Accelerate Magazine 2024 January

WAUKESHA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. | WAUKESHA.ORG WOMEN & GIRLS FUND OF WAUKESHA COUNTY NICOLE WAGNER Executive Director, Women & Girls Fund of Waukesha County NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Q: Describe your organization and its mission. A: The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County (WGF) supports programs to improve the quality of life for women and girls, ranging from meeting basic, essential needs at a low point in a woman’s life to empowering a woman – or young girl – to achieve her full potential. We make grants to nonprofits recognized as social service pillars of the community as well as to small, lesser-known organizations focused on a specific, clear need. We focus our resources on programs advancing the health and well-being, self-sufficiency and empowerment of women and girls in Waukesha County. Over time, our grants have helped long-established nonprofits expand successful programs and launch new services. We have enabled smaller groups to gain traction with innovative services fulfilling a previously unmet need. Together, one grant at a time, we are improving the odds for women and girls in Waukesha County and creating a stronger community. Q: What are your biggest challenges or obstacles? A: There are amazing nonprofit organizations doing important work in Waukesha County and we are proud to partner with many of them. Our biggest challenge is having to turn away important grant requests each year. On average, we can award only about half of the grant dollars requested. Our sole focus since our inception in 2004 has been enriching and enhancing the lives of women and girls of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds in Waukesha County. We are eager to do more and through increased donations and support. Together, we can accomplish so much more. Q: What have been your biggest successes? A: The Women of Distinction Luncheon is a marquee event in Waukesha County. We will celebrate the 40th annual event on May 17, 2024. The event honors the extraordinary accomplishments and leadership of women in Waukesha County as well as young women of 20

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