At its May meeting, the Board of Directors for Dining for Women approved the appointment of Carol Dillon Kissal as a new Director. Carol is the Vice-President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer for Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is responsible for all financial operations, treasury and debt portfolios, financial reporting, grants and contracts sponsored research programs, procurement and contracts management. During her impressive career, she has also held senior roles at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), the District of Columbia Department of Transportation and Amtrak. 

“Carol brings tremendous financial acumen and strategic leadership to Dining for Women’s Board as we advance our 2020 Vision,” Barb Collins, Board Chair and Co-Founder, said.  “She embodies the spirit of Dining for Women, and we welcome her passion, energy and remarkable talent to the Board.” 

Read Carol’s bio.

Update on Peace Corps' Let Girls Learn Partnership 

In March, DFW announced its first impact partnership grant – a $100,000 commitment to the Peace Corps’ Let Girls Learn Fund in support of girls’ education. The Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Program helps adolescent girls around the world complete their education by removing the social and structural barriers that many girls face in accessing an education. 

DFW’s grant will be utilized by Peace Corps Volunteers around the world to fund grassroots, community-led projects that address barriers to girls’ education and improve the quality of that education. 

So what has been happening since the announcement earlier this year? 

Read an Update.

Applications Being Accepted for Grant Selection Committee  

Applications are currently being accepted to fill volunteer vacancies on DFW’s Grant Selection Committee (GSC). The GSC is a group of DFW volunteers who are responsible for the in-depth evaluation of DFW grant proposals. This includes investigating many aspects of the applying organization such as its stated mission and goals, success rates, finances and staff, as well as critically evaluating all components of the proposed project using defined evaluation criteria and methods. Responsibilities include participating in weekly teleconference meetings and attending face-to-face meetings in late February and early August.

Selected candidates need to commit to a minimum of two years (four grant cycles) on the GSC. The application form and a complete position description are available online until July 24 ONLY. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Director of Grants & Partnerships, Veena Khandke, at veena@diningforwomen.org.

Volunteer Opportunities:  Advocacy and Diversity

In our May issue, we announced a new Volunteer page on our website, along with a new application process for specific volunteer opportunities. Each month in The Dish, we will share with you volunteer opportunities that are currently available. We also encourage you to check the Volunteer page regularly for updates – you may want to bookmark the page for easy access. Current volunteer needs include positions on several operational committees:   

NEW!  Advocacy Committee – The Advocacy Committee is seeking enthusiastic members who are interested in changing the way the world works for women.  We are seeking grassroots organizers, educators, writers, researchers, and those with experience in US political systems and international women’s advocacy.   

NEW!  Diversity Committee – The Diversity Committee is looking for people who care deeply about ensuring that all voices are heard in DFW's membership and decision-making. DFW encourages applicants of all ages, gender identities, races/ethnicities, and sexual orientations. People of color and/or LGBTQ are highly encouraged to apply. 

10 Years of Food, Wine and Friendship in Phoenix 

Congratulations to the AZ, Phoenix-1 chapter on 120 meetings – 10 wonderful years. The chapter is led by its founder, Rita Dickinson, who has hosted 116 of her group’s gatherings in her home. The chapter has its roots in Rita’s book club. Interest had waned in the book club, but Rita still wanted to gather with like-minded women. She saw a magazine article about DFW and thought it fit the bill. Now, there are 24 women on the chapter’s roster, with about 15 to 18 in attendance each month.  

The chapter, also known as “Wining for Women”, starts its meetings with wine and continues with a potluck of light dishes and desserts. The group has a very personal touch, as they go around the table and share what has happened in their lives over the past month.  

Over the course of 10 years, Rita said her easygoing group – she calls it “low maintenance” – has proven to be a real support for members. The group has mourned the loss of three members during that time and sustained others with friendship. “We have members who lead fascinating lives, and I look forward to hearing what has been going on in their lives each month,” she said. “We have had several who have gone through cancer treatments and other difficulties and they say they felt the strength of our chapter members helped them through.”  

Rita encourages new chapter leaders to keep their chapter in perspective. Her focus is on serving DFW’s grantees and growing the relationships in her chapter.  

“I would say to take our mission and programs seriously, but don’t take yourselves too seriously,” she said. 

Still Have Questions About our Program Funding Model?
Watch this Video 

In this video, Beth Ellen Holimon, President, and Susan Stall, Vice Chair and former Treasurer, answer some of the most common questions we have received from members about the changes to our program funding model. Watch it on your own, or share it at your chapter meeting. 

Watch video.

Member Profile Survey 

Don’t forget to complete our Member Profile Survey, which is available online on an ongoing basis. Tell us about your skills, background and ways in which you would like to become more engaged with DFW. We will use this database to match members with DFW’s needs. This may include committee work, board member searches, special projects or consulting opportunities. Thank you to all those who have already completed the survey! 

2015 Annual Report 

Check out the impact of DFW’s grants in 2015. You can find this and lots of other great info about DFW and our accomplishments in our 2015 Annual Report. Please note that the financial information in the report has been updated based on our recently-completed audit. The audit was conducted by an independent, third-party CPA. The complete 2015 audit and IRS Form 990 will be available on our website soon.