DINING FOR WOMEN
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Hello, I am a co-leader for a chapter for DC and MD and it has been one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Not only because of what this organization does to transform women's lives around the world but what it has done to transform my own. I have attended Leadership summits and been embraced and welcomed - warts and all. They truly want you to bring all of you to the organization. I have expanded my knowledge about about poverty, women and the world in this process. But most importantly I know our money is creating a difference in women's lives that face horrific circumstances. Peace, Denise Woods
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
My experience with Dining For Women continues to be one of education, friendship and of course, good food! My chapter members and I are always impressed with the materials available, the informatione we learn about different cultures and about the amazing organizations that are assisting women and children living in extreme poverty. After more than 5 years, the Massill Ohio chapter continues to meet monthly and looks forward to what the next 5 years bring!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have learned so much about many cultures and customs of women around the world by hosting Dining for Women dinners.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
none
As a Social Worker and a Minister, I am often in a position to help others. Most people are not offered those opportunities on a daily basis. I have been a chapter leader for Dining For Women since February 2006. The women who attend our dinners are offered opportunities to help women, to learn about different cultures and traditions and share some of who they are in order to make a real difference. This is an escellant organization.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
learning so much about the women of our world who struggle everyday to survive and to keep their families alive. I have also experienced the importance of women's philathropic contributions to the many grass root efforts to help others.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
knowing that I am making a small contribution that is added to many other contributions that add up to great chage.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
diverse, fun, and committed to making a difference.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Change the world!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I have been a Chapter Leader with DFW for almost 5 years! Our chapter has an average of 12-15 women attend each monthly meeting. Through the collective giving model of DFW, we feel we are making a real difference in women and children's lives all over the world. Each month through the educational materials that DFW provides, we learn about the country, culture and women's issues of the program we are funding that month. We see and hear the impact of the programs through the DVD that is provided to us each month. We are learning each month how this program targets one of the Millennium Development Goals that the United Nations have established and hope to reach by 2015. More and more women throughout the U.S. and world are finding out about the DFW movement and the strides we are making in assisting women and children in developing countries to reach their goals for education, improved health, and self-sustainable livelihoods. Our chapter members are promoting change, saving lives, and giving a voice to women who have been voiceless. We feel empowered that we know where our money is going, and what it will do. None of this would be possible without the excellent leadership, tenacity, compassion and humility of Marsha Wallace, Founder of DFW, the DFW Board of Directors and the many volunteers from DFW's chapter members that keep moving DFW forward. DFW members are getting the word out about this fabulous organization and it keeps growing! I believe that the knowledge that we have received since our membership with DFW is changing our own lives for the better. I feel that the support we give to other women all over the world can eventually impact everyone in our world and hopefully, in time, lead to more peace and stability throughout the world.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my role as a Chapter Leader for almost 5 years, and in my role as a mentor for the last 2 years. I have attended 3 DFW Leadership Summitts, and traveled to India with DFW's first Travel Abroad program.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
research why women join giving circles,and how to retain them. I would also try to find more ways in how to communicate our passion so we can recruit many more people to join our movement.
Dining for Women's model of collective giving is so simple but yet, so powerful! I've been part of the Board of Directors for almost 2 years now and I am also a member of the very first couples chapter. The couples chapter meets every month, every month a different couple hosts the dinner at their home and another couple does the presentation about the featured program that Dining for Women is supporting -- it is a fun, and inspiring evening with friends; we are all learning so much about the global issues that impact us all and collectively we feel that we are making a positive difference in most desperate and impoverished places in the world. Marsha Wallace (Founder and President) and the board have put together a very exciting strategic plan for the organization and we are looking forward to the day when Dining for Women can help 10 times more women than it does today!
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The results come in every month through the follow-up reports that are posted on the website : http://www.diningforwomen.org/programs/followup and personally meeting every month to support the featured programs has enriched my life and given it additional purpose and focus.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would like to move faster and grow the membership even faster than it is so that we can help even more women and girls -- every day that goes by is a day wasted in our ability to provide support for a girl in need...
