Help Ugandan women become social entrepreneurs & climate champions; celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month; and sign up for recurring gifts to impact more women & girls!
April 2026 ISSUE
Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Month
A Message from Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO
April invites us to pause and recognize something truly powerful: the impact of people who choose to give their time, their energy, and their hearts. Volunteer Appreciation Month is more than a moment on the calendar—it’s a chance to honor the individuals whose generosity strengthens our communities and keeps our mission moving forward.
When Stella began building her solar business, she had the vision but lacked the training and resources to grow in a community where access to electricity and opportunity was limited.
Through Together Women Rise’s grantee partner, Imagine Her, she gained hands-on business training, mentorship, and start-up support, expanding her enterprise to bring reliable solar solutions to families in need. Today, Stella serves her community, creates jobs, and is working toward her dream of lighting up more homes. Read Stella's story.
April Featured Grantee:
Women as Social Entrepreneurs & Climate Champions
This month, we are featuring our grant to Imagine Herwhich will fund the Green Energy Lab Project — a pilot project that equips young Ugandan women with the renewable energy technology skills, resources, and support to become leaders in clean energy and agribusiness.
Help Together Women Rise strengthen our community of monthly donors through our new "Give Monthly, Change the World" campaign, running now through Mother's Day, May 10. By growing our community of monthly donors, we are supporting Rise's new Strategic Plan to expand our grantmaking and impact by 75% over the next three years.
During this campaign, we're asking you to make a monthly commitment to support Together Women Rise, if you have not already done so. Click here. You can now sign up online for recurring gifts via credit card, bank draft, PayPal, Zelle, or Google Pay. No more forms or voided checks for automatic bank drafts!
And if you are already a monthly giver, please consider increasing your monthly gift by emailing donations@togetherwomenrise.org or calling 864-335-8401. Even small increases can make an impact when they are combined with others in our collective giving model.
Is there a woman in your life — a mother, mentor, or friend — in whose honor you might make or grow a monthly gift this Mother's Day? You can make your recurring gift in honor of a special loved one and they will be notified of your gift.
We're making it easier than ever to donate to Rise and support women and girls in the Global South! You can now use Venmo and Zelle, both of which are great options due to their low processing fees.
We have also made it easier to set up a monthly recurring donation through your bank account. You can now set up your monthly bank drafts online -- no more paper forms and voided checks to mail in to us!
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 sign up for one of our Info Sessions for Prospective Grantees where we will provide an overview of the grant opportunity, eligibility criteria, application timeline, and tips for submitting a strong proposal. Both sessions will cover the same content, so you only need to attend one.
In February, we announced that we would be funding eight additional Featured Grants in 2026, including a grant to Grounds for Health for a project in Kenya. Grounds for Health recently informed us that, as part of its new strategic plan to expand into new geographies, it is sunsetting its Kenya program in 2026 and is, therefore, unable to accept our grant.
As a result, Rise is re-allocating the Grounds for Health grant to Free to Run, one of the alternate grantees vetted by our Featured Grants Committee and approved by our board. Free to Run's mission is to advance gender equity globally through running. It will receive a grant of $49,896 for a program it will implement in Afghanistan.
We have a member who wants to start a chapter in Brooklyn, New York. If you are located in New York City and want to join, please email kia@togetherwomenrise.org.
Recordings of Recent Rise Events
Rise celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 with a virtual event on the theme “Give to Gain,” highlighting how generosity, collaboration, and community investment drive progress for women and girls. Click here to watch the recording.
Rise travelers recently returned from a visit to India where they met with our former grantee partners, Noora Health, Edu-Girls, Anchal Project, and GRAVIS. From Delhi and Jaipur to the Taj Mahal and the blue streets of Jodhpur, it was a powerful journey of learning, culture, and connection! Read the travel blog from Marilyn Watson, a member of the CA, Berkeley – 2 chapter.
Tax Day is Approaching!
As Tax Day approaches, we want to say something simple: thank you. Your 2025 contributions to Together Women Rise are not only deductible on the return you may be filing right now — they are actively changing lives. You should have received your 2025 annual giving statement, but if you cannot locate it, please email donations@togetherwomenrise.org.
If you're thinking about your 2026 giving, here are a few tax-smart strategies to consider:
IRA Charitable Rollover (QCD): If you are 70½ or older, you can give directly from your IRA and have it count toward your Required Minimum Distribution without being added to your taxable income. Read blog.
