Jeanne Jackson – former President & CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Alabama – is well-versed in the world of philanthropy. After retiring from the Women’s Foundation in 2018, Jeanne continued applying her decades of experience as a consultant. She helps nonprofits improve their fundraising and leadership development, and is an expert on what makes an organization impactful.
This nonprofit industry insider is also one of our loyal donors, and a member of our Champions for Girls giving society. Jeanne first got involved with Girls Inc. around 2008, during her tenure as the Director of the Hess Center for Leadership and Service at Birmingham-Southern College. “I was impressed with my students’ experiences as volunteers and the professionalism of the Girls Inc. staff,” Jeanne says.
Later, as part of the Momentum Women’s Leadership program, she volunteered as a mentor to Girls Inc. participants. These experiences as both a community partner and a volunteer have given Jeanne insight into how Girls Inc. programming shapes the next generation of leaders.
“I strongly believe in developing female leadership and know that the education of girls must begin early and remain constant during a girl’s developmental years,” she says. “The success of Girls Inc. graduates proves that their programs work, and I wanted to support these opportunities for more girls.”
For philanthropists like Jeanne, it’s not always easy to pick what causes to support. There are over 14,000 nonprofit organizations in Alabama alone, and they all need funding to support their missions. When we asked Jeanne why she chose to support our organization, she offered the following advice:
“Rather than giving numerous small contributions to many organizations, I prefer to donate larger gifts to a few stellar organizations that reflect my passions. For example, I focus my giving on local women’s programs that make a measurable impact, and Girls Inc. is one that produces tangible results.”
For those interested in elevating their charitable contributions through Girls Inc., Jeanne encourages prospective donors to just go visit – “See for yourself the energy, enthusiasm, and confidence of the girls!”
Whether you witness the impact of your investment firsthand or read about it in our annual report, you will see that Girls Inc. programming is making a difference. Girls Inc. envisions powerful girls in an equitable society, and our participants are being equipped to make this vision a reality.
This story was featured in the June 2023 issue of The Bold Bulletin, our monthly e-newsletter. For more stories like this one in your inbox, subscribe below!