A HISTORY OF THE FAWCO FOUNDATION

Mission statement:

The purpose of The FAWCO Foundation is to implement the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas’ stated interest in the global community, specifically by aiding charitable, scientific and educational programs, and supporting the rights of women and children throughout the world.

Roots of The Foundation

Children’s education in Europe was among the Federation’s early interests, as it was felt that “To obtain world harmony…it was essential that education develop peace-loving attitudes in children.” In the 1930s, one of the Federation’s stated goals was “…to provide a yearly scholarship to a deserving European student for advanced study in the U.S., the studies serving ultimately to further the cause of peace.” The Federation also had an early interest in disaster relief and development issues.
Following World War II, the organization resumed its efforts toward establishing scholarships. By the 1960s, the Federation had grown to include women’s clubs not only in Europe, but throughout much of the world. Its leaders wished to continue efforts to foster goodwill and friendship between the U.S. and Europe by raising money for scholarships for European nationals to study in the U.S. and for American students educated abroad to continue their studies in the U.S. In seeking advice as to how FAWCO could receive tax-deductible donations, FAWCO President Mary Mag learned that the Federation did not qualify for tax-exempt status. Not to be deterred, Mary Mag was able to bring to fruition the dream she shared with her predecessors by working to form a separate corporation with the sole objective of raising and disbursing funds. Thus, on December 20, 1966, The FAWCO Foundation was incorporated by the Federation board as its fund-raising body, a totally autonomous not-for-profit corporation, existing solely to assist the Federation and its member clubs in supporting their scientific, charitable and educational projects, and the prevention of cruelty to children.

The Scholarship Awards Program

Scholarship Awards remained a goal of both the Federation and the early Foundation boards. They held a firm belief that peace would be promoted by fostering cultural understanding through education. The first Foundation scholarship award, for $1000, was made in 1971. Annual awards in the same amount continued through 1975.
The growing importance of scholarship awards to the clubs resulted in increased contributions from them. The Foundation was able to announce two scholarships for 1978, each for $1000. In 1979, for the first time, the scholarship was referred to as a Merit Scholarship, based on academic achievement and carrying a stipend of $2000. Two runner-up awards, each for $1000, were also announced. The Awards Program was well on its way.
As Federation membership grew during the 1980s, so did the number of applications from a growing number of clubs represented. Making clear their support and continued interest in awards, contributions from clubs and individuals increased greatly, enabling The Foundation to offer more and more kinds, of awards. In 1980, 23 applicants from 11 different clubs competed for the 3 awards offered. Each year thereafter the numbers increased. In 1988, a new record number (61) of applications came from 23 clubs for 8 awards.
In response to suggestions from club Representatives and from individual members of the Federation, and to ensure that the needs of all Federation members and their children were being met, the number and types of awards were added to over the years. An International Award for a child of a non-American member of a FAWCO club was offered for the first time in 1982. 1987 brought the high-school level Dual-Cultural Award for a student with only one American parent, followed the next year by the Federation Award for a member of FAWCO herself to continue her education, either abroad or in the U.S, based on the premise that FAWCO existed to serve its members as well as their children. The Special Challenges Award came about at the suggestion of a mother whose child was dyslexic. An additional Federation Award was offered in 1995. Each year, the awards program is tailored to the expressed needs and interests of FAWCO members, depending on funds available. In 1998 an award for volunteerism was introduced.
In 2005, the awards program was restructured to align with the recently restructured development grant program. This allowed awards to be sponsored by member clubs and streamlined focus of awards on specific areas of study. “Humanities, Arts, and Sciences” categories were introduced, which quickly found sponsorship among member clubs.

