Who We Are
Who We Are
In 2003, eight visionary and passionate women created The Women’s Fund. Today, our volunteer board of 20 women is dedicated to creating positive social change for local families and communities.
Our Advisory Board has broad philanthropic, community, and professional experience, ensuring strong governance and oversight. Our mission and decisions are guided by written bylaws, a disciplined and transparent grant process, and periodic strategic reviews. We maintain a strong reserve fund.
Through our rigorous grants allocation process we support a broad platform of carefully selected programs. They target solutions to complex and overlapping social issues impacting women, families and communities.
We are fortunate to have a broader community of women, families and businesses who, through fundraisers, annual appeals and volunteer projects, magnify the impact of our work. Read our most recent President's Letter to learn more about the ways we have been investing, improving, and impacting the lives of women and girls.
Founder's Circle
The strength of The Women’s Fund of Essex County reflects the vision of our founding members. To remain engaged in our important work, Founders and past board members are part of our community as members of the Founders Circle. Their goal is to evaluate and recommend a local nonprofit to The Women’s Fund Advisory Board for the annual Above and Beyond Award in honor of The Founders Circle. Starting in 2015, this unrestricted grant is awarded each year to a nonprofit whose vision and work is so exemplary that they go above and beyond to meet the needs of their clients.Past Recipients of the Above and Beyond Award in honor of The Founders Circle:
2024—Self Esteem Boston 2023—Citizens’ Inn 2022—Women's Money Matters 2021—Healing Abuse, Working for Change (HAWC) 2020—Family Services of the Merrimack Valley 2019—Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center 2018—Girls Inc. of Lynn 2017—B&G Club of Greater Lawrence 2016—YWCA of Greater Lawrence 2015—RAW ART Works, LynnEssex County Community Foundation
The Women's Fund is a field of interest fund of Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF). ECCF is our fiscal agent and provides our 501(c)(3) tax- exempt status. The Foundation also provides administrative support and oversees the effective management of the financial assets of The Women’s Fund. For more information, visit www.eccf.org.
The Women’s Funding Network
The Women’s Fund of Essex County is a proud member of The Women’s Funding Network (WFN). The WFN was established in 1985 as a global movement to optimize the success of women’s organizations, giving its members access to a forum of shared knowledge, ideas, tools, consultancy, and training. Through the WFN, we are one of more than 160 other women’s organizations that span 30 countries, including public charities, foundations and funds.
Leadership
Leadership
Officers
Trish Moore
Marblehead, MA
Co-President
Wendy Roworth
Salem, MA
Co-President
Laurie Boggis
Marblehead, MA
Treasurer
Susan Morgan
Hamilton, MA
Secretary
Kathi VanderLaan
Marblehead, MA
Grants Allocation Committee Chair
Elizabeth Darragh
Lynnfield, MA
Communications
Advisory Board
Lisa Buettner
Danvers, MA
Laurie Boggis
Marblehead, MA
Elizabeth Darragh
Lynnfield, MA
Kathi Grunwald
Marblehead, MA
Ellen Kallman
Ipswich, MA
Eileen Kelly
North Andover, MA
Trish Moore
Marblehead, MA
Susan Morgan
Hamilton, MA
Geetha Ramani
Wendy Roworth
Salem, MA
Kathi VanderLaan
Marblehead, MA
Willa Worsfold
Wenham, MA
Grants Allocation Committee
Becci Backman
Andover, MA
Cynthia Barakatt
Andover, MA
Kathy Bradford
Marblehead, MA
Lisa Buettner
Danvers, MA
Lynne Capozzi
Andover, MA
Ronna Caras
Salisbury, MA
Sabita Chopra
Andover, MA
Judy Conner
Salem, MA
Elizabeth Darragh
Lynnfield, MA
Jen Hocherman
Eileen Kelly
North Andover, MA
Jeanne Kinch
Aldonsa Pereyra
Lawrence, MA
Geetha Ramani
Sarah Stock
Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Justine Teece
Methuen, MA
Stefani Traina
Andover, MA
Kathi VanderLaan
Marblehead, MA
ECCF Staff
Carol Lavoie-Schuster
Program Officer / GAC ECCF Liaison