Expand access to maternal healthcare for Indigenous women in Mexico; make a Mother's Day tribute gift to support women and girls; and welcome our newest chapters.
May 2026 ISSUE
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Purpose
A Message from Beverley Francis-Gibson, Together Women Rise CEO
Motherhood has changed me and the way I see the world — not because it’s always beautiful, but because it’s real. It’s messy, exhausting, joyful, and deeply human. Every Mother’s Day, I’m reminded that the holiday is about honoring the quiet strength mothers carry every single day, even when no one is watching.
As the mother of three daughters, I often look back and realize just how much I didn’t do alone. Motherhood stretched me, humbled me, and taught me more than I ever expected, but it was the village of women around me who made the journey possible. Friends, family, mentors and the quiet angels who showed up at exactly the right moments — they helped shape me into the mother my daughters needed.
So, on Mother’s Day, my gratitude extends far beyond my own children. I honor the women who poured into me, steadied me, and reminded me that I didn’t have to carry everything by myself. They are part of my story, and part of the reason my daughters grew up surrounded by strength, wisdom, and love.
Happy Mother’s Day! To me, Mother’s Day is a reminder of why Rise's work matters. Every mother deserves a community that lifts her up all year long, and Rise is committed to being that community.
Honor a Special Loved One with a Mother's Day Tribute Gift
This Mother’s Day, honor the women who shaped your life with a meaningful tribute gift. Make a donation in honor or memory of a mother, grandmother, mentor, or another special woman, and help women and girls worldwide gain access to healthcare, education, safety, and opportunity.
To make a tribute gift, simply check the box marked “Dedicate Donation in Honor or Memory” when you donate online. You can send a personalized e-card to notify your recipient of the gift in their honor.
Mother's Day is also a great time to participate in our special Give Monthly, Change the World campaign to strengthen our community of monthly donors. If you haven't already, please consider starting, increasing, or restarting your monthly gifts to provide reliable funding for programs that uplift women and girls. There are many convenient options for you to give monthly -- check out these FAQs and email donations@togetherwomenrise.org if you need any assistance setting up or increasing your monthly gifts.
For generations, Doña María Méndez has served her community as a traditional Mayan midwife, carrying forward ancestral knowledge in a region where Indigenous women face barriers to respectful, accessible healthcare.
Through Together Women Rise’s grantee partner, Global Pediatric Alliance, midwives like María gain training that strengthens their skills while honoring their traditions, helping ensure safer pregnancies and births. Today, María continues to care for mothers and babies while passing her knowledge to the next generation.
Improving Indigenous Mother & Child Health in Mexico
In May, we are funding Global Pediatric Alliance to improve the well-being and health of Indigenous women by expanding their access to quality, culturally respectful maternal and child health services in three Mexican states.
We're delighted to welcome several new chapters to the Together Women Rise community since the year began:
MD, Churchton -1, co-led by Pam Fulmer and Emily Manders
NJ, Glen Rock - 1, co-led by Lynn Mayer and Naomi Gamorra
OH, Columbus - 7, co-led by Monica Bacani and Vivian Harvey
OR, Portland - 17, led by Karen Sesnon
SC, Hilton Head Island - 1, co-led by Teresa Lifvergren and Tonya Marie Murphy
WA, Seattle - 12, led by Tracy Bradley
Reimagining Manhood for a More Gender-Equal World
What if advancing gender equality means reimagining manhood, too? In this powerful new blog, we explore how one of Rise's Transformation Partners, Equimundo, is engaging men and boys as allies to build a more caring, just, and violence-free world, and why that work matters now more than ever. Read blog.
Calling All Potential Grant Applicants
Our 2026 grant cycle (for grants to be awarded in 2027) will open on May 5 at 9 am ET and close on June 5 at 5 pm ET. If you are a prospective grantee, please review our Featured Grants Application guidelines and FAQs before applying. Watch a recording of our recent info session or sign up for our upcoming one on May 4th at 8 am ET. For questions, contact grants@togetherwomenrise.org.
Coming Soon: New Donor Portal
We will soon be launching a new donor portal through our online donations platform, HubSpot, that will allow members to self-manage their Rise donations. This new portal replaces the Classy portal that Rise previously used. You will be able to set up a secure, personal account to view your donations, update your payment information, increase or decrease your donation amount, pause or cancel your recurring donations — at your convenience. Watch for more information coming soon, including an invite to set up your account in this new donor portal.
Volunteer Opportunities
We are currently recruiting to fill the following volunteer opportunities:
Please click on the links to read more about these volunteer roles and to submit an interest form.
