least the past year.

Membership Coordinator

-     The Membership Coordinator is charged with buildingand stewarding a vital, diverse and satisfied membership – one in which members feel connected to one another and the community

-     Responsible for organizing and overseeing all aspects of the annual membership drive, including a letter each January to the entire previous year’s membership asking for their renewal and a follow up letter each May to those who have yet to renew.

 -    Responsible for all communication with potential members.

-     Responsible for organizing recruitment events held by WMD members.

-     Responsible for the “Welcome” email to new and renewing members as well as written notes when appropriate.

Grants Coordinator

-     The Grants Coordinator is responsible for the membership and function of the Grants Committee and serves as a liaison between the Coastal Community Foundation, the Grants Committee and the WMD membership.

-     Responsible for serving as the Chair of the Grants Committee:

-    Responsible for supplying a list of the Grants Committee members, number of vacant seats on the Grants Committee and member contact information to the Executive Committee by the first week of May each year.

-    Responsible for the delivery of Grants Committee meeting notes within 5 days of each meeting to the Communications Coordinator.

-    Responsible for supplying is list of the nominated agencies to the Executive Committee by mid-June each year.

-    Responsible for informing the membership about the grants process and for soliciting their input.

Volunteer Coordinator

• The Volunteer Coordinator acts as the grants recipient’s liaison by overseeing the extraneous needs of the grantees, which may include fielding volunteer opportunities and also working with the Communications Coordinator to disseminate information to the membership at large. 
• The Volunteer Coordinator is there as a resource to the WMD members to aid in finding them placement for volunteer time that they have as well.
• Responsible for working with the grantees to share ongoing benchmark status reports.
• Responsible for setting up speakers for all of the WMD events.
• Responsible for working with the Events Coordinator by providing volunteers from the WMD membership at large to help coordinate and run all WMD events to ensure that there are members available to setup, work and break down/clean up at each event.

Communications Coordinator

• The Communications Coordinator maintains the monthly email newsletter and is responsible for all communication with the WMD membership at large, including emails, postcards and letters.
• Responsible for all invitations to events
• Responsible for maintaining the “Master List” defined as a database tracking contact and membership information for WMD members as well as information for potential members WMD would like to recruit.

Events Coordinator

• The Events Coordinator is responsible for all WMD events which are defined as follows::
• The monthly “Wine Wednesdays”: Member-only events hosted by a current WMD member.  A Grantee is typically invited to speak by the Membership Coordinator.
• The 4 Annual events open to potential members as well as current WMD members:
• A “Join” Event in February
• “Spring Soiree” in April,
• “Bring” event in September benefiting Dressed for Success  
• Annual “Grants Announcement Event” in November during Philanthropy Week.
• Any other fundraising event that WMD does alone or plans in conjunction with other organizations.
• Responsible for attending the 4 annual events as well as being available for each entire event.
• Responsible for selecting the venue as well as soliciting catering, rentals and other donations to underwrite events.
• Responsible for consistent communication with any organizations/members who donate to events on a regular basis.
• Responsible for communicating event logistics to the Executive Committee on a regular basis and working with the Volunteer Coordinator for WMD volunteers at each event.
• Responsible for having the 4 annual events planned, with venues and contracts put together by the end of the calendar year preceding the events.
• Responsible for working with the Marketing and PR Coordinator to have information on these 4 annual events available in sufficient time for successful promotion.

Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

• The Marketing and PR Coordinator is responsible for maintaining the promotion of WMD within the Charleston Community and beyond through a strategic plan to promote awareness.
• Responsible for the WMD website, press releases, advertising trade agreements, photography, and writing assistance with WMD material.

Section 6.04    The Grants Committee

The WMD Grants Committee is composed of 15 WMD members as well as the Grants Coordinator who is the Chair of the Grants Committee.  Any WMD member in good standing can volunteer to serve on the Grants Committee by contacting the current Grants Coordinator.  Grant Committee membership is a two year term.

• The Grants Committee designs, implements and evaluates the WMD grant making process.
• The Grants Committee determines eligibility criteria, the grant cycle and grant evaluation.
• The Grants Committee will solicit proposals, review the applications, make site visits and recommend awards.
• The Grants Committee calendar runs from August 1st until the Announcement Event in November.
• As of June 2007 WMD grants awards in the amount of $10,000 to each organization.  To make changes to that amount, the Grants Committee must bring a proposal before the Executive Committee for approval.

 

Section 6.05    Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee consists of the seven members of the Executive Committee as well as the the Founding Members.      

• The Nominating Committee is responsible for determining the leadership of WMD by filling the Executive Committee positions as needed.
• Any member interested in a Coordinator position should contact a member of the Executive Committee or a Founding Member.

Article VII.     Grant Eligibility

Only agencies that qualify as 501c(3) entities under the Internal Revenue Service code (or are under the umbrella of such an organization) will be considered for funding. Management for the agency and project should be in the hands of reliable, ethical and experienced personnel.  Project plans should demonstrate the ability to achieve results and should supply sufficient rationale to warrant the given amount of risk.  Organization that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief and organizations that serve an exclusively sectarian purpose will not be considered for funding.

Article VIII.   Calendar Year

WMD operates on a calendar year as far as Committee membership and events.  The membership dues and Fiscal year are July 1st each year to June 30th of the next.  This is primarily to facilitate the grant process.

Article IX.      Communication Policy

WMD communicates with its members solely about the business of WMD and its grantees.  WMD does not distribute its membership list to members or non-members.

Article X.        Fundraising Policy

WMD is a membership organization and does not as an organization fundraise through events or meetings.  However, if a current member in good standing would like to host an event where 50% or more of the proceeds go directly to the WMD donor-advised or endowment funds, the member may ask the Executive Committee for permission.  Once the event is approved, the member will communicate with the Event Coordinator who will advise the Executive Committee as to details and progress of the event.

Article XI. Formation of Additional WMD Chapters

Section 11.01  The Process of Approval

Section 11.02 Oversight

Section 11.03  Communication between Chapters

Article XII.    Ethical Conduct

Each member of the Executive Committee and Grant Committee and any other committee members who have access to the deliberations of the Grant Committee is required annually to sign an agreement to abide by the policies on Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest, adopted by the Executive Committee of WMD and approved by the Coastal Community Foundation.

Article XIII.   Amendment to the Bylaws

Changes to the Bylaws may be made by the Executive Committee and a notice set forth to the membership at large as approved and amended.