Collective Health: How Women in Stillwater Are Supporting Local Nonprofits

 

The mission of the Power of 100 Women in the Stillwater area — a group that comes together twice a year to support a local organization — emerged after visiting a Hudson St. Croix Valley chapter event.

We were blown away by the impact, the energy in the room, and the ‘feel good’ momentum of collective giving. We knew the Stillwater area needed something like this. Along with my mom, Karin, and my coworker, Bethany, we assembled a board of 16 incredible local women — attorneys, real estate agents, business owners, and a few political leaders. We began planning our first event and launched Power of 100 Women: Greater Stillwater and shared the idea through word of mouth and on Facebook and Instagram, where the concept quickly resonated, also enabling us to reach beyond our immediate networks and connect directly with nonprofits.

At our first event, we welcomed just over 100 women. Today, our events draw about 160 women each time. We’ve hosted four events over the last two years. The momentum has been steady and inspiring. Social media has played a key role in that growth, helping members share the mission, invite friends, and even connect directly with local nonprofits that are doing meaningful work in the community. Our mission remains simple and powerful: donate $10,000 to a local nonprofit in a one-hour meeting.

By each committing to donate $100, we collectively raise $10,000 or more to donate to a chosen nonprofit in just one hour. During our gatherings, we listen to presentations from three different nonprofits and then vote on which one to support. It’s a wonderful evening of inspiration, fun, and the joy of making a direct impact in Greater Stillwater.

When nominating nonprofits, our members follow a simple but meaningful set of criteria:

• The organization must be a registered and active 501(c)(3).
• The nonprofit must serve communities within the Stillwater Area Public Schools district. Our priority is to make sure every dollar donated stays directly within our local community.

The board meets once before each event. Each member brings forward a nonprofit nomination, we discuss them, and vote on the top three organizations to present.

The required attendance portion of each event is one hour, when the three nonprofits present, members vote, and we select a winner.

At each event, first place receives $10,000, funded by the $100 donations from our members. Because attendance now regularly exceeds 100 women, there is an additional surplus, so second and third place nonprofits split the overage. We’ve also had matching sponsors contribute in recent events.

The Richard Schulze Family Foundation provides a bonus $5,000 to the winning nonprofit, amplifying  impact even further.

In just two years, we have invested almost $80,000 into the community.

 

 

One of the recipients is Cimarron Community Farm, a service-oriented, community-driven organic farm focused on providing fresh produce and education to neighbors. It offers no-cost community garden plots, free food distribution, farmers markets, free youth programming, and community-supported agriculture shares to families in the greater Lake Elmo area. Its work is rooted in building healthy communities and a thriving local food system in which everyone can participate.

The group was invited to join the Power of 100 spring meeting and provide a competitive 10-minute pitch that focused on the impacts of its youth programming, from K-to-5 on-farm experiences to teen cooking programs. The contribution of $10,000 fueled a season of growth for its youth program. As Madeline of Cimarron has told us, in 2025 they were able to hire six teenage interns who were taught farming skills and professional development; operate a weekly on-farm program for up to 30 local kids; and provide free weekly Farm-to-Table cooking programs for K-5 kids and teens.

Other recipients and presenters have included:

• Valley Friendship Club: Supporting individuals with disabilities and creating inclusive community opportunities.
• Corrie’s House: Providing safe housing, stability, and resources for young women in crisis.
• Bailey’s Bouquet: Providing floral arrangements to individuals experiencing grief, illness, or hardship, to give unexpected comfort to people when they need it.

Each of these organizations reflects the heart of our mission: caring for Stillwater-area neighbors in meaningful, tangible ways. Even nonprofits that don’t win walk away with increased visibility, new supporters, and a powerful room of women cheering them on.

We are seeking to strengthen Stillwater from the inside out.

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