UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
LETTER FROM OUR CEO
Celebrating the impact of our collective strength in 2024.
Dear Friends,
At the Women’s Foundation of the South, we have always believed that change begins like a seed – planted with care, rooted in justice, and nurtured through trust, love, and time. It is cultivated — and sacred.
In 2024, we witnessed seeds of change blossoming. Across the region, we saw women of color mobilize communities and lead with grace and grit, reminding us that the South is not only a place of deep history but also of rising futures. We moved with purpose and with heart, always guided by the wisdom of our ancestors and the dreams of our daughters.
We expanded urgently needed programs, invested in powerful leaders, gathered purposefully with women across the South and beyond, amplified poignant storytelling, and released groundbreaking research. Expanding our programmatic work to Arkansas connected us with powerful work that is undergirding the future of the state. From birth workers to workers' rights advocates, and new alliances for business and economic growth, our Arkansas grantee partners are hardworking trailblazers, fighters, and the glue that holds their communities together.
We also paused to honor one of our most beloved founders, Gladys Krigger Washington, whose legacy is forever etched into the very fabric of our work. Her words to me to — “breathe life into this work” — stand as my personal charge and motivation to keep pressing forward. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy hums through every action we take. She showed us how to lead with love, how to hold power gently but firmly, and to never let go of hope.
As you read this report, we invite you to feel the pulse of our progress and the promise of what’s ahead. To every donor, partner, and sister in this – you are part of this unfolding story. Your belief gives breath to our vision. Your generosity carries us forward. Our shared and unwavering commitment fuels us.
May we continue to walk boldly, plant bravely, and bloom together.
With deep thanks and boundless faith in what’s to come,
Carmen James Randolph Founding President & CEO Women’s Foundation of the South
STANDING ON VALUES
OUR LEADERSHIP
The Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS) is guided by its national Board of Directors and a team of committed leaders who share a deep passion for advancing the health and wellbeing, economic security, and power of women and girls of color in the South. Our Board and Leadership Team bring more than 100 years of experience in business, philanthropy, and transformative change. Together, we are galvanizing resources, lifting empowering narratives, and advancing opportunities to invest in building thriving communities across the South by centering the success of women and girls of color.
WFS STAFF
CARMEN JAMES RANDOLPH Founding President & CEO
Carmen James Randolph, founding president & CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South (WFS), is leading efforts to build a permanent endowment for women and girls of color across 13 Southern states. With nearly 30 years in philanthropy, Carmen is guided by the power of sisterhood to support, nurture, and amplify one another. Building on this core value, she continually partners with other women in philanthropy to mobilize funders and drive systems change.
STANDING ON VALUES
ELLA DELIO
Interim Vice President of Programs
JESSICA SANTOS Chief of Staff
Jessica Santos is a meticulously organized professional dedicated to WFS’s mission of creating new systems centered on the needs and experiences of women of color, by women of color. As a dynamic problem solver, she serves as a supportive force that empowers senior leadership. Her extensive expertise in policy research, advocacy, and grant writing—combined with deep public sector knowledge and regional familiarity—makes her truly indispensable. Jess is flexible, highly efficient, and an outstanding writer. Before joining WFS, she gained broad experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, providing legislative and policy research support to diverse clients while working in government affairs. She holds a Master of Urban & Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Political Science from Nicholls State University.
Ella Delio, began her career in the private sector, working for several firms in the Philippines, including Procter & Gamble. Her work in the sector showed her the important role that businesses played in equitable and sustainable development. Inspired by this insight, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector in 2004, where she supported the growth of women-led businesses on the East Coast and helped small and mid-sized environmental enterprises in Asia and Latin America gain access to investment capital.
STANDING ON VALUES
With more than a decade of experience in philanthropy, Ella is a passionate risk-taker who has spent the last 26 years linking business and social equity to build the power and capacity of underserved groups and communities to thrive. Throughout her career, she has led and energized organizations and teams through developing and implementing impactful strategies and initiatives. Ella received her MBA and MPA degrees from Harvard University. In May 2024, she joined the Foundation as Interim VP of Programs in a consulting capacity. WFS is excited that Ella will be joining the team full-time in May 2025.
