For 11 years, Anchorage women have quietly powered a grassroots giving movement

A simple idea has turned into a steady force for philanthropy in Anchorage, as a circle of women with checkbooks and an hour to spare has now funneled more than $600,000 into Anchorage nonprofits over the past 11 years.

The group, 100+ Women Who Care Anchorage, meets four times a year at The Lakefront Anchorage on Lake Hood. At each quarterly gathering, members hear short presentations about three local charities, vote on which one will receive the group’s collective gift, and then each woman donates $100 directly to the winner. With about 120 members currently involved, that adds up quickly, especially when matching grants are added to the mix.

“Our name truly says it all – 100+ Women Who Care Anchorage. At its heart, this is a simple, welcoming space where women come together just as they are. No pressure, no pretense – just connection, generosity, and the joy of knowing every dollar we give stays right here in Anchorage. It’s amazing what happens when women gather with compassion and a shared desire to lift our community,” said co-founder Darci Ahlin-Stieren.

The Anchorage chapter launched in December 2014 and is part of a wider “100 Who Care” movement that now includes more than 900 similar circles across the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond. Alaska has chapters in Fairbanks, the Mat-Su, Kodiak, Kenai/Soldotna, Homer, and Juneau, along with a youth philanthropists chapter in Anchorage and a men’s chapter in Homer.

Locally, the concept is straightforward: one-hour meetings, 100-plus women, $100 each, and a winning nonprofit that typically walks away with more than $10,000 in a single night. The group meets quarterly, collectively directing around $40,000 a year into Anchorage-area charities. Since 2014, members have raised about $600,000 for 35 different local 501(c)(3) organizations in Anchorage, Eagle River and Girdwood, not including additional matching funds.

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation often tops off those gifts with a $5,000 matching grant to the nonprofit selected by the group. To date, the foundation has added $75,000 to the total.

“It’s been incredible to watch what this circle of women has built together. Since starting in December 2014, we’ve held 44 meetings and raised more than $580,000 for local nonprofit organizations – all staying within the Municipality of Anchorage. Every time we meet, I’m reminded that when women join hearts and efforts, we create lasting change. The impact has far exceeded anything we imagined in those early days,” said co-founder Kristi Acuff.

The format is both casual and efficient. Before each meeting, members can submit names of local nonprofits for pre-qualification. Those that meet the criteria go into a pool of eligible organizations. Ahead of the gathering, all nominated charities are put “in a hat,” with a Facebook randomizer used to choose three nonprofits for consideration that quarter.

At the meeting, the members who nominated those three groups each have up to eight minutes to explain what their charity does and why it should receive that meeting’s donation. After the presentations, the women vote, and the nonprofit with the most votes becomes the recipient. Members then make their $100 donations directly to that organization, by check or credit card. One hundred percent of the funds go to the chosen nonprofit to use exclusively within the Anchorage area.

The impact is not just measured in dollars. At every meeting, the previous quarter’s recipient returns to explain how the last round of donations was put to work. Over the years, gifts have gone to organizations such as the Downtown Hope Center, Catholic Social Services, and, most recently at the Dec. 4 meeting, the Anchorage Children’s Museum.

Organizers say part of the appeal is that this is a major fundraising event without the usual trappings: no ticketed galas, no expensive tables, no formal dress code, and no need to “get hair and nails done.” Members describe it as a fun, low-pressure way to learn about local charities, meet other women, and see their giving multiplied alongside others.

Membership is open and not capped. About 16 women have been with the Anchorage group since its early days, but organizers say they are always eager for new members to join. Interested women can sign up for free through grapevine.org, join at any quarterly meeting, or learn more at the group’s website, 100wwcanchorage.org, and on Facebook and Instagram under “100+ Women Who Care Anchorage.” Inquiries can also be sent to 100wwcanchorage@gmail.com.

For Anchorage nonprofits, that one-hour meeting can mean a five-figure boost to their mission. For the women around the room, it is grassroots giving made simple: modest individual donations that, together, are reshaping the charitable landscape of their community.