• What We Do
• Who We Are
• Ethics & Diversity Codes
• History
• Letter to the Community
• Purpose, Vision & Philosophy/Core Values

"...They are magic beans mother," said Jack. "Magic beans! Oh you silly boy,” said his mother and threw the beans out of the window. They went to bed without having anything. When Jack woke up the next morning, he saw a huge green trunk growing past the window, with enormous leaves. Jack called his mother and shouted, "It’s the beans you threw last night." They both looked up and the beanstalk seemed to be growing right into the sky, disappearing into the clouds. "I am going to climb it," said Jack. "Oh, no! You don’t know where it goes," said his mother. "I will find out," said Jack and he began climbing."
— from Jack and the Beanstalk

"If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way."
— Buddha

We learn a lot in the business of making grants. We have the opportunity to observe and support talented people pursuing creative ideas. Because we consider ourselves social entrepreneurs– setting ideas in motion is the Fund’s tag line – we hope to locate and invest in the big ideas that will change everything for the better. In 2009, we were reminded that, while big, powerful gifts sometimes bring the change we look for, many times a small gift delivers the most sizeable returns.

One of those grants, spearheaded by Elizabeth Sterns, went to The Lincoln Quilters Guild late in 2007 for a project that wrapped up in 2009. The $1,000 grant paid for fabric, pins, scissors and other materials allowed Guild volunteers to help young women and men in the Student Parenting Class at the Bryan Community learn how to tell stories and express themselves through textile arts. It brought 12 creative women into relationship with young parents facing challenges in completing their educations. Their interaction resulted in 18 quilts, 18 students proudly presenting the stories behind their quilts and a vibrant project that is now in its third year. The small gift is paying dividends for the future in the form of confident young women and men, high school graduates and children with stronger, more self aware parents. The gains will pay forward for decades.

Woods Charitable Fund awarded and paid both large and small grants in 2009. We’ve published a list herein but also encourage you to read more about the grants and the Fund’s interests and approaches on its website at www.woodscharitable.org. If we can share information about any of our grantees beyond what is available there, please contact us. Community need in Lincoln is not shrinking, yet gifts in this troubled economy have lagged. Please continue to make your gifts, both large and small, in support of organizations whose work you value. They couldn’t come at a better time.

Donna Woods Chair

Pam Baker Executive Director