Welcome Members!

On this page you will find answers to frequently asked questions from members about how our group works. Please don’t hesitate to contact our leadership team with any questions or for help getting started.

Our Cycle of Good

Santa Rosa Women for Good awards four grants per year, each running on a three-month giving cycle. This cycle guides us from discovering nonprofits to celebrating the impact of our giving.

  • During the Gather phase, we open the nomination process to members. This is a time to explore and learn about nonprofits in our community and share the organizations that inspire you. Members submit nominations through Grapevine, helping us identify the nonprofits we might support next.

    December, March, June, September

  • In the Grant phase, members dive deeper into the nominated organizations. A one-page overview and additional resources (links, videos, etc.) are shared to help you learn about each nonprofit’s work. Members then cast their vote for the organization they feel should receive the grant.

    January, April, July, October

  • During the Celebrate phase, we honor the most recently awarded nonprofit. They are invited to a social event to share more about their mission and the impact our grant will have on their work. This phase is all about recognizing achievements, connecting with our community, and celebrating the power of collective giving.

    November, February, May, August

Giving

  • We have a suggested minimum donation of $100 per quarter, however it is important that our group remains accessible and inclusive. If you aren’t able to give $100 per quarter we ask that you give what you are able.

  • Right now, each grant is $5,000, a figure that keeps our giving steady and sustainable. As our circle grows and more members contribute, the grant amount will increase, allowing us to support nonprofits with even greater impact.

  • Any funds raised beyond $5,000 are held in reserve to support future grant cycles. As our membership and donation pool grow, we’ll increase the amount of our quarterly grants. If you have questions, please reach out to the leadership team.

  • 100% of your donated dollars are granted to selected nonprofits. Grapevine does not collect any fees from donors and there are no dues, fees or admin costs that come out of your donation. If you wish to help support the administrative costs of the group with a separate donation to help support marketing and events, please reach out to the leadership team.

  • Yes! We suggest a minimum $100 per quarter donation but members can give as generously as they want to help support and grow the impact we are having.

  • All donations are managed within the Grapevine platform. Once you have logged in, click on your photo in the top left hand corner to access your account settings. Under “Your Donations” you’ll see your upcoming donations and an option to “Manage Donation” - here you can update the amount or payment method.

  • Yes! You can always make a one time donation or increase your donation for a single grant cycle.

  • Yes. If you need to pause or skip a donation you can go in to your Grapevine account and choose Manage Donation to skip the next giving cycle.

Nominating

  • Each quarter, the leadership team will open the nomination cycle on our Grapevine forum. Members will receive an email letting them know nominations are open, typically for 1–2 weeks. Nominations take place in December, March, June, and September, so keep an eye on your inbox for those announcements!

  • Any nonprofit that’s based in Sonoma County or actively supports our local community is eligible for nomination. To qualify, the organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

  • Once nominations close, a ranked poll is posted on Grapevine and announced by email. All donating members may participate. The results of this poll determine the top three nonprofits that advance to the final round of voting.

  • Yes! There’s no limit to how many times a nonprofit can be nominated, and we encourage members to renominate organizations that haven’t yet been selected. Nonprofits that have received a grant are not eligible for renomination for 12 months.

  • Yes! We are excited to have many passionate women who run or work for nonprofits in our group and are excited to be able to showcase and support their work.

Voting

  • Every donating member has an equal voice in our decision-making process. Each vote matters and helps shape the collective impact of our giving circle.

  • At the end of each grant cycle, the leadership team will open the voting window on our Grapevine forum. Members will receive an email notification when voting begins. The voting period is open for about two weeks, and members can cast their vote directly on the forum.

  • Each quarter’s three nominated nonprofits are highlighted at our monthly social mixer, where members can connect and learn more about their missions. You’ll receive a one-page overview of each organization, plus links and videos when available. After the mixer, everything is shared on the Grapevine forum, and the voting window opens so you can cast your vote with confidence.

  • If there’s a tie at the close of voting, the leadership team will notify all members and extend the voting window by three days to allow for additional votes. If the tie remains after that period, the quarterly grant will be evenly split between the tied organizations.

  • Every member’s vote is counted equally and Grapevine automatically tallies the winners.

Getting Involved

  • Santa Rosa Women for Good hosts a monthly social mixer every 2nd Wednesday at 5:30 PM, along with various community volunteering opportunities. Members are also welcome to share events that matter to them and invite fellow women in the group to join, helping support the causes we care about together.

  • You can find all official group events on the right-hand side of the Grapevine page, and each event is announced by email. Your RSVP helps us plan and create meaningful gatherings. Plus, members are encouraged to post their own community events to invite fellow members to participate!

  • The more members we have donating, the bigger our impact in the community! You can help by inviting friends and family, encouraging women you know to attend a social mixer, or sharing the group online. Every connection helps us grow and strengthen our collective giving.

  • We’re always looking for passionate women to join our volunteer leadership team! If you’d like to get more involved and contribute your skills to support the group, please reach out to the leadership team -we’d love to hear from you.

Grapevine

  • Grapevine is the online giving platform that hosts our donations and helps us manage our grant process. All nominations and voting take place through Grapevine. The platform itself is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, which ensures our giving is secure and tax-deductible.

  • Every member can post and share on the Grapevine page, and new posts are emailed to the group. If you’re unsure how to post or whether your content fits, the leadership team is always available to assist.

  • Members are encouraged to share community events, fundraisers, and opportunities for networking or connection. If you’re unsure whether your post fits, the leadership team is happy to provide guidance.

More questions? 

Please email us at srwomenforgood@gmail.com with any questions, comments or suggestions on how to make our group even better. You can also always reach out to any member of our leadership team with any questions you might have.