In 2010, Rachel’s Network celebrated the astonishing growth and distinguished slate of program offerings that characterized our first decade. We looked back in appreciation on our remarkable expansion from the Founders’ Circle, a cadre of 18 dedicated women funders who established our “good old girls’ network” in 2000, to nearly 100 advocates who span the nation and collectively represent over $500 million in annual grantmaking. Under the leadership of Past President Lisa Renstrom and a committee representing our accomplished membership, we also completed the Blueprint 2010 strategic planning process that set a course for our next five years. The resulting plan succinctly expressed our renewed focus on community-building initiatives and outlined new efforts to raise our organizational profile.
When Thu Pham assumed the position of executive director in October, the Network continued to benefit from the deep reserve of institutional memory, commitment to institutional excellence, investment in members’ individual success, and quiet leadership she has provided us in multiple capacities over her first ten years on staff. We are confident that her talent for building relationships and vision for our future will ensure that the Network continues to be a peerless convener of women funders seeking to leverage their influence for the environment.