Women Leaders in Philanthropy
Empowering, Cultivating, and Recognizing Women as Philanthropic Leaders Within Our Communities
The vision of the Women Leaders in Philanthropy (WLIP) is to empower, cultivate, and recognize women as philanthropic leaders and volunteers within our communities. Our goals are to enhance philanthropy of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation by reinforcing bonds and social networking; providing philanthropic education for the next generation of women leaders; and supporting social impact organizations and causes.
Our History
Women Leaders in Philanthropy celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The group was founded in 1995 by Carolyn Saxton, then executive director at the Foundation, to empower and recognize women as philanthropic leaders. Six prominent local women gave establishing gifts to the charitable grantmaking and operating endowments of the Foundation, pooling resources to invest in and support our community’s needs in perpetuity.
In 2015, the mission of WLIP evolved with a new approach to grant-making by women, still with the same mission to support social impact organizations and needs in our community, but now as an active collective giving group. A separate Women Leaders Fund was created with the Foundation, and today members choose the causes and services to be supported with their donations.
Leadership Committee
A collective leadership team that steers a democratic process based on the consensus of members and members-at-large voting.
- Kristin Carlson Vogen, Chair
- Megan Lewis, Vice Chair
- Elizabeth Lippitt
- Julianne Piotrowski
- Sara Yount
- Terry Clancy
Membership
To become a Women Leader in Philanthropy, a woman must donate a minimum of $5,000 (installments permitted). An initial gift of $1,000 can also be made, with a pledge to donate a minimum of an additional $1,000 in each of the following four years. Women can sponsor another woman to become a new member. Existing members can become Sustaining Members through annual donations of a suggested minimum of $1,000. Download an application here.
See our current roster of members
Questions? Email Carrie Summy, President & CEO, at [email protected] or by phone at 708-848-1560, ext. 112.
The Fund
Honoring women and supported by women, WLIP has raised a significant portion of the Foundation’s charitable endowment, donating more than $3 million since its inception to today. Today, their philanthropic impact continues and has grown with the number of women who have joined together to make a difference. The Women Leaders in Philanthropy Fund supports causes selected annually by members.