KYSHA BROWN Vice President of Advancement
Kysha Brown is an experienced philanthropic leader who spent ten years as a nonprofit executive before founding Compositions Coaching and Consulting. For the next decade, she specialized in strategic planning, project implementation, and facilitation — working closely with civic, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders to serve communities.
Through her work in collaborative development, Kysha has helped secure over $70 million in place-based grants and financing. She is also a published author, co-founder of Runagate Press, and deeply passionate about advancing the success of women leaders.
STANDING ON VALUES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OFFICERS
SHERECE WESTSCANTLEBURY,PhD Board Secretary
Founding Board Chair
RICA LEWIS-PAYTON Chair-Elect
SONNY HAYNES
GLADYS KRIGGER
WASHINGTON
Founding Board Member
Board Member Emeritus
STANDING ON VALUES
BOARD MEMBERS
LORI SPICER ROBERTSON Board Member Board Member
DIANA JONES WILSON
JANAE JAMISON
NASREEN JILANI Board Member Board Member
LIFE AND LEGACY
CELEBRATING GLADYS KRIGGER WASHINGTON
With deep gratitude and reverence, we honor the life and legacy of Gladys Krigger Washington. A founding board member of WFS, her unwavering commitment to service, justice, and empowering communities has shaped the very heart of our work.
Gladys dedicated her life to advancing opportunities for those too often overlooked, ensuring that resources flowed into the hands of those most in need. Her leadership, wisdom, and boundless compassion were instrumental in guiding WFS from its inception, anchoring our mission in the values of equity, dignity, and lasting impact.
In June 2024, after years of dedicated service, Gladys retired from our board, leaving a lasting legacy of strength, encouragement, and purpose. Following her passing in November 2024, we joined many in the philanthropic community to honor and celebrate her life. Her spirit continues to inspire and challenge us, and her vision lives on in every WFS initiative, investment, and life transformed by the work she championed.
STANDING ON VALUES
We remain forever grateful for her leadership, her mentorship, and her belief in the power of unity. As we carry her legacy forward, we do so with the same passion and dedication she exemplified every day.
In 2022, WFS established the Gladys Krigger Washington Legacy Society, a community of donors who, like Gladys, believe in the power of long-term investment in women and girls of color. Through planned gifts, the Legacy Society ensures that future generations benefit from the same commitment to equity and opportunity that Gladys lived by. For those interested in giving to or learning more about the Legacy Society, please contact Dionne Coleman at dionne@womensfoundationsouth.org.
WITH LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE, WE HONOR GLADYS
WHAT IT REALLY TAKES
SOLIDARITY FOR SISTERHOOD
The WFS network model is grounded in the belief that meaningful change grows from both deep local roots and expansive regional connections. That’s why we’re building a vibrant ecosystem of local cohorts across a 13-state footprint, with active engagement already underway in five states.
Each local centerpoint is anchored by a diverse mix of women leaders—some whose work is deeply rooted in their immediate communities, and others who drive impact at city, state, or national levels. This intentional blend strengthens each hub with a layered perspective and reach.
Across our footprint, the organizations these leaders helm are united by purpose. Each is driving transformation in one or more of our three areas of focus:
Health & Wellbeing
Building Wealth and Economic Sustainability Leadership, Influence, & Advocacy
Together, this structure creates a powerful root network with:
localized insight with regional scale; a network that is as grounded as it is far-reaching; leadership that reflects the full spectrum of how change happens—from the block to the boardroom, from the grassroots to the policy table.