The idea behind Dining for Women is a really great one - meet, learn, share a meal and give to help women and girls in the developing world. It is fun, and enriching. However, there does not seem to be much support for the chapter leaders once they have started meeting. While I continue to hope that something will materialize, all I see is more and more about money and extreme growth, and less about how to be a successful chapter leader, and that someone is noticing. I do not understand why an organization that seems to be growing at a very comfortable, manageable rate insists on pushing so hard. It seems that much of the focus on the programs and the education of members has been lost in the money shuffle, sadly. Most everything seems to be about raising more money and an unrealistic growth rate. So, in my estimation, Dining for Women is at risk of losing its soul and becoming like so many other non-profits - large, cold, impersonal and uncaring. A true shame and a lost opportunity.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my chapter's success and strength.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Offer many more opportunities for connection between the chapter leaders, and recognition for accomplishments.Tell us more about what is happening with the programs we support. Spend more energy on existing members/chapters
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
learning about and helping others learn about women in the third world, and having the opportunity to help
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
not very professional, mostly
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
be really scary, and is not in any way ready for $100,000, let alone $10mm
Ways to make it better...
the HQ was more professional and thorough
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the shift in direction towards massive growth at the expense of any effort towards maintaining what is in place and growing organically. The ego of the founder. Politics
One thing I'd also say is that...
On the whole, the Dining for Women experience is a wonderful thing. The organization seems to be not there yet.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I started a local Dining For Women Chapter in April, 2006 after seeing it on a Good Morning America segment about charity giving circles in Dec., 2005. Our Chapter hasn't missed a monthly meeting in the over 4 years we've been together! We meet at members' homes for a potluck dinner, educate ourselves about the monthly charity/region we are supporting for that month (with materials provided by DFW), and then each make a pesonal donation to that charity. Friendship, fun, and food with a purpose...it's always an inspiring and energizing evening!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My life has been personally touched by the wonderful group of friendships that have developed from our group, along with learning more about the world in which I live, and the feeling of making a difference as part of a collective giving organization.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Two years ago I started attending Dining for Women meetings. For a brief time I was unable to attend, but the giving mentality of the organization and the women involved brought me back. I just attended my first CARE conference through Dining for Women and I consider it an experience of a life time. It taught me how I can be of service with my local chapter to do even more for the world. I hope to continue to be a big part of DFW as we lobby for women's rights around the world. This organization is a strong starting point for all to learn – no matter your age – of how you can help the world one dinner at a time.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Learning to lobby for womens rights.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I was introduced to Dining for Women (DFW) almost 2 years ago when I helped facilitate their first annual conference for their chapters. Their idea is compelling! have good friends "break bread together" through potluck dinners and donate the money they saved from local restaurants prices to a charity that DFW profiles each month. What appeals to me as a person with a lot of expertise in the field of women's international organizations is how down to earth and scalable the idea is. I think that the organization has been doing a great job both in terms of growing its chapters as well as bringing more money to worthwhile women's efforts around the globe.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Their partnership with some of the graduates of our Women Leaders for the World Program.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I became interested in Dining for Women at a Peace Colloquy when I attended a workshop about sex trafficking and modern day slave trade and learned that families in poverty are vulnerable, I had also read in Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea that he found if he built schools for girls, they would grow up and use their education to improve their family's and community's level of medical care and education. I wanted to advocate for women in a community based way, and Dining for Women fit my needs and goals. Dining for Women provides microloans to women in poverty so they can feed their families and better themselves economically. I visited a chapter in Colorado and the chapter leader there encouraged me to start my own chapter. When I returned home to Florida, I found there was not a chapter in my town so I started one with my friends. The national organization provides wonderful support to chapters and it is easy to start and keep our chapter going. We are all excited about supporting women in this way and we have doubled our membership in 2 meetings!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I read the DFW website and partner websites donations go to; I see businesses women have started and hear their stories of how their families are now being fed. A friend investigated DFW tax documents and found the money is going where they say it is.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Dining for Women has been a positive experience for our chapter which is almost three years old. Our members appreciate being able to make a difference in the lives of other women and children around the world. Our lives have been enriched as we have learned about others. Wonderful information is provided to chapters by the national office. It is very easy to start a chapter and maintain it.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The results of our contributions are provided in updates readily available on the Dining for Women websites. As a chapter we are able to see the progress sponsored programs are making.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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