News
2010 Annual Report
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.
Vikki Spruill on Taking the Pulse of the Gulf
We need a comprehensive plan to address restoration in the Gulf, and a key part of that plan must be to establish a long-term research and monitoring program so that we can better understand changes in the ecosystem and develop management solutions that keep our environment and economy healthy. A well-funded and robust science program will help guide these efforts by providing research to support the design, selection and evaluation of restoration projects.
2009 Annual Report
Throughout 2009, Rachel’s Network welcomed new members; offered unique leadership services; hosted networking events; updated our communications; grew our outreach programs; and educated members on strategic philanthropy and cutting-edge environmental and women’s empowerment issues. Most importantly, we helped extraordinary women connect with peers who share interests and passions.
Rachel’s Network Joins the Environmental Working Group to Assess Chemical Exposure “Body Burden”
Laboratory tests commissioned by Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Rachel’s Network have detected bisphenol A (BPA) for the first time in the umbilical cord blood of US newborns. The tests identified the plastics chemical in 9 of 10 cord blood samples from babies of African American, Asian and Hispanic descent.
Congressional Women’s Networking Initiative
In 2005, Rachel’s Network established the Congressional Women’s Networking Initiative (CWNI) to create a collegial atmosphere in which women leaders could work together to promote issues important to women.
2008 Annual Report
In 2008, Rachel’s Network continued to reach record levels of membership, uniting women who collectively represent over $500 million in annual giving and work to leverage their influence into trailblazing endeavors that preserve our planet, protect our health, and strengthen our fellow women leaders. Our members lead at the uppermost echelons of the organizations they support, giving generously of their time, financial assistance, and wisdom gleaned from years of experience. These extraordinary women are impressive as individuals, and to see our members in the aggregate is to behold a dazzling spectrum of interests, backgrounds, generations, politics, and giving.
2007 Annual Report
In 2007, the Network reached an unprecedented membership level, bringing together a group of women who collectively control over $6 billion in assets and work to leverage their influence into strategically innovative projects that preserve our natural resources, sustain our health, and empower our fellow women leaders. Our members are not content to rest on their laurels and earn plaudits for their philanthropy — they work confidently at the heart of the organizations they support, making strategic decisions that lead to visionary change.