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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Give To Chrysalis?
The value of your gift to Chrysalis is multiplied, as the foundation adds value by:
- researching, evaluating, selecting, and funding the most effective programs working with women and girls
- funding non-traditional programs that may have high potential but no other source for funding
- leveraging your dollars with other dollars and local agencies with other partners for maximum impact
- providing more than through training and other assistance to nonprofit agencies to improve their effectiveness
- measuring impact using "Results-Based Accountability" as a tool to assure the greatest possible results from our grantee partners
- employing "best practices" and aligning collaborations to learn from each other and improve program quality
Why does Chrysalis need my donation?
Founder Louise Noun established the Chrysalis Endowment to fund the operations of the foundation, so that every dollar you contribute is returned to programs serving women and girls! Your gift increases the amount Chrysalis can provide to our grantee partners, including Chrysalis After-School .
Why does Chrysalis focus on women and girl's issues only?
While only about 7% of every philanthropic dollar goes to women and girls, women and children constitute about 70% of the poor in our country. Chrysalis focuses on empowering women and girls and increasing their economic independence and leadership opportunities, to remove barriers and create unlimited possibilities for the future.
How do I know the results of Chrysalis grants?
Chrysalis focuses on key priorities where change can truly occur: economic independence, self sufficiency, and leadership for all women and girls. Chrysalis also employs "Results Based Accountability", a national evaluation model.
Why should I give to Chrysalis rather than another charity or organization?
Chrysalis expands your charitable reach by becoming your research and evaluation team, channeling your dollars to the most effective programs serving women and girls in our community. The foundation adds value, leverages your dollars with others, and provides training and assistance in addition to grant dollars.
How is Chrysalis different than United Way ?
Chrysalis respects the important work of United Way and often works in partnership with this agency in addressing the needs of the community. United Way funds an established network of community programs, which is a different approach than Chrysalis. As a community foundation, Chrysalis is able to fund many non-traditional and innovative programs that have high potential. Chrysalis also has the strategic flexibility to select a different group of grant partners each year, as needs and opportunities emerge.
What is the role of the foundation board?
The 15 women on the Chrysalis board guide all foundation policies and activities and serve as stewards of contributions and the Endowment. Board members are agents of change, serving as ambassadors for Chrysalis by raising funds, planning programs and activities, and making financial and funding decisions.
How else can I join in the Chrysalis efforts?
Become a member of the Chrysalis Community! This new connection to Chrysalis - through your annual gift - will enlarge the foundation's circle of commitment to removing barriers and strengthening the lives of women and girls in central Iowa .
How do I help others learn more about Chrysalis?
Invite friends to a Chrysalis event, add them to our mailing list, connect them with a Chrysalis board member or staff person, or direct them to our website!
BARRIERS TO OUR MISSION …..
Although women have made great strides toward economic equality, for many the challenge to achieve economic self-sufficiency remains an uphill battle.
Women continue to earn less than men in Iowa , even with the same level of education.
On jobs and wages for women:
- According to the 2005 American Community Survey, Iowa women earn 74.8 cents to every dollar that Iowa men do.
- 60% of minimum wage workers are female and 40% of US minimum wage workers are the sole providers of their family? (AFL-CIO, 2006).
- 60% of working women earn half or more of their families’ income.
On women in poverty:
- One out of every 14 working women and one out of every 5 working single mothers are poor.
- In Iowa , single parent households make up 45% of the homeless populations (2005), but 94% of the single parent homeless families were headed by women.
- Women in Iowa are more likely to live in poverty than men (11.5% of women versus 8.3% of men live in poverty today).
- The likelihood that a woman will live in poverty INCREASES as she ages.
What key factors cause women to live in poverty?
- lack of job experience or education
- low wages
- gender wage gap
- race and ethnicity
- family structure (single-parent households due to range of factors including divorce, death of spouse, abuse, etc.)
- availability of resources in urban and rural areas
- a lack of affordable housing, transportation, medical care, and child care
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