OLEAN, N.Y., March 10 – A new giving circle dedicated to empowering women and girls in the community – The Elevate Fund – has been established at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Through collective philanthropy, this initiative will provide support and funding for programs and resources aimed at fostering leadership, education and economic opportunity.

The Elevate Fund strives to bring together a network of women who are passionate about making a lasting impact. As a giving circle, members pool their contributions and collaboratively determine how funds are distributed to organizations and initiatives that align with the fund’s mission.

The vision of The Elevate Fund is to build a thriving community where women and girls have access to the opportunities and resources they need to lead, succeed and drive meaningful change.

Guided by the values of support, community trust and responsiveness, the Elevate Fund will focus on key areas such as access to education, career development, entrepreneurship, childcare, healthcare and gender-based violence prevention. In addition to financial support, the fund aims to foster mentorship, advocacy and networking opportunities that will uplift women of all backgrounds.

Membership in The Elevate Fund is structured to be inclusive and accessible. The tiers, which are renewed yearly, are:

• Student Membership ($25-$99) – designed for women who are students, offering opportunities to network with local women and learn about the power of philanthropy and collective impact.
• Advocates Tier ($100-$249) – Includes full membership and voting privileges on grant decisions.
• Sustainers Tier ($250-$499) – Provides full voting privileges and recognition at events and on The Elevate Fund webpage.
• Leaders Tier ($500+) – Offers participation in the circle’s leadership committee, which has input on events, programs, the grant process and more. Members at this tier receive voting privileges and special recognition at circle events and on the webpage.

Contributions to the fund are directed into a non-endowed fund to support immediate grantmaking, with a portion allocated to an endowed fund to ensure the fund’s long-term sustainability.

As a fund under the Community Foundation’s umbrella, a Founders board consisting of Community Foundation board members and other key community leaders will oversee the strategic goals, vision and mission of the giving circle’s membership.

A leaders tier contribution will allow members to join the circle’s leadership committee, which will be overseen by the Founders board.

“The Elevate Fund is a powerful testament to what happens when women come together with a shared purpose – to uplift, invest in and empower one another,” says Shelley Jack, an Elevate Fund founders board member and CRCF board member. “Through collective giving, we are not just funding programs; we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for women and girls in our community.”

CRCF invites women from all walks of life to join The Elevate Fund and take part in this transformative movement. By becoming a member, participants contribute to a legacy of empowerment and positive change for future generations.

Likewise, community supporters of any background that want to invest in the values of the Elevate Fund are invited to contribute to the fund.

For more information, including membership details and grantmaking initiatives, visit cattfoundation.org/the-elevate-fund.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).

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