Double your impact by donating to our Annual Appeal in October; fuel girls running toward a brighter future in Ethiopia; and celebrate International Day of the Girl on October 17 in San Jose.
OCTOBER 2026 ISSUE
CEO Message: Our Annual Appeal Match is On!
Happy fall everyone! Thank you to all our members who participated in our Member Impact & Engagement Survey. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to strengthen and grow our community.(See more info about the survey below.)
Today, we are also excited to launch our 2026 Annual Appeal with the theme:
She lights the fire. Together, we keep it burning.
Last year, when the closure of USAID and significant cuts to international gender equality programs created an unprecedented moment of need, you responded with extraordinary generosity and resolve. Together, we raised $685,693 from our 2025 Annual Appeal, a record-breaking achievement for Rise, enabling us to fund 20 Featured Grants that are transforming the lives of women and girls around the world.
This year, we are building on that momentum with a goal to raise $700,000 during our Annual Appeal and fund 18 or more Featured Grants in 2027. This ambitious goal aligns with our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan to expand our grantmaking and respond to growing need. This year alone, we received more than 800 grant applications, surpassing last year's record of 600.
To launch this important campaign, several anonymous donors are offering an extraordinary matching gift opportunity. Every Annual Appeal donation made in October will be doubled, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.
There has never been a better time to give. Your impact can go twice as far: a $25 gift becomes $50; a $500 gift becomes $1,000; and a $1,000 gift becomes $2,000. If you've ever considered increasing your Annual Appeal contribution, this is the perfect opportunity to maximize your impact for women and girls.
We are also thrilled to announce the return of our Chapter Challenge, with an exciting new addition. This year, both chapters and individual champions can participate by raising funds for the Annual Appeal. Simply opt in, and we'll create a personalized fundraising page that you can share with chapter members, friends, family, and your broader network. Learn more about the Chapter & Champion Challenge.
As members of Together Women Rise, we know that lasting change begins when one woman takes action and others join alongside her. Every gift, every fundraiser, and every act of generosity helps keep that fire burning. With your support, we can fund more life-changing grants, reach more communities, and create even greater opportunities for women and girls around the world. Please make your gift today and help us turn this moment of opportunity into lasting impact.
We are grateful to everyone who completed our recent Member Impact & Engagement Survey. We had 1,296 responses, unlocking a $6,480 gift to Rise thanks to a generous donor who pledged $5 for every completed survey. The survey results will help shape the future of Rise's member education, engagement, and development initiatives and will inform our first-ever Impact Report. We will share a summary of the results with members in November.
The following individuals have won a $50 gift card to one of these former Marketplace partners and grantees: Friendship Bridge, Anchal, or Her Future Coalition:
Linda Bodine (AL, Dadeville-1)
Maryann Boehmke (WA, Pullman-1)
Laura Cleaveland (NC, Asheville-5)
Mary Liz Jones (PA, Abington-1)
Kay Lee (CA, San Anselmo-1)
Becky Quesada (GA, Atlanta-9)
Janet Reynolds (CO, Louisville-1)
Tami Savage (ID, Hayden-1)
Maxine Stone (MO, Saint Louis-4)
Shivaun Van Straatum (CA, Oakland-2)
The top three regions in our friendly competition were: West (204 responses), Mid-Atlantic (201), and Carolinas (183). Thank you again for participating and sharing your views and opinions with us.
Join Together Women Rise and the San Jose Woman’s Club on Saturday, October 17 at 2 pm PT for an afternoon celebrating the power, potential, and purpose of girls around the world. Bring a friend, invite your family, or bring a special girl or young woman in your life.
Diborah was 12 when she joined Girls Gotta Run, our October Featured Grantee. One of 11 children in a single-parent family, she was shy and often disengaged at school.
Through the program, she found her voice, went on to earn one of the highest scores in her region on Ethiopia’s national college entrance exam, and is now in college studying engineering.
October Featured Grantee:
Empowering Girls Through Sports and Education
Girls Gotta Run Foundation helps Ethiopian girls stay in school, build confidence, and strengthen their futures through education and running. Our grant supports the Athletic Scholarship Program which combines educational assistance, meals, mentoring, life-skills, and coached running to help girls at ages when many are at risk of leaving school.
Looking for a way to get more involved? We need volunteers for our Featured Grants Committee, Transformation Partnerships Committee, Book Committee, and as a Chapter Support Liaison. Learn more & submit interest form.
The Rise website now has a new accessibility tool that fixes any barriers that block people with disabilities from using our site. Click the link to learn how it works.
Events:
Register for our next Advocacy Webinar, October 21 at 8 pm ET. The theme is nutrition in honor of World Food Day & International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Save the date for our virtual Giving Tuesday event on December 1when we will announce our 2027 Featured Grantees to all active Rise members.
Rise Trips:
There are still a few spots available for our 2027 trips to Uganda (February 24 to March 3), Kenya (June 1 to 8), and Nepal (November 6-14). Learn more & register.
In Memoriam: Mary Ellen Graham
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Ellen Graham, a member of our PA, Philadelphia-8 chapter. Mary Ellen was passionate about women and girls and generously shared her time and leadership with Rise. She served on the Featured Grants Committee, the Grants Selection Committee, and the Book Committee. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends, and chapter members.
Milestones
CA, Santa Barbara-11 chapter, led by Rise Board Secretary Susan Klein-Rothschild, gathered for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and collective giving.
CA, Santa Barbara-1 recently celebrated their 15th anniversary! Led by Peggy Welik, the chapter marked the occasion with a joyful evening surrounded by a phenomenal group of women and friends.
AZ, Phoenix-1, led by Rita Dickinson, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a caftan party! This amazing group of women has met in person or on Zoom every month except one (the first month of the pandemic) for 20 years!
The CA, Merced-1 chapter, led by Jane Guerra, celebrated its 15th anniversary. Chapter members have donated more than $68,000 to support Rise's mission. They marked the occasion with a Guatemalan-inspired feast featuring everything from pupusas and fried plantains to tres leches cake.
MA, Pittsfield-1, led by Marjorie Safran, recently celebrated its 12th anniversary with a wonderful group of dedicated women, many of whom have been part of the chapter from the beginning. The chapter has contributed an incredible $113,096 to Rise over the years.
WA, Spokane Valley-1, led by Dolores Kueffler, celebrated its 10th anniversary after reaching an incredible $100,000 in giving to Rise! Members gathered at Feast World Kitchen, a local nonprofit restaurant featuring immigrant chefs and food from their homelands.
Rise members are connecting all across the U.S. and worldwide! On a trip to Gros Morne National Park, Carol Buzilow, chapter leader of FL, Sarasota-Bradenton-1 started talking to a woman on her tour bus. Turned out that woman was Debbie Baker, member of the CA, Monterey - 1 chapter! (Left image)
And in Brussels, Belgium, new pending chapter leader Laurie Rosard met up with Kasia Michaels, chapter leader of Rise's only international chapter. (Right image)