In 2024, we sat down in our launch city of New Orleans with a panel of four experts:
Managing Partner, Gilbert & Associates, LLC
LINETTA GILBERT
Executive Director, ACLU of Louisiana
ALANAH ODOMS
WHAT IT REALLY TAKES
We convened a critical conversation centered on a word present throughout the year – solidarity – specifically, Solidarity for Sisterhood: Black Women Supporting Black Women Through Philanthropy. This was a vibrant discussion about the experiences of being Black women working in the field of philanthropy and investing in Black women-led nonprofit organizations. With active audience engagement, we heard the various ways philanthropic leadership shows up in New Orleans - locally, regionally, and nationally. This was a great opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the impact and realities of how we all need and support each other, no matter our role in this work.
Special Thanks to our partners:
ACLU of Louisiana’s Parading Toward Freedom: A Movement in Black Philanthropy & The Soul of Philanthropy exhibits
Founder, Geaux Girl Giving
CIARA COLEMAN
President & CEO, Urban League of Louisiana
JUDY REESE MORSE
CELEBRATING SISTERS
HONOR HER – NEW ORLEANS
Presented in partnership with Ms. Foundation for Women, Honor Her – New Orleans celebrated the indelible impact of leaders whose contributions shape our communities. We gathered in the Historic Treme neighborhood of New Orleans and paid tribute to the contributions of these leaders through storytelling and wisdom sharing.
2024 HERSTORY HONOREES
Creator of The Black Girls’ Guide To Surviving Menopause
OMISADE BURNEY-SCOTT
CELEBRATING SISTERS
DR. TASHION MACON
Author of "Coming in Hot - The Blueprint"
Special thanks to our partner:
The Black Girls Guide to Surviving Menopause
DR. VERA TRIPLETT
Founder & CEO, The Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning
The Honey Pot Co.
We give special thanks to our event producers, Funkshuns and The Jae Impact, for their partnership in producing a stellar experience for our guests and honorees!
CELEBRATING SISTERS
CELEBRATING SISTERS
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
WFS expanded its engagement through inspiring events spanning from Memphis, Tennessee, to Martha’s Vineyard during Black Philanthropy Week. Each gathering sparked new relationships, celebrated shared purpose, and honored the legacy of national support that continues to unite our communities. They brought together changemakers, philanthropic leaders, and entrepreneurs to forge cross-regional solidarity and honor the power of Southern ties. We are deeply grateful to our sisters in philanthropy whose support makes this work possible. Our growth and the urgency of our mission to Shift The South are fueled by our board members and allies who lift up the stories of women and girls transforming their communities and beyond.
“In November 2024, I opened my my heart to host a gathering because I believe deeply in the power of women standing together. The Women’s Foundation of the South is not just an organization—it’s a movement of possibility, legacy, and justice for women and girls in our region. Inviting my circle to join me in supporting this work was my way of saying: when we invest in women, we invest in stronger families, thriving communities, and a future we can all be proud of.” - Lori Spicer Robertson, WFS Board Member
CONNECTING IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
In November, WFS deepened its presence in the South with a heartfelt reception in Memphis, Tennessee, generously hosted by board member Lori Spicer Robertson. Lori’s unwavering commitment to our mission and her gracious hospitality created a warm and welcoming space to introduce the Women’s Foundation of the South to new allies and supporters.
This gathering exemplified the power of Southern sisterhood—bringing together local leaders, community members, and champions of equity to connect around our shared vision. Lori’s dedication to amplifying WFS’ mission and expanding our reach in Memphis reflects the transformative role that board leadership plays in advancing our work. We are deeply grateful for her generosity and for helping build a stronger foundation of support in the region we call home.
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
GATHERING ON MARTHA’S VINEYARD
In August, WFS gathered at Black Ivy Cottage, the Martha’s Vineyard home of longtime supporter and donor C’Ardiss “CC” Gardner Gleser, for an intimate conversation with The Cottagers, Inc.
Founded in 1956, The Cottagers is a historic organization of 100 African American women homeowners in Oak Bluffs, dedicated to charitable, educational, and cultural advancement on the island. Their legacy of philanthropy and community care has made them a cornerstone of Black civic life on the Vineyard.
WFS CEO Carmen James Randolph joined The Cottagers’ President Patricia Bush and Immediate Past President Bettye Baker for a conversation about the Foundation’s Southern roots, The Cottagers’ storied history, and the future of women-led giving. We are grateful to CC for hosting this powerful exchange between two generations of Black women changemakers.
