Dear DFW Friend:

I wish I could check in with each of you personally to see how you are doing! I hope that you and your family are staying home and staying safe, but also staying connected during these isolating times.

Dining for Women has always been about caring, connection, and community, and this is more important than ever before. As I have been in touch with members through phone calls, emails, and our national virtual chapter meetings, I have seen firsthand that our DFW community is strong! It is heartening to see members staying connected with each other, with DFW, and with our global community of women. Please see below for two great opportunities this week to connect with DFW.

I know that many of you in our DFW community are having a difficult time financially, and this may be impacting your ability to support DFW. I want you to know that your DFW community is here for you – we want you to stay involved regardless of your financial contributions.  Hopefully, this connection will provide you with some comfort and purpose during this crisis.

I want to thank those of you who are able, in this difficult time, to continue your donations. I am enormously grateful to those of you who have signed up for automatic recurring donations for the first time, or have stepped up to support our work beyond your normal giving level. It is this aspect of our community that will enable DFW to continue our important work now and in the future.

Our DFW model has proven to be resilient in past financial crises, but this is an unprecedented situation and, like all nonprofits, DFW is being financially impacted. That is why your board and staff are proactively taking steps now and planning for the future to ensure the health and safety of our community, and to be responsible stewards of your donations. This includes:

• Mandatory remote working procedures for all DFW staff
• Evaluating budgets and reducing expenditures wherever possible
• Evaluating our income frequently to assess our ability to fully fund our grants through the rest of the year
• Applying for government funds for nonprofits through the recently passed CARES Act
• Placing the hiring of new staff positions on hold

We will be updating you soon on more specific actions we are taking to ensure the sustainability of our organization. Women and girls need us – now perhaps more than ever. During any crisis, there is always a disproportionate impact on women and girls including an increased risk of gender-based violence; a lack of necessary sexual and reproductive healthcare; and greater caregiving responsibilities which can negatively impact education, livelihoods, and health.

DFW must stay steadfast and strong for women and girls right now. We must also be ready to help even more as the world comes out of this crisis. Your ongoing support will allow us to do so. Thank you for being part of our global community.

Warmly,

Beth Ellen Holimon
DFW President & CEO

P.S.  Please join us this week. Meeting links will be emailed to you once you sign up!

Wednesday, April 15 at 8:30 pm EDT — DFW National Advocacy Chapter With RESULTS.  Sign up here.

Thursday, April 16 at 7 pm EDT — National Virtual Chapter Meeting with speaker Rizwana Khader from our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.  We will discuss our April projects. Sign up here.