Basic Organization Information
MARYS PENCE
- Physical Address:
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St. Paul, MN
55101
- EIN:
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36-3556481
- Web URL:
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www.maryspence.org
- NTEE Category:
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R Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy
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R24 Women's Rights
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S Community Improvement, Capacity Building
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S30 Economic Development
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T Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking
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T12 Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution
- Year Founded:
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1988
- Ruling Year:
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1988
- How This Organization Is Funded:
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Individual Donors
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Mission Statement
To promote Catholic social justice by directing donated resources to small women's projects in the Americas.
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Impact Statement
ESPERA Funds are a new initiative for Mary's Pence.
ESPERA Funds are community lending pools, granted to women's networks.
They own the funds and manage the funds. A Mary's Pence facilitator
visits 3 times per year to support the women in this process. Gilda
Larