This entire issue is about passion, and no one exhibits that more than the members of Nevada Women’s Philanthropy (NWP; www.nvwomensphilanthropy.org). While the economy may be in the doldrums, these energetic women give off enough energy to put a smile on your face and warm your heart.

In a little over three years, this group of committed, caring, passionate, business-minded women has granted over one million dollars to deserving charitable organizations across town. Acting as philanthropic venture capitalists, these grants have planted seeds in innovative projects aimed at helping to make Las Vegas a better place for all.

The concept is simple.

Skip the party planning and the silent auctions. No more asking your friends to buy a table at an event. Spend more time focused on finding worthy projects by using a pulled-funds methodology, modeled after the EveryChild organization in Los Angeles. Award an annual grant to the winning program that brings an innovative solution to our community. Put it all together, and you have a strong, cohesive organization with a mission.

The NWP is completely member driven and totally democratic in structure. Member participation fee is $5,000, providing an opportunity to leverage that donation into the power of more than a half million dollars. Each member gets one vote in the final grant selection. Members can be as involved as they choose throughout the year. Participants are from all over Las Vegas, ranging in age from their mid-20s to mid-80s.

“We have members of all ages, across differing demographics,” said founding member Marcelle Frey. “We’re not an elitist organization. Women can enter into philanthropy in a very affordable way.”

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