REFRAMING POWER
At WFS, we believe that changing the narrative can change systems. In 2024, we deepened our investment in narrative change with the launch of As We Are—an impact production created in partnership with strut AGENCY and two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker Eternal Polk.
As We Are tells the story of women of color in the South as they are—not as they are imagined to be. This three-part docuseries highlights the power, truth, and leadership of women of color in Louisiana and Mississippi, capturing their lived realities, organizational needs, and community-rooted solutions.
As We Are evolved from our Learn with Us series and WŌC @ Rest® insights, where leaders emphasized the need to be seen beyond data points or stereotypes. Filmed in summer 2023, this docuseries invites viewers into the realities of Southern women’s leadership and the urgent issues they navigate
REFRAMING POWER
With gratitude to our Impact Production Sponsor, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, for making this event possible.
REFRAMING POWER
LOUISIANA NONPROFIT LEADERS FEATURED
Lanor Curole, United Houma Nation, Inc.
Judy Reese Morse, Urban League of Louisiana
Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
Darilyn Demolle Turner, Zion Travelers Cooperative Center, Inc.
Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter
MISSISSIPPI NONPROFIT LEADERS FEATURED
Dr. Sandra Melvin, Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health
Aisha Nyandoro, Springboard to Opportunities
Lorena Quiroz, Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity
Laurie Bertram Roberts, Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund
Dr. Erica Thompson, Magnolia Medical Foundation
EXTENDING OUR ROOTS
PROGRAMMATIC EXPANSION
WŌC @ Rest® continued to flourish in 2024, expanding to Arkansas, where we invested in the wellbeing of women of color-led organizations. This year’s cohort provided transformative opportunities for women leaders to engage in healing-centered leadership development and cross-cultural exchange, ensuring they have the resources and support to sustain themselves and build meaningful partnerships. At the end of 2024, WFS distributed $85,000 in grants to 17 women of color-led nonprofits in Arkansas.
EXTENDING OUR ROOTS
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families serves as a voice for children at the Arkansas State Capitol and in Washington, D.C., gathers and analyzes data to support public policy that serves all children and families, and organizes coalitions of diverse groups to drive change.
The Arkansas Movement Collective is a Black and Brown power building and community organizing organization in Arkansas.
Celebrate Maya Project helps honor and promote the inclusive literacy, creativity, and social consciousness of the life and work of artist and activist Dr. Maya Angelou, through its service to Arkansas youth and communities.
Conexion de Negocios Latinos educates, promotes, and supports the businesses of the Latino community in Arkansas.
Delta Circles Inc. supports families in the Arkansas Delta region to end poverty and advance economic equity.
Get Loud Arkansas is a nonprofit civic engagement organization that fights voter suppression, registers new voters, engages low turnout voters, and mobilizes communities to use the power of their vote to shape the future of Arkansas.
EXTENDING OUR ROOTS
Here To Help Foundation helps meet the physical, educational, and financial needs of children, families, and other individuals in the Little Rock community.
Innovative Poverty Solutions (dba Circles NWA) develops and implements community-driven, innovative solutions to end poverty in Northwest Arkansas.
Little Rock Freedom Fund educates, organizes, and mobilizes Arkansans directly impacted by the most pressing issues, such as pretrial detention, unmitigated trauma, and voter disenfranchisement.
Partnership for America's Children engages, empowers, and invests in a network of state and local child advocates who advance transformative, systemic, and equitable policy change for the well-being of every child across the nation.
Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for the creation and growth of competitive, profitable, scalable, and sustainable Black owned entities in Pine Bluff.
Rural Community Alliance empowers rural communities to effect change by creating opportunities in education, economic development, and youth empowerment to improve their quality of life and place.
