About Us
About Us
The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund was established in November 2004 as a way for members to join together in meaningful and engaging ways, and to give back to the greater San Diego community. The power of many women giving together has helped us make a significant impact on community-wide needs with focused, collective grant-making. We are a donor-advised fund of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, and with over 140 members, we have awarded over $5.2 Million dollars in grants to date.
Our Mission
The mission of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund is collective philanthropy and building a sense of community through volunteerism and social activities while escalating awareness of local organizations and needs.
Our Vision
- We aim to educate and inspire our members to be well-informed, active philanthropists
- Through our grants, we support innovative approaches to philanthropy
- We serve our San Diego areas by discovering and addressing local needs
- We seek to increase our membership by gathering friends and neighbors who have similar goals and ideals
- We collaborate to improve and strengthen lives through charitable grants
Advisory Board & Leadership
- Board Chair – Nikki Carmody Ream
- Past Advisory Chair – Susan Hoehn
- Historian – Candise Holmlund
- Grants Co-Chairs – Cathy Burch & Kathy Sage
- Incoming Grant Co-Chairs — Maritia Walker and Sara Bennett
- Past Grant Co-Chairs – Mara Buchholz & Nikki Carmody Ream
- Membership Co-Chairs – Cheryl Salmen & Melissa D’Amour
- Finance Co-Chairs — Beth Terrana & Diane Solomon
- Program Co-Chairs – Kirstjen Nielsen & Muffy Walker
- Publicity Chair – Elia Surran
- Social Chair — Kelly Stroud
- Social Media Chair — Hazel Bentinck
- Technology Chair — Mara Buchholz
- Volunteer Chair – Ellie Cunningham
- Members-at-Large – Cynthia Hudson, Donna Vance, Mary Consalvi, Sandra Coufal & Vivian Hardage
Why The Hummingbird
With its boundless energy, endless variety, and unique adaptations, this fearless creature spends its entire life making the nearly impossible appear quite effortless.
Not only is it the only bird in the world able to hover, fly backwards, upwards, and to the side, it is also very capable of flying straight ahead at breathtaking speed. Not to mention the fact that it has perfected the technique of feeding its young in mid-flight!
The hummingbird has also been known to travel hundreds of miles without a single drop of food or water. Once at its desired destination, it gently hovers, wings a-blur, taking sustenance deep from within the most fragrant blossoms where only it is equipped to reach.
Hovering – quite naturally – requires a great deal more energy than simple gliding through life. Such ceaseless exertion eventually develops remarkable strength and, ultimately, the muscle which the hummingbird works hardest and grows strongest, is its HEART. It is for this reason that the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund looks to the hummingbird for inspiration in all that we do.