About Michigan Women’s Foundation

• About MWF
• Vision & Mission
• Women of Achievement & Courage
• Our Staff
• Board of Trustees
• Young Women for Change
• 2010 WOAC Dinner Detroit
• 2010 WOAC Dinner West
• History of MWF
• Contact Us

• Donate Now!

Young Women for Change

Young Women for Change® (YWFC) is an innovative youth leadership development and philanthropy program created and administered by MWF. YWFC teaches high school girls leadership, community service, philanthropy, and grant making skills, and provides the members an opportunity to impact their community as the decision-makers in the grant making process. Currently, there are five chapters:

1. East Wayne/Macomb Counties (Detroit, Grosse Pointes, Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores)
2. Kalamazoo County
3. Kent County (Grand Rapids)
4. Traverse City
5. Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor)
6. Greater Lansing – coming soon!

To join, start a chapter where you are, or get more information, contact Michele Lewis at 313.640.0128 or mlewiswatts@miwf.org.  For more information, read the Parent Info Packet (PDF)

To apply, complete the application and return to our office via email, fax or mail. YWFC common application rvd 6.10 (MS Word)

2010 Young Women for Change Retreat, Eastern Michigan University

Thanks to a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation, EILEEN FISHER and Eastern Michigan University, the YWFC® Annual Retreat was again a two-day experience on a major college campus. This year’s retreat, themed Young, Female and Philanthropic, featured keynote speakers, skill-building activities, sessions on fundraising, and the ever-popular Pajammy Jam.

Dr. Sue Martin, president of EMU, greeted the members, followed by keynote speaker, Peg Talburtt of the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation. Power of 100 Woman Debra Minton of Philanthropia Partners explained Fundraising 101 followed by brainstorming fundraising ideas for their chapters.  She also led the attendees in creating their own, individual generosity plans.  Panelists from University of Michigan’s and Eastern Michigan’s women centers gave members insight into college life, lessons learned after high school, and issues for women on college campuses.  Watching the 2002 movie “Real Women Have Curves” spawned discussion on body image, adult-child relationships, leaving for college, and other youth and gender specific topics.  The retreat closed with each member creating a vision board, led by Program Advisor Megan Raphael, showing how they would be philanthropists for the next year. For more photos of the retreat, visit MWF’s facebook page.