EXTENDING OUR ROOTS
The Village Place harnesses the voices, skills, curiosity, and innovation of BIPOC youth to create equitable systems, structures, and communities in Arkansas.
amplifies diverse regional stories and voices through accessible media,
Ujima Maternity Network trains BIPOC birth professionals as doulas and lactation counselors to reach the most marginalized maternal communities. They provide free monthly outreach to increase access to support and community advocacy.
Venceremos is a worker-based grassroots organization that advocates to protect the fundamental human rights of poultry workers and achieve long-term systemic change in the industry.
EMPOWERING HEALTH
HEALTH SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Women’s health remains at the core of our mission. Through strategic funding and partnerships, we invested in Arkansas leaders whose work expanded access to healthcare, maternal wellness programs, mental health resources, and more.
Meet Nicolle Fletcher, co-founder, visionary, and executive director of the Ujima Maternity Network
As a doula, Nicolle sees her role as part of a deep tradition of women caring for women and an important part of a healthy community.
“I believe everything begins and ends with maternal health care. If we can't build the next generation, if we can't take care of our moms, if they are not well, we do not have future generations. It’s that simple. We don't have a future. So for me, maternal health care is: We take care of moms, we take care of the world.”
- Nicolle Fletcher, Executive Director of Ujima Maternity Network
Our investment in Ujima Maternity Network is helping to power the organization’s mission as it grows to serve more families throughout the state. To date, the organization has served 200+ mothers and granted nearly $10k in scholarships. We are proud of the work they do and of Nicolle’s courageous leadership.
Meet Nicolle Fletcher, co-founder, visionary, and executive director of the Ujima Maternity Network
ORGANIZING RESOURCES
WEALTH SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Economic development for women is at the heart of our work. Access to economic mobility and security creates a powerful root network that sustains individuals and families. When we invest in women, communities grow and thrive. Our investment in Arkansas is empowering women through supporting the missions and leaders of organizations like the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce.
Meet Joni Alexander-Robinson, President and CEO of the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce (PBBCC)
Joni Alexander-Robinson is the founding President and CEO of the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce (PBBCC). Launched in 2024, the PBBCC’s mission is to serve as an advocate for the creation and growth of competitive, profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses. The organization is redefining the business landscape in Pine Bluff by extending a welcoming hand to all entrepreneurs, regardless of race, creed, religion, or socioeconomic background — fostering a collaborative environment where businesses can thrive.
ORGANIZING RESOURCES
Joni has dedicated her life to community service and leadership, having served as a Pine Bluff City Council member and a mayoral candidate. Her six years of experience as a bank executive at FBT Bank and Mortgage, where she specialized in the Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending, gave her a deep understanding of the connection between commerce and healthy communities.
“I want to know what this community needs to make it a better place. I want to be a voice for the uniqueness of my community. I want to walk in the room and be completely selfish for my community when I'm having these conversations about what the small business owners in Pine Bluff need. And I think the people of Pine Bluff are ready to take support and run.”
- Joni Alexander-Robinson President and CEO of the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce (PBBCC)
The PBBCC is powering small businesses in Pine Bluff in a big way. Through a robust ecosystem of programs and grants, the organization has impacted over 90 businesses and individual entrepreneurs by giving them access to capital, mentorship, and other business development resources. Joni’s vision for Pine Bluff and the PBCCC is more than possible. Our partnership empowers the organization to grow its membership and transform the city through strategic economic growth that benefits everyone.
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
POWER SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Power is one of our pillars because we believe that women and girls of color are important voices and vehicles for change. This year, we supported important power-building initiatives in Arkansas that helped to amplify the voices of women leaders advocating for policy change, community leadership, and grassroots organizing.
Meet Magaly Licolli, Co-Founder & Executive Director
of Venceremos
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
Magaly Licolli is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Venceremos, a worker-based grassroots organization that advocates to protect the fundamental human rights of poultry workers and achieve long-term systemic change in the industry through building worker-driven solutions and community engagement. Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, her interest in workers’ rights led her to become involved with poultry processing workers in Arkansas. Venceremos - which means “we will win” in Spanish – is a powerful call to action that fully expresses the urgency of the organization’s mission.
