In this update, I want to connect three things for you: where Rise is headed through our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, how our growing philanthropic focus supports deeper impact through our grantmaking, and what the updated chapter policies mean for you as chapter leaders.
As chapter leaders, your role in advancing Rise’s mission is more important than ever. As we implement our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and work to expand our impact, we are strengthening our focus on philanthropy and clarifying how chapter leadership supports that goal.
Rise’s programs and chapters remain open to everyone. However, our updated Membership Policy defines a Rise member as someone who makes an annual gift of any amount. Giving has always been a core part of our collective giving model, and chapter leaders play a critical role in inspiring and encouraging support for our mission.
Effective August 1, 2026, all new chapter leaders and co-leaders will be required to be active Rise members by making an annual donation of any amount. Current chapter leaders who assumed their role before August 1, 2026, are encouraged, but not required, to be active Rise members.
To provide greater clarity and support for chapter leaders, we have updated the following policies:
Please take some time to review these policies. If you have questions, please reach out to Kia Hunter, our Volunteer Manager, or Wendy Frattolin, our Communications & Membership Director. And you are always welcome to reach out to me at beverley@togetherwomenrise.org. I truly love hearing from our chapter leaders.
We will also host an online chapter leader gathering on September 17 at 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT to discuss our strategic priorities, provide updates, and answer questions. You can register for this event HERE.
Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and the vital role you play in supporting women and girls through Rise.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO
Chapter Leader Need to Know
1. Something Important is Coming: Our Member Survey -- On September 8th, you and your chapter members will receive our Member Impact & Engagement Survey, our first member opinion survey since 2019.
This is an anonymous survey that will take 10-15 minutes to complete. The findings will inform the development of our future member education, engagement, and development strategies, and provide valuable information for our first-ever Impact Report.
This is your opportunity to help shape the future of Rise. And we need your help! The more voices we hear, the better we can understand our members and build a future that reflects what matters most to you. So, please encourage your members to respond when they get the survey. Perhaps you could take a few minutes at your chapter meeting for everyone to complete the survey!
Watch for a toolkit coming the week of August 31st with everything you need to encourage your members' participation, including some exciting and fun incentives!
2. Our Annual Appeal Chapter Challenge is Back! --We can’t thank you enough for your incredible efforts in making last year’s Annual Appeal and first-ever Chapter Challenge an immense success! We're excited to get this year’s Challenge underway, and we hope you will join us. This year’s annual appeal theme, "She Lights the Fire. Together We Keep It Burning,” celebrates the spark each woman and girl brings and the collective momentum we create when we work together.
The Chapter & Champion Challenge is a great opportunity for your chapter members to inspire giving from their personal networks to support Rise's annual appeal. This year, participation in the Challenge is open to individuals in addition to chapters! If you’re as thrilled about this as we are, please register once the Challenge kicks off with another $100,000 match.
Stay tuned to your email for more details to come.
Your September Chapter Meeting
September Featured Grantee:
Trauma-Informed Mental Healthcare for Guatemalan Women
This month, we are featuring Creamos, an organization that we previously funded in 2021. This year's $50,000 grant will fund a trauma-informed mental health initiative serving women and gender minorities in Guatemala City's red zones. The program addresses the psychological consequences of gender-based violence through culturally grounded, participant-led services that prioritize healing, autonomy, and long-term transformation.
The easiest and fastest way to find the Featured Grants education materials on our website is by using the top menu bar "For Chapters" and clicking on "Monthly Grantee Materials."
By Vinola Vincent Munyon, Together Women Rise Recipe Curator
Guatemalan cuisine blends Mayan culinary traditions with that of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean traditions, and Jocón de Pollo (which translates to chicken and tomatillo stew) is a perfect example of this amalgam.
Kenya -- June 1 to 8, 2027 Registration is open for Rise members only until September 18th. If spots remain, they will be made available to non Rise members.
Due to the huge popularity of our Nepal trip, we have decided to offer a second trip to Nepal, November 6 to 14, 2027. Watch for the registration link coming soon.
A Rising Tide
One of our goals for this Chapter Leader newsletter is to create a forum for chapter leaders to learn from each other and about each other. We're calling this feature "A Rising Tide" because when one of our chapters succeeds, we all succeed -- and we should share those strategies and successes with each other to lift all our boats, metaphorically speaking.
This month we are featuring Marilyn Murphy, chapter leader of the CA, Thousands Oaks - 1 chapter. Marilyn has spent her adult life traveling the world, leading a small travel company and founding the WOW Travel Club in 2006. She had an instant interest in starting a local chapter when she first heard about Rise. Now retired, Marilyn is focused on her new book (a memoir about her travels as a 24-year-old) and managing her 15-year chapter.
