the foundation for girls and women

2024 inspired event with alejandra campoverdi

Thank you for supporting and attending the 2024 Inspired Event on Monday, September 30, 2024! With your help Chrysalis can continue the important work to ensure girls and women in Greater Des Moines have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to be successful and independent -- just as we've done for the last 35 years. We're grateful to Alejandra Campoverdi for her compelling presentation on her book, First Gen: A Memoir, and for her wisdom and experience we found to be educational. Thank you to our generous sponsors, committee co-chairs and members, partners, and YOU for the commitment to girls and women in our community!

view event photos

 

 

chrysalis board members celebrate 35 years of impact

Current and past Chrysalis board members gathered on July 25th at Caspe Terrace in Waukee to celebrate Chrysalis' 35th birthday. Founding member Barbara Barrett shared stories of Chrysalis' beginning. Original board members Patrice Sayre and Mary Chapman provided insight on the activities and issues Chrysalis addressed in the early years. Current board president Emily Stevens toasted Chrysalis, the girls and women of Greater Des Moines, the board leadership and staff, and to a future of trailblazing impacts for all. 
 

we are chrysalis

When a girl learns, she is able to earn and give back to her community when she grows up. When a woman is given the necessary tools to support her success, everyone benefits. Chrysalis works to increase resources and opportunities for women and girls in the greater Des Moines area, and empower them to be all that they can be.

learn about our mission

celebrate 35 years of the chrysalis effect

Throughout 2024, we will celebrate the girls, women, and men who are part of our work. Several special events will emphasize the foundation’s gratitude to the community that has supported it since 1989. Check out what we have planned; we hope you will join us! 

Learn more here.

 

we are all about girls and women

No tool for development is more effective than empowering women. The World Bank calls investing in women “smart economics” because research shows economic growth for women has a critical multiplier effect. Women are more likely to share their personal economic gains with their families and communities; in fact, women reinvest 90% of their income in food, healthcare, home improvement, and schooling for themselves and their children. In short, “women’s progress” is “society progress.”

this is the work of chrysalis 

we can’t do it alone

Our work is about connections.  Whether it's our community of nonprofit partners working to strengthen girls and women, our grant partners delivering our mission, or our school site leaders reaching girls through enriching after-school progrms, we don't work alone.  And only with the support of friends, donors, volunteers, and community stakeholders does our work change lives.

find out how you can help

issues and resources

Our education and fundraising events share information on the broad issues important to the success of girls and women, and our continuous learning keeps us relevant.  Because you care about our community, we want to keep you informed, too.

read our take on information you should know