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Events are so important to us because community is at the core of who we are. CWIP hosts a variety of networking forums, seminars, workshops, & panels that allow our members to learn together and from each other. We connect women with resources, mentors, and mentees in order to help our community grow and flourish. From breakfast events to lunch events to after-work events, we are committed to providing opportunities for Chicago to connect, flourish, and leave feeling empowered.
Face to Face with Funders provided over 40 community organizations the unique opportunity to engage one-on-one with one of 20 local grantmakers and receive feedback on a grant proposal. From arts programs to workforce development and everything in between, pairs of funders and grantees filled the room with conversations about how to craft and present strong grant applications.
Rachael Marusarz vividly remembers her first Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP) event nine years ago, when she was a relatively introverted development officer at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. She enjoyed the event and learned a great deal from the speakers, but the most meaningful moment was when a program officer from a local foundation told her, “I’ll take off my funder hat, you take off your grantee hat, and we’ll just be two women here to support one another.” It was that atmosphere of support that propelled her involvement with CWIP.
Despite beginning her career in the corporate sector, Carolyn Nopar found her true calling in philanthropy when she reentered the workforce after taking some time off with her children. Now a veteran in the field, Carolyn has a broad range of expertise and demonstrated success at Habitat for Humanity, Enterprising Kitchen, Family Focus, YWCA Metro Chicago, and Skills for Chicagoland’s Future (Skills). Carolyn has also spent the last five years with Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP) and was just recently elected Board Co-Chair.
