Cary Center - Auburn University College of Human Sciences

Established in 2002, the Women’s Philanthropy Board (WPB) is the flagship program of the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies. WPB’s mission is to inspire, educate, and enable individuals to: develop their full leadership potential; achieve independence as financial donors and decision makers; serve as mentors for future generations of philanthropists; and broaden the base of financial support for the College of Human Sciences.

WPB upholds its mission by providing educational opportunities for its members and the community, sponsoring mentoring initiatives for Auburn University students, and practicing collective philanthropy through support of student scholarships and programmatic grants to the College of Human Sciences.

WPB is led by an Executive Committee of outstanding leaders in business and public service.

Educational Programs

The Women’s Philanthropy Board provides yearly educational programs to inspire and enable attendees regarding financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement. Each year, WPB hosts more than 1,000 attendees ranging in age from 18-90. Since inception, WPB has presented more than 100 programs featuring more than 200 unique speakers. WPB provides diverse topics and speakers to engage a broad spectrum of constituents. Keynote speakers are often nationally and internally renowned financial, philanthropic, or nonprofit leaders. Former featured speakers include: Laura Bush, Former First Lady; Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief of The Kiplinger Letter; Gene Dodaro, Head of the United States Government Accountability Office and Acting Comptroller General of the United States; Charles Best, Founder of DonorsChoose.org; and Jean Chatzky, Financial Journalist.

Educational Programs

The Women’s Philanthropy Board provides yearly educational programs to inspire and enable attendees regarding financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement. Each year, WPB hosts more than 1,000 attendees ranging in age from 18-90. Since inception, WPB has presented more than 100 programs featuring more than 200 unique speakers. WPB provides diverse topics and speakers to engage a broad spectrum of constituents. Keynote speakers are often nationally and internally renowned financial, philanthropic, or nonprofit leaders. Former featured speakers include: Laura Bush, Former First Lady; Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief of The Kiplinger Letter; Gene Dodaro, Head of the United States Government Accountability Office and Acting Comptroller General of the United States; Charles Best, Founder of DonorsChoose.org; and Jean Chatzky, Financial Journalist.

Educational Programs

The Women’s Philanthropy Board provides yearly educational programs to inspire and enable attendees regarding financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement. Each year, WPB hosts more than 1,000 attendees ranging in age from 18-90. Since inception, WPB has presented more than 100 programs featuring more than 200 unique speakers. WPB provides diverse topics and speakers to engage a broad spectrum of constituents. Keynote speakers are often nationally and internally renowned financial, philanthropic, or nonprofit leaders. Former featured speakers include: Laura Bush, Former First Lady; Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief of The Kiplinger Letter; Gene Dodaro, Head of the United States Government Accountability Office and Acting Comptroller General of the United States; Charles Best, Founder of DonorsChoose.org; and Jean Chatzky, Financial Journalist.

Mentoring Initiatives

The Women’s Philanthropy Board sponsors mentoring initiatives to inspire and educate the next generation of philanthropists. Mentoring initiatives are open to any Auburn University student who has a desire to learn more about financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement.

The WPB Mentee Program provides opportunities for Auburn University students to affiliate with the organization as WPB Mentees. As a WPB Mentee, students are encouraged to attend WPB educational programs where they will learn from exceptional speakers and network with business and nonprofit leaders.

The Student Philanthropy Board (SPB) is an official Auburn University student organization to support students in the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies minor and students who wish to work or volunteer with nonprofit organizations after graduation. SPB members participate in community service projects, grant writing exercises, and interact with nonprofit leaders.

Mentoring Initiatives

The Women’s Philanthropy Board sponsors mentoring initiatives to inspire and educate the next generation of philanthropists. Mentoring initiatives are open to any Auburn University student who has a desire to learn more about financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement.
The WPB Mentee Program provides opportunities for Auburn University students to affiliate with the organization as WPB Mentees. As a WPB Mentee, students are encouraged to attend WPB educational programs where they will learn from exceptional speakers and network with business and nonprofit leaders.
The Student Philanthropy Board (SPB) is an official Auburn University student organization to support students in the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies minor and students who wish to work or volunteer with nonprofit organizations after graduation. SPB members participate in community service projects, grant writing exercises, and interact with nonprofit leaders.

Mentoring Initiatives

The Women’s Philanthropy Board sponsors mentoring initiatives to inspire and educate the next generation of philanthropists. Mentoring initiatives are open to any Auburn University student who has a desire to learn more about financial responsibility and philanthropic engagement.

The WPB Mentee Program provides opportunities for Auburn University students to affiliate with the organization as WPB Mentees. As a WPB Mentee, students are encouraged to attend WPB educational programs where they will learn from exceptional speakers and network with business and nonprofit leaders.

The Student Philanthropy Board (SPB) is an official Auburn University student organization to support students in the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies minor and students who wish to work or volunteer with nonprofit organizations after graduation. SPB members participate in community service projects, grant writing exercises, and interact with nonprofit leaders.

Philanthropic Impact

As part of its mission to broaden the base of financial support to the College of Human Sciences, WPB practices collective and individual philanthropy through the awarding of student scholarships and programmatic grants. WPB has passed through more than $550,000 from 2002-2016 and has averaged approximately $50,000 given per year in scholarships and grants. In addition, WPB has be the inspiration for 10 College of Human Sciences’ endowments that the donors of which have generously included Women’s Philanthropy Board in the endowment title.

Philanthropic Impact

As part of its mission to broaden the base of financial support to the College of Human Sciences, WPB practices collective and individual philanthropy through the awarding of student scholarships and programmatic grants. WPB has passed through more than $550,000 from 2002-2016 and has averaged approximately $50,000 given per year in scholarships and grants. In addition, WPB has be the inspiration for 10 College of Human Sciences’ endowments that the donors of which have generously included Women’s Philanthropy Board in the endowment title.

Philanthropic Impact

As part of its mission to broaden the base of financial support to the College of Human Sciences, WPB practices collective and individual philanthropy through the awarding of student scholarships and programmatic grants. WPB has passed through more than $550,000 from 2002-2016 and has averaged approximately $50,000 given per year in scholarships and grants. In addition, WPB has be the inspiration for 10 College of Human Sciences’ endowments that the donors of which have generously included Women’s Philanthropy Board in the endowment title.

WPB Donor Opportunities

The Women’s Philanthropy Board relies primarily on the financial support of its donors and corporate and business partners to sustain and grow its educational programs, mentoring initiatives, philanthropic impact, and operations.
Women have the opportunity to support WPB as a:

WPB Visionary Donor

$25,000 gift over a five-year period

WPB Benefactor Donor

$5,000 gift over a five-year period

WPB Associate Donor

$2,500 gift over a five-year period (available for women age 30 and younger)

Organizations have the opportunity to support WPB and be publicized as a partner through specific recognition materials and events. Organizations affiliate with WPB as a:

WPB Corporate Partner

minimum $5,000 annual gift

WPB Business Partner

$4,500 gift over a three-year period

The Phils - WPB’s Men’s Auxiliary
In 2014, WPB established a men’s auxiliary as a way for men to support the work and mission of WPB. An annual Phils calendar featuring the newest members is produced to highlight the dedication of these men to advancing women’s financial and philanthropic interests.

WPB Phil Sr.

$25,000 gift over a five-year period

WPB Phil

$5,000 gift over a five-year period

WPB Phil Jr.

$2,500 gift over a five-year period (available for men age 30 and younger)

For more information about WPB Donor Opportunities, please contact the WPB Office at (334) 844-9156 or wpbchs1@auburn.edu or the CHS Development Office at (334) 844-9173.