Destination Inspiration
You and Me…We Are GFWC!
Welcome to Destination Inspiration - a place where you can find fun, fresh ideas for Community Service Programs, Special & Signature Programs & Advancement Programs to bring to your Clubs for an incredible member experience! You will also find helpful Club resources to support areas of focus from the 2024-27 GFWC Illinois Strategic Plan. Together we can inspire and support each other and continue to strengthen our legacy of making a difference through volunteer service.
GFWC Community Service Programs
GFWC has five Community Service Programs to build upon the difference that the Federation has collectively made throughout the United States and across the globe. The Community Service Programs and Special Programs help clubs light a path for the future and better address the current and upcoming needs of its communities.
Arts & Culture
The GFWC Arts & Culture Community Service Program encourages members to promote and support art and cultural programs in their clubs and communities, and to expand understanding on every level, from local and regional to national and international. Our goal is to create projects that include crafts, dance, drama, food, music, and other manifestations of art and culture that develop skills, awareness, and appreciation. It is designed to inspire clubwomen and ignite within them a desire to make the world a more beautiful, thoughtful, and caring place.
Civic Engagement & Outreach
The GFWC Civic Engagement & Outreach Community Service Program reminds GFWC members that each of us is part of a larger society and is responsible for undertaking actions that will create a better quality of life and foster a sense of community—locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. This Community Service Program highlights and encourages citizenship; crime prevention, safety, and disaster preparedness; the needy, hungry, and homeless; and our military personnel and veterans.
Education & Libraries
We aim to help others, while we also continue to learn. Projects in the Education & Libraries Community Service Program are designed to foster schools, as well as other educational institutions and opportunities. These projects promote libraries, literacy, and the love of a good book. Through these efforts, we encourage the growth of individuals and communities at home and around the world.
Environment
The GFWC Environment Community Service Program encourages us to become stewards of the earth by working to preserve the world’s resources, protect wildlife and domesticated animals, live sustainably, and beautify our communities and enjoy nature. Environmental degradation is cumulative and many scientists warn that we are at a tipping point. There is no time like the present to act.
Health & Wellness
The human body, mind, and spirit comprise our health and wellness. To improve our well-being, we must address three key components: nutrition, disease prevention, and physical and emotional care. The Health & Wellness Community Service Program aims to explore the various opportunities for awareness and advancement of each of these vital areas.
GFWC Special Programs
GFWC Special Programs focus on high-impact initiatives. These Special Programs enable clubwomen to expand their knowledge and skills, contribute to GFWC's national programs, and be recognized for their achievements.
Signature Program: Domestic & Sexual Violence Awareness & Prevention
The Signature Program’s goal is to increase awareness of and help prevent the widespread occurrence of violence against women in communities across the nation—and the globe. Areas of focus include Intimate Partner Violence, Child Abuse, Teen Dating Violence, Campus Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Violence Against Native American Women, Military Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking.
Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children
GFWC Juniors’ Special Program: Advocates for Children is designed to encourage all Woman’s, Junior Woman’s, Juniorette, and International Affiliate Clubs to make a difference in the life of a child by being an advocate. The Program was envisioned as a way for clubwomen to provide a voice for children and to teach and encourage parents and other caregivers to advocate for children at the grassroots level.
GFWC Advancement Programs
GFWC Advancement Programs are structured, strategic areas designed to support, strengthen, and grow local women’s clubs through focused initiatives. Key areas include Communication/Public Relations, Fundraising/Development, Leadership, Membership, Legislation/Public Policy, and Women’s History, aimed at enhancing community impact.
Communication & Public Relations
Today, communication truly takes on all tactical forms – visual, written, digital, and audible. For your club to become even more efficient and resourceful, you must consider taking the time to develop and execute a strong communications strategy, one that employs all these forms to effectively engage your members. Engaged members are more satisfied, will see more value in their membership, and will participate in more activities.
Fundraising & Development
Fundraising is beneficial to your community, your club, and its members. Raising capital for a local project, recognized charity, affiliate organization, your club’s outreach plans and operations, or GFWC Designated Funds, is also an opportunity to make the achievements of your club known throughout the community.
Leadership
Leadership development involves personal growth and improvement and influencing and fostering others. How did your club inspire and recognize leadership development within your club? Who were the leaders within your club and what did they do to help build other potential leaders? Did any of your members attend the GFWC Illinois LEADS Seminar or any of the other leadership workshops offered? Don’t forget to nominate members for the GFWC Jennie June Award and the Junior and Juniorette Leadership Awards.
Legislation/Public Policy
For more than 100 years, GFWC members have raised awareness of specific issues requiring attention at the national level through their advocacy efforts. GFWC members’ advocacy efforts are practical not political. Our GFWC advocacy seeks the implementation of constructive solutions to problems that are national in scope and regional in impact. How did your club and/or members work to pass laws affecting highway safety, juvenile justice, women’s suffrage, the rights of the disabled, equal pay for women, resources for victims of domestic violence, and penalties for domestic abusers? Did you sign up for the GFWC Legislation Action Center & reach out to your Senators & Congressmen to support/oppose various bills?
Membership
What did your club do to strengthen your membership and attract new members? At the start of each week write a note, send an email, or post a comment on social media using #IAmGFWC to recognize a club woman who has done something remarkable, such as chairing a successful project, sharing a great idea, organizing a meal for a sick member, providing encouragement when someone needed a boost, or has just been their usual terrific self. GFWC Illinois has contests for Recruitment Recognition, Member Orientation, and Membership increases; as well as recognizing 25-year and 50-year members.
Women’s History & Resource Center
The WHRC strives to educate and inspire GFWC members to explore the rich, historical role of women volunteers through GFWC’s expansive collections. GFWC encourages every club to investigate and document its own history by learning about GFWC’s past. What did your club do to encourage member participation in diverse club and community projects developed to preserve the past, promote the present, and inspire the future?
GFWC Illinois 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
To maintain our strong legacy of community volunteer service and maintain the longevity of GFWC Illinois, the GFWC Illinois 2024-2027 Strategic Plan will address the following areas of focus:
Fiscal Health and Stability – Implement a fiscal plan that supports long-term solvency
Communication, Branding, and Public Awareness – Establish the GFWC Illinois brand and build awareness to promote engagement through multiple channels
Membership – Strengthen current membership and attract new members
Leadership – Engage and mentor future leaders to fulfill GFWC Illinois Officer and Board of Directors functions
Technology – Guide overall use of technology and develop strategies to meet members' needs
We are proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association, Canine Companions, Heifer International, Hope for Justice, March of Dimes, Operation Smile, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and UNICEF USA for a greater reach and synergy to move the hearts and minds of masses to support our collective causes for the greater good.
