WHO WE ARE

“Handbags That Help” (HTH) is a women’s giving circle formed in June 2007 by local women committed to dramatically improving lives throughout the greater Hancock County community by collectively funding significant grants to charitable projects and programs and increasing philanthropy in our community.

HTH is an independent philanthropic organization hosted and supported by The Community Foundation. The Community Foundation staff members provide assistance and guidance to HTH where needed, including advising HTH regarding tax and legal matters. All policy, decisions and grants made by HTH and its voting membership are done autonomously. Click here for our bylaws.

OUR PURPOSE

HTH’s purpose is to:

• Cultivate women as philanthropic leaders;
• Create a new and substantial pool of money donated by women;
• Identify appropriate and timely opportunities and projects;
• Allocate funds based on majority preference;
• Accomplish change;
• Celebrate impact; and
• Attain recognition as a “difference maker”, as well as a valued and significant resource.

HOW WE GIVE

Members each contribute $500 annually for one year of membership.

Pooled Fund Awards:

• The Grant committee reviews grant applications.
• HTH does not limit its grant making to women’s causes, but looks for:
  • Responses to urgent and critical need;
  • Bold new ventures; and/or
  • New approaches to time-worn problems.
• Total awards will be determined by the number of members and contributions collected.  All membership dollars will be granted out to the community annually.
• The entire HTH membership selects the agencies/projects receiving awards by majority vote.

GIVING WISELY

HTH is committed to providing its members with the skills and knowledge needed to make wise social investments.  To this end, HTH organizes educational programs covering a variety of topics related to philanthropy.

HTH educates, inspires, and increases the number of women committed to philanthropy in order to strengthen community and demonstrate the impact that can result from informed, focused grant making.

2011-2012 GUIDING CIRCLE

The Guiding Circle is the executive committee which governs HTH. It consist of eight members of HTH, each of whom must be an Individual Voting Member.

Julie Anderson, Chair

Kolleen Kirk Rill, Vice Chair

Sandy Hansen, Member at Large

Kim Stumpp, Secretary

Judy Pusateri, Treasurer

Donna Ruse, Program Committee Chair

Jeri Bjorling, Grants Committee Chair

Kristen Johnson, Communications Chair