Journey to Nepal with Rise | October 16–24, 2027
Join us in Nepal, where you’ll meet three Rise grantee partners: Sunsar Maya, Rural Health and Education Service Trust (RHEST), and BlinkNow Foundation. You’ll also explore Kathmandu Valley, visit vibrant markets, enjoy a Nepali cooking class, and take in Himalayan views from Dhulikhel. Space is limited, and there has already been a lot of interest in this trip.
Effective June 1, 2026, we will be discontinuing our online Marketplace program due to declining interest. We are so grateful to the artisan organizations that participated in this program and for the way their work embodies the same values of empowering women and girls that are at the heart of everything we do at Rise. While we are closing our Marketplace, you can still support these incredible organizations directly through their own websites after June 1st! In the meantime, check out the Marketplace for unique Mother's Day gifts!
We Give Summit | May 12-14
Join this annual, virtual gathering to explore the power of collective and collaborative giving and connect with fellow changemakers. Rise is participating in two sessions:
May 12th at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT — Why Giving Together is the Boldest Way to Back Nonprofits with Rise CEO Beverley Francis-Gibson and Angeline Murimira, CEO of CAMFED, one of Rise's grantee partners.
May 12 at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT — Deepening Donor Engagement Through Community Building with our Rise CEO and Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz (Women's Giving Circle of Howard County).
Registration (Community Access) is free! Be sure to mention that you are with Together Women Rise. Register today!
In the News: Rise Featured on Women's eNews Podcast
Rise CEO Beverley Francis-Gibson was the featured guest on the WOMXN UP! podcast for a powerful conversation on advancing global gender equality at a critical moment. Listen now.
Estate Planning: A Note You Can't Afford Not to Write
You've done the hard work of creating an estate plan — but have you thought about leaving your trustee a little guidance to go with it? Just as a good recipe benefits from notes in the margin, your trustee benefits from knowing you: your values, your priorities, and the spirit behind your decisions, including causes you care deeply about – like supporting Together Women Rise! Check out this helpful guide, and, as always, be sure to consult your attorney or financial advisor.
May Proven Platter:
Enchiladas Verde de Pollo
By Vinola Vincent-Munyon,
Together Women Rise Recipe Co-Curator
Enchiladas Verde de Pollo are chicken enchiladas that are smothered in a creamy, tangy, vibrant green sauce that tastes luxurious yet are refreshing and bright!
Congratulations to our FL, Sarasota-Bradenton-1 chapter on their 15-year anniversary! Thank you for your many years of dedication to supporting gender equality in the Global South! The chapter is co-led by Carol Buzilow, Beth Palmer, and Kay Yoder.
Pat Payne, leader of the CA, Castro Valley-1 chapter, received a 2026 Heart of Hayward Award for her outstanding community service. For 15 years, Pat has led her chapter in raising more than $138,000 to support women and girls worldwide. She has also served as a Regional Leader helping launch 10 new chapters and is an active member of Rise's Advocacy Group with RESULTS. Congratulations Pat on this well-deserved honor!
Members of Together Women Rise's Board and staff recently attended the Women’s Philanthropy Institute Symposium in Chicago, IL with other philanthropy leaders from across the country to learn, connect, and engage in conversations on the most pressing issues shaping women’s philanthropy.
Chapter Anniversaries
6 Years
MD, Patuxant - 1 Led by Lee Lacy & Margaret Bald
7 Years
FL, Gainesville - 2 Led by Susan McGee
ND, Fargo - 1 Led by Helene Zelaya
Virtual Chapter - 2 Led by Chris Worthy
9 Years
AR, Little Rock - 1 Led by Cynthia Dawson & Linda Gladden
CO, Cherry Creek - 1 Led by Mary Griesedieck
OH, Columbus - 5 Led by Vivian Harvey
10 Years
NH, Exeter - 1 Led by Mellen Tanamly
12 Years
OH, Willoughby Hills - 1 Led by Nisha Jain
13 Years
TN, Knoxville - 1 Led by Nancy Maland & Marilyn Hafner
14 Years
CA, San Jose - 8 Led by Madhu Krishnan & Priya Nagarajan
15 Years
PA, Elkins Park - 1 Led by Debbie Bernstein, Sheryl Potashnik, & Helene Perry
16 Years
WA, Olympia - 1 Led by Melissa Allen, Karen Messmer, & Donna Spencer
17 Years
CA, Castro Valley - 1 Led by Pat Payne & Claudia McDonagh
CA, San Jose - 2 Led by Polly Ferguson
CA, Santa Cruz - 2 Led by Sally Bookman
SC, Charleston - 3 Led by Martha Thomson & Lisa LoVullo
SC, Summerville - 1 Led by Karyn Healey
18 Years
PA, Abington - 1 Led by Mary Liz Jones, Deborah Britt, Maryellen Alviti, & Susan Richards
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