The Development Grants

The very first grants by The Foundation were made in the form of disaster relief in response to requests made by representatives of the member clubs during Biennial Conferences. The FAWCO club identified the need in its host country and monitored how the funds received were disbursed. Grants were made to aid victims of floods in Lisbon and earthquakes in Sicily, a flood in San Olcese, near Genoa, Italy, to aid children in Pakistan, and to help rebuild a kindergarten in Friuli, Italy, damaged by an earthquake, and food aid given to the International Rescue Committee.
In addition, FAWCO’s member clubs were encouraged to apply to The Foundation for grants which would enable them to carry on projects compatible with the corporation’s stated purposes. Guidelines and applications were drawn up and distributed, and among the early grants was one, in 1972, to the AWC of Brussels for the American International Youth Center. At the 1985 Biennial Conference, in response to the appeal of delegates from Chile, and in coincidence with the Federation’s process of becoming a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, a FAWCO Disaster Relief Fund was established to provide funds for earthquake victims in that country. In 1997, the fund became known as the Relief and Development Fund and was transferred to The Foundation to administer. Clubs by that time had demonstrated their interest in supporting long-term projects in developing nations, much as was the case with The Foundation’s first grants. The strength of the program lies in the access to reputable and worthy charitable projects known personally to FAWCO club members and, in some cases, supported by a FAWCO Club.
In 2004, recognizing the rapid growth in the Development Grant program, proposals were solicited from member clubs in terms of categories of need. The new categories were: “Effects of Violence”, “Feed the World”, “Healthy Living”, “Hope through Education”, and “Peace through Understanding”. This was met with enthusiasm as clubs could then sponsor a specific DG and have their names attached to the grant. In 2005, a new “Skills for Life” category was added. The Development Grant program was vibrant and growing. In 2006, two new categories of grant were introduced: “Care in Crisis” and “A Place to Learn”. As of 2006, $150,500 will have been given to 58 projects in 27 countries.
Club participation is essential to the grant process, and the seven grant categories reflect the issues of particular importance to FAWCO members, who both propose the projects and by vote annually select the grant recipients.FAWCO Club SupportAs The Federation grew, so did support for The Foundation. In 1978, clubs started donating regularly. In 1981, out of 26 member clubs 9 donated funds to The Foundation. In the mid-80s, a sharp rise in contributions took place. In 1990, with 45 member clubs, 26 donated. By 1998, membership had soared to 64 clubs, with 62% of them making contributions. The upward spiral continues. In 2006, with 72 member clubs, 12 have chosen to sponsor awards and development grants. A point of pride has always been that, regardless of whether or not a club contributes, students from that club are eligible for an award.
In 1972, memorial awards were initiated, and partially funded, by FAWCO clubs to honor their club members or members’ children who have passed away. The Foundation voted in 1996 to establish an endowment fund with $10,000 from the general funds. The fund is added to yearly, and the interest from this fund will be used eventually to provide awards. A further source of income was a 1994 bequest of $50,000.

Fundraising Then and Now

Following upon an impromptu luncheon auction during the 1993 Casablanca Conference, The Foundation followed in 1994 with its first official live auction in Bern. This raised more than $11,000. The tradition continued at subsequent conferences with the event expanding to encompass a silent auction. In 2001, on line auctions were introduced along with the new capability to take donations via credit cards. With this improved technology, online auctions allowed bidders throughout the world to bid on items donated by clubs and individuals. Auctions had proved to be extremely successful fundraising tools for The Foundation
In 1993, The Foundation president suggested the creation of the “Friends of The FAWCO Foundation” to encourage individual donations and to stimulate interest in The Foundation. Lapel pins in the shape of the new logo, designed in 1994, were sold by clubs and at conferences.
One of the most successful annual fundraisers has been, since 1995, the auctioning or raffling of a hand-stitched patchwork quilt. Individual club members submit squares for the quilt according to a pre-established theme. The annual “Friendship” Quilt, much loved by member clubs, has become an essential part of the work and character of The Foundation every year.
Kids Help, a recent addition to the fundraising programs, introduces children of members to the joy of giving by issuing certificates in their names for contributions to particular children’s aid projects.
The Foundation has worked closely over the years with the Federation in raising funds for joint projects, such as the recent campaign World Swim for Malaria and Malaria Matters associated with FAWCO’s NGO status.

FAWCO and The FAWCO Foundation, Past and Present

As far back as the 1930’s the young FAWCO Federation of only 10-12 member clubs found it fitting to help international relief organizations and give out
modest scholarships to deserving children of its members. Aside from all that FAWCO does for the rights and privileges of all Americans, it has never forgotten that inherent in its membership is the truly “American” obligation to give back to society the good received from it. If there is one group of women, including the federation’s non-American members, who know global understanding grows out of knowledge and sensitivity to other cultures, it is FAWCO members worldwide. If, through the Awards Program, it is possible to help internationally educated children seek knowledge and experience to serve the world community, then FAWCO is doing something significant. And if, through the Development Grant Program, it is possible to help the lives of deprived women and children then FAWCO is addressing that which is dear to its members and Foundation, as it was in the past, is in the present, and will be in the future.