As a professional, Gore attends conferences that support, among other things, women's funds. One evening following a long day of conference presentations about women's funds, she noted to a friend that most of the women sharing their success stories in women's funds were 20 to 25 years older than they were.

"We were inspired by the stories shared by other women and we wanted to see what we could do to support women's causes," Gore says. "Essentially, that's all we knew we wanted to do in the beginning. We weren't sure if we wanted to be a volunteer group, a money-raising group, or a support group. After nearly a year in the planning stages, we concluded that we wanted to fund social change. We wanted to be progressive in the initiatives we support and that became our starting point for organization."

Thus, work for a triad young women's fund began. Named the "Fondue Fund," the group of young women in their late 20s and early 30s is comprised of women from the greater Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point area.

The group officially launched in January 2006 and boasts twenty members with an average of ten participating members at any given group activity. The monthly meetings rotate among the three cities to allow members to easily remain connected. Already the value of the group's activities is apparent. Using the Network for Good's calculator for the value of volunteer time the group's members have spent volunteering in addition to financial contributions, the small group has given back an estimated $4,000 to their community.

The Fondue Fund plans to make their first grant in December to support a cause that improves the lives of women in the Triad. Although there is no minimum level for financial support among members, eight of them have already pledged another $4,000 of financial support for the initial grant and Gore suspects greater member support will come as the grant applications begin.

"This group of young women further establishes the vitality of truly inspired works in North Carolina communities," says Beth Briggs, director of Creative Philanthropy. "Within the past year, five new women's funds have been created in the state. The work of women like Natasha and her friends is work that will make North Carolina a better place for everyone."

The North Carolina Network of Women Givers is a powerful statewide demonstration of the social, human, intellectual and financial capital women bring to solve the seemingly intractable problems facing women and children in our state. Through networking and support common to women who join together to address issues, these female philanthropists are contributing time, talent and treasury to their communities.