Jill Smith
Staff Writer
[email protected]

The Office of Development recently launched the Women’s Philanthropy Society to support leadership development opportunities for female students, faculty and staff at Murray State. 

The Women’s Philanthropy Society hopes to connect women from different generations together, according to the Murray State website. 

A philanthropist is an individual who is passionate about a certain issue and donates time or money to a cause or organization. 

“As part of the transformative Racer experience, members of the Women’s Philanthropy Society have the opportunity to network, participate in groundbreaking research, as well as connect with students and other alumnae from across the country,” according to the Murray State website. 

This initiative is a collaboration between the Office of Development, Alumni Relations, the Women’s Center, University Libraries and the Provost’s Office.

Executive Director of the Office of Development Tina Bernot said the collaboration is an important part of the initiative.

“By bringing in the Provost’s Office, that will help … students—female students—align with faculty to do some research projects that maybe the University funding wouldn’t cover normally,” Bernot said. 

There will be opportunities available for women to get assistance when it comes to research and classes. 

“Scholarships [will be available] to help support that work … [we will] increase our library and increase our ability to read about the type of leaders they want to be,” Bernot said. “We have wonderful students on campus with financial need, and so maybe there’s some opportunity to award them for their hard work, get them involved with the program and then help support them through scholarships as well.”

Bernot said people were showing interest in supporting the society just a week after the initiative began. 

“We launched this last week and have already raised almost $35,000,” Bernot said. “We’re going to bring in some of the women philanthropists this summer, to really drive home the vision and to put together a strategy and some ideas on how to do it. And we just have to pull together first on campus to determine what we’re capable of supporting.”

Murray State Alumna Kathy Harris said this society was a good way for her to give back to the University. 

“It was really a perfect vehicle for me because I’m passionate about advancing women’s issues and helping young women navigate, as best I can, everything they will go through in becoming a career professional,” Harris said. 

Harris said she is excited about the leadership development opportunities that will be available to women. 

“I went through the early years of my career without a mentor, and I sort of muddled my way through at times, but I realize … that is a really valuable relationship,” Harris said. “I think with the Women’s [Philanthropy] Society i doesn’t have to be just one relationship; it can be many.” 

This society will allow members to get involved in more ways than one. 

“I think that members of the society will have a leg up because they wouldn’t be participating in the society or getting involved in it, particularly as a founding member, if they didn’t feel compelled to help on the leadership side,” Harris said. “Leadership is kind of an individual path. In addition to the dollars that we can invest to advance students’ development, there has to be an equal commitment to give time [and] energy and to spend time with students, faculty [and] really anyone involved in the society.” 

Harris said it’s important women have the opportunity to network, especially considering the networking opportunities men have had. 

 “Women haven’t necessarily had that luxury because of other commitments, so it’s taken more of an effort to get a natural network for women, and I think this is a great benefit of society,” Harris said. “Everyone has a common purpose of advancing this [Women’s Philanthropy] Society, and it’ll be a fun, fun way to get to network with other like-minded people.”

Students can contact Bernot with ideas they have for the Women’s Philanthropy Society at [email protected]. 

To be a founding member of the society, individuals must make a one-time investment of $10,000. Cabinet members make an annual gift of $1,000, Associate members make a gift of $500 annually, and young professional members make a gift of $250 annually. 

Individuals interested in making a gift to this initiative can contact the Office of Development or email at [email protected].