“When I began speaking with workers, I asked them, “What do you want? What do you want your boss to do better?” And I was shocked by the simple answer that they gave me. They said, “I want to be treated as human. I want to be treated better than the chicken that we produce.”... Obviously, the people who produce the wealth of any company are the workers on the front line. So I wanted to help them understand their power and the power they have to negotiate and to change those things - it’s crucial for the people to really understand that power, to believe in that power.”
- Magaly Licolli Co-Founder & Executive Director of Venceremos
Magaly’s vision for workers to fully understand their power comes to life every day through the advocacy and organizing of Venceremos. We are proud to invest in their mission and movement.
WHY CHANGE CAN'T WAIT
2024 marked a pivotal moment in our journey with the release of Shift the South: Why Change Can’t Wait for Women and Girls of Color. This groundbreaking report captures the realities facing women and girls of color across our seven-state footprint—Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee—and, for the first time, presents WFS’ policy agenda to drive the change they deserve.
In this report, we examine undeniable evidence that detrimental social determinants are especially egregious for women of color in the South. These determinants include socioeconomic status, education, physical environment, employment, social support networks, protection under the law, and access to quality healthcare – inclusive of women's wellness and reproductive health.
On August 26, 2024—Women’s Equality Day—WFS launched the Shift the South Report at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, home to our grantee partner Georgia Micro Enterprise Network (GMEN). The timing was intentional: a day dedicated to advancing equality provided the perfect moment to release a report calling for more just and equitable outcomes for women and girls of color. The release event was presented in partnership with Policylink, Grantmakers for Southern Progress, and International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute (IBWPPI).
The program opened with inspiring remarks from GMEN Executive Director Elizabeth Wilson, a valued WFS grantee partner, and continued with a compelling presentation of the Shift the South findings by WFS Founding President and CEO Carmen James Randolph. The event was capped by an engaging panel discussion with Barbara Perkins (IBWPPI), Melanie Campbell (National Roundtable on Black Civic Participation and Black Women’s Roundtable), Deborah Scott (Georgia Stand-up) and Carmen James Randolph (WFS). The impassioned panel unpacked the report’s findings, how to get involved, and what their organizations and partners are doing to Shift the South through strategies like policy advocacy, voter education, and activation.
WHY CHANGE CAN'T WAIT
THE CIRCLE OF LEADERSHIP
VOICE. VISION. VALUE. (VVV)
The Voice.Vision.Value Initiative strengthens the leadership pipeline of Black women in philanthropy by providing mentorship, funding, and leadership development programs. These efforts ensure that women mobilizing resources to fund today’s movements are supported to sustain their impact for generations to come. WFS is proud to partner with VVV in this body of work.
THE CIRCLE OF GENEROSITY
GEAUX GIRL GIVING (GGG)
WFS continues its commitment to community-driven, donor centric philanthropy through its role as fiscal agent for the Geaux Girl Giving Collective. GGG empowers women of color to give boldly and strategically, ensuring that resources flow directly to grassroots organizations to create tangible change. In 2024, Geaux Girl Giving awarded $1,500 grants to 11 grassroots and community-based organizations, directly impacting over 300 Black women and girls across New Orleans.
Total Funds Raised
�2.5M
�939K Operating Expense
�892K Programs and Grantmaking
Women’s Foundation of the South would like to thank our generous donors, institutional partners, and community allies whose support fuels our mission to advance the health, wealth, and power of women, girls, and gender expansive people across the South. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in strengthening communities and driving systemic change that uplifts families and generations to come.
BEAUTY TAKES ROOT
CAMELLIA CAMPAIGN + MANIFESTHER MATCH
Camellia Campaign + ManifestHER Match
This year, our Camellia Campaign and ManifestHER Match raised critical funds to sustain our work and expand our reach. These initiatives reinforced the strength of collective giving and shared responsibility in shaping a future that honors the contributions of women and girls. We close each fundraising year during winter in the Camellia’s season of bloom — symbolizing that even in the harshest conditions, beauty still takes root.
@womensfdnsouth
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