What would happen if 100 women pledged to contribute $100 four times a year?
In Cumberland County, that is what 100 women plan to do. Sheryl Webb, board member of The Power of 100 Women-Cumberland Co. and owner/broker in Weichert Realtors for the Webb Agency, along with Elizabeth Warlick, Janice Jackson, Olana Thompson and Brooke Shaffer, all serve on the board of The Power of 100 Women-Cumberland Co.
The board’s goal is that if 100 women donate $100 four times a year they will cumulatively collect $10,000 to give to a nonprofit per quarter.
“We thought $100 four times a year is like just a little over a dollar a day,” said Webb. “So it wouldn’t be a big financial hardship on someone if we do it once a quarter and average it out.”
Webb explained that the quarters are broken down into these months April, July, October and January.
Webb shared that she got the idea of starting this organization to raise funds for various nonprofits in Cumberland County from two friends in different counties.
She sent out a post on Facebook to see if some of her friends were interested in joining her.
“Immediately, my Facebook feed blew up,” said Webb. “So I had, in a matter of like 24 hours, probably 75 people who would be interested in it.”
Webb shared that this group is gathering together “as a group of women to kind of empower each other and to let us see what good we can do when we all come together to help the community,” said Webb.
As of Friday, Jan. 3, there are 74 women committed to contributing $100 every quarter, according to Webb.
Webb shared that this organization is not to take away from any other organization but, instead, be an addition to Cumberland County.
“That’s what we want to emphasize to our members is we don’t want you to stop contributing to wherever you’re already contributing,” said Webb. “We want this to be an additional $100 a quarter that you’re donating to our group so that we can turn around and donate it to a nonprofit.”
The nonprofits are chosen by a nomination from the membership. Any member of The Power of 100 Women may nominate a nonprofit. The nominations are sent to the five board members to narrow down to three to invite to the meeting. The membership then votes on their favorite of those three and the majority nonprofit will receive the money for that quarter.
A nonprofit can be renominated every two years.
There are criteria to be a nominated nonprofit.
“Our bylaws say that the nonprofit would either be a 501c3 nonprofit or they would be working under a 501c3,” said Webb.
Webb said that the nonprofit must be a vetted and reputable nonprofit organization.
“We just want to be good stewards of what we’re taking in and what we’re donating,” said Webb.
Webb shared why she felt led to start this organization.
“With Rotary, I’ve been introduced to a lot of different nonprofits that come in and present to us,” said Webb. “And so it’s just been on my heart to help this community.
“I’m thinking when I’m seeing some of these Facebook posts from these other groups, you know, $10,000 would make a big impact for a group,” said Webb. “[Whereas] if all of us were donating just $150 or $100 here and there, obviously that helps, and we don’t want to take that away from any organization but if we put that all together and made that one lump sum contribution to a nonprofit, that would, to me, be really impactful for a group.”
The organization serves two purposes. The first purpose is to raise funds for nonprofits in Cumberland County.
“Another thing that we would like to do is raise awareness of some of the nonprofits that are here and maybe if people feel led to volunteer or make additional contributions that they could become involved,” said Webb. “Because I think there are a lot of nonprofits that maybe don’t get the word out like they possibly could. So maybe we can help raise some awareness.”
The Power of 100 Women will hold their first interest meeting Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology in the multipurpose room of Building 1.
This meeting will serve to answer any questions, discuss the bylaws and how women can join the membership.
“We want to just bring everyone together and let them ask questions,” said Webb.
The group will meet quarterly, beginning in April, to pay their dues. If there are any questions before the January meeting, contact Webb at 931-200-3302.