Building on Our Strengths

September always feels like a fresh start for Seeds of Strength, and this year there is already so much positive energy in our Circle.

We had a wonderful turnout for our August Plant the Seed Social and were delighted to welcome women interested in learning more about Seeds of Strength. To our returning members, thank you for continuing to give so generously of your time, resources, and experience. You are the foundation on which we continue to build.

Your Board has begun the year with a strong sense of purpose. At our August meeting, we reviewed and approved our Strategic Plan for 2026–27, which will guide our work in five important areas: strengthening our grants and community impact, enhancing the member experience, supporting long-term financial sustainability, strengthening our organization, and expanding relationships and awareness in our community.  The Board also approved a minimum of $150,000 for grants this year, reflecting our continued commitment to meaningful community impact. You can read more about the Strategic Plan and its priorities here.

While a strategic plan may sound very formal, what it really represents is something simple: being thoughtful about where we devote our energy. We want to build on what Seeds of Strength already does so well while continuing to look for ways to make membership meaningful, strengthen our connections with one another, and increase the difference we can make together.

Our Grants process is also getting underway. This is at the heart of why Seeds of Strength exists, and in the months ahead our Grants Committee will begin the thoughtful work that ultimately leads to our annual grant awards. It is exciting to begin another year of learning about the needs in our community and considering where our collective giving can make the greatest difference.

On October 15, we will gather for our Fall Luncheon and welcome Fayruz Benyousef for a conversation about philanthropy and the connections that inspire giving. I hope you will consider bringing a friend. It is a wonderful opportunity to share Seeds of Strength – to meet our members, learn more about what we do, and experience the spirit of our giving circle firsthand.

I am especially grateful for the many members working behind the scenes. Our committees are already busy with membership, grants, events, finance, governance, communications, community relationships, and the many details that keep Seeds of Strength moving forward. Much of this work is invisible, but it matters enormously.

As we begin this new year together, I hope each of us will look for one more way to participate – attend an event, join a conversation, volunteer for a project, invite someone to learn about Seeds of Strength, or simply get to know another member a little better.

Our strength has always come from women joining together around a shared belief that we can accomplish more collectively than we can alone.

Coming Soon: Member Survey

We want to hear from you! Our upcoming Member Survey will give every member an opportunity to share thoughts about your Seeds of Strength experience, what matters most to you, and how we can continue to strengthen our organization.

Please watch for the survey soon. Your input will help guide our planning and priorities for the year ahead.

Together, we will build on our strengths and expand our impact.

Thank you for being part of the Circle.