Women Empowering Northern Arizona Hits Milestone

The local philanthropic group has surpassed $500,000 in total donations to area nonprofits.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy

Hands adding a smooth stone to a collection of stones on a wooden surface, with a pine forest view through a window. — Women Empowering Northern Arizona has surpassed $500,000 in total donations, providing consistent financial support to nonprofits in the Flagstaff region. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Women Empowering Northern Arizona has reached a $500,000 fundraising milestone after twelve years of operation. The collective of 100 women provides consistent financial backing to selected local nonprofits.

Why it matters

The group aims to streamline charitable giving by pooling member contributions to provide efficient financial support to organizations in Flagstaff and the surrounding region.

The group comprises 100 members who each donate $100 across three annual meetings, resulting in $10,000 awarded per event. A previously active matching grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation provided an additional 50% match up to $5,000.

The players

Women Empowering Northern Arizona

This is a local philanthropic organization consisting of 100 members who pool their financial resources to support area nonprofits.

High Country Adaptive Sports

This local nonprofit organization received a $10,000 donation from the group.

Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

This philanthropic organization previously provided a 50% matching grant to the group for three years.

The details

Members nominate and present cases for local nonprofits, which must have at least two years of operational history to be eligible for funding. High Country Adaptive Sports is among the recent recipients of a $10,000 donation from the group.

The group was founded in 2014.
Members have gathered three times annually over the past 12 years.
Matching grants from the foundation ceased within the last year.

Market Landscape

The group follows a collective giving model that has gained popularity as a way to provide sustained, unrestricted support to local organizations. This strategy marks a departure from traditional corporate-led grant cycles by decentralizing the donation process among 100 individual members.

Local nonprofits operating for at least two years may find new funding opportunities through the group's nomination process. Residents interested in joining the collective may contribute to the ongoing $10,000 meeting pool to help sustain the group's mission.

The takeaway

Collective giving groups offer a predictable and reliable funding stream for community organizations that may otherwise struggle with traditional grant applications. By committing to regular contributions, members ensure a steady flow of resources to regional causes.