Donor Advised Fund (DAF): Recommend a grant to Together Women Rise at any time. We are grateful to receive DAF distributions year-round. See more info.
Recurring Giving: Monthly donors allow us to plan ahead and fund grantees with confidence.
Questions? Reach us at donations@togetherwomenrise.org or 864-335-8401. As always, please consult your financial advisor to find what works best for you.
April Proven Platter: Ugandan Curried Cabbage
By Linda McElroy, Together Women Rise Recipe Co-Curator
With spring bringing us more daylight, warmer temperatures, and the first days of farmers markets and seasonal harvests, we are taking a look back this month at some of our favorite recipes based on the cuisine of Uganda.
April 28 at 8 am ET - Info Session for Prospective Grant Applicants - Register April 30 at 12 am ET - Info Session for Prospective Grant Applicants - Register
This April, we’re celebrating two special staff anniversaries! Wendy Frattolin celebrates twelve years as Communications & Membership Director, and Kaitlyn Grisby-Hall celebrates three years as Development Director.
We’re so grateful for the dedication and leadership they bring to our team. Their work continues to strengthen our impact and advance our mission for gender equality worldwide. Thank you both!
Chapter Milestones
Over the past 15 years, our CA, Thousand Oaks-1 Chapter, led by Marilyn Murphy, has raised more than $75,000 to advance gender equality. Thank you for your generosity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to making a difference for women and girls worldwide!
For 15 years, our WA, Vancouver-1 Chapter, led by Katlin Smith and Frances Foley, has come together to connect, learn, and give back. The chapter now meets at the historic Clark County Historical Museum, housed in a beautiful 1909 Carnegie Library, and welcomes 20–25 women and men for meaningful conversation, potlucks, and member-led presentations. Together, they've raised more than $242,500 over the years for women and girls. Thank you for helping drive lasting change for gender equality everywhere!
Chapter Anniversaries
1 Year
TX, Austin - 9 Led by Suchitra Chander & Fran Wolff
2 Years
CA, Danville - 2 Led by Sonia Jain
4 Years
CA, San Francisco - 7 Led by Janice Wallace
WA, Woodinville - 1 Led by Fleur Tanner
5 Years
OR, Bend - 4 Led by Kay DuBois
6 Years
CA, Berkeley - 2 Led by Susan Wright & Robin Stavisky
7 Years
CA, Hayward - 1 Led by Pam Prasad
MO, Saint Louis - 4 Led by Sharon Bower & Barbara Ehnes
9 Years
CA, Petaluma - 1 Led by Shelley Wahle, Margaret Conner, & Laraine Kuboshige
CO, Denver - 5 Led by Linda S. Wagner & Andrea tenDanne
10 Years
CA, Rancho Cordova - 1 Led by Ingrid Rosten & Ramina Murshudova
12 Years
CA, Santa Barbara - 5 Led by Carrie Hutchinson & Brittany Heaton
13 Years
IN, Valparaiso - 1 Led by Anna Schoon
13 Years con't
PA, Philadelphia - 8 Led by Maryanne Schiller, Cheryl Boyd, Susan Klein, Lee Tracy, & Michele Richman
14 Years
CA, Portola Valley - 1 Led by Cathy Lampman, Ginger Creevy, Sharon Humphreys, & Jerrie Welch
CA, Solana Beach - 1 Led by Amy Langley & Rosie Anand
CO, Greeley - 1 Led by Thora Pabst & Kim Gray
CO, Sedalia - 1 Led by Betty Purkey-Huck & Sharon Padilla
CT, Danbury - 1 Led by Judith Lacker & Anne Krieg
FL, Jacksonville - 1 Led by Kellie Perkins
IN, Zionsville - 1 Led by Cheryl Kussow & Laura Yates
KY, Midway - 1 Led by Rachel Couch
NC, Winston Salem - 1 Led by Marianne DeCristo & Anna Baker
OR, Portland - 8 Led by Ruthann Marquis
15 Years
FL, Sarasota-Bradenton - 1 Led by Carol Buzilow, Beth Palmer, & Kay Yoder
16 Years
FL, Gainesville - 1 Led by Bradley Gracy & Pat Bartlett
18 Years
AZ, Phoenix - 2 Led by Cathy Kim
VA, Vienna - 1 Led by Melissa Zelinger & Shelley Brosnan
