STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

It was just a few short months ago that members of the Wood River Women’s Foundation gathered on the lawn of a home in Ketchum’s Northwood neighborhood to celebrate 27 nonprofits for whom they’d awarded grants to.

Now, the 300-plus member organization is ready to do it all over again.

The organization is taking applications from Wood River Valley nonprofits who have a project they would like to receive funding for. Applications will be accepted through midnight Thursday, Jan. 23, at https://woodriverwomensfoundation.org/apply-for-a-grant/.

Jenni Riley and Kathleen Eder welcomed attendees to the 2024 Annual Meeting and Grantee Celebration.

The WRWF will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to organizations that serve causes within Blaine County. Organizations that received fully-funded WRWF grants during the past two consecutive years are ineligible to apply in 2025, although the restriction does not apply to partially-funded recipients.

“We believe in the transformative power of collaboration and innovation,” said Jeannie Shroads, the Foundation’s president. “Our grants enable local nonprofits to expand their reach, enhance their services, and make lasting contributions to the community. No request is too small to make a meaningful difference.”

The Foundation gave away $503,647 in 2024 from pooled funds raised from membership dues. It has granted nearly $4 million to nonprofits since its founding in 2005.

Karissa Price-Rico, a board member who has led marketing strategy for the Food, consumables and Health and Wellness businesses at Walmart and is currently chief marketing officer of Dragonfruit AI, told the group that Americans are searching for purpose.

Heather Foster, who received a grant to erect historical panels outlining the history of Rotarun Ski Area, chats with Swiftsure Therapeutic Ranch representatives.

Google searches for purpose-related items surging. Companies are spending more on social marketing to make employees feel purposeful and even investing in things like foosball tables, yet only one in five employees feels engaged. Productivity growth peaked 70 years ago and is now at historic lows. Mental happiness is decreasing and loneliness is increasing.

Perhaps we should instead think of our “why?” said Price-Rico, whose book “WHY is a Verb: How Well-Managed Teams Turn Purpose into Productivity” reached No. 1 on Amazon for Business and Career Guidance.

“What if our purpose as humans is to learn? What if we approached each job or activity as a learning opportunity? While writing checks feels good, helping grantees write grant applications feels even better. If look at many opportunities as learning opportunities, we feel better.”

Members of the Wood River Women’s Foundation do do more than write checks. Once the decision has been made to award a grant, they work with the nonprofits being funded to see how they can provide more value, said Carolyn Larsen, Grant’s Committee co-chair with Jori Potiker.

The WRWF’s new president Jeannie Shroads praised outgoing president Sandy McCullough’s efforts.

Want to know more about applying for a grant? Call the Foundation at 208-309-2530.

Outgoing secretary Gail Landis was praised for bringing heartfelt dedication to every initiative she tackled, including setting up an endowment fund for long-term sustainability. She is continuing as chair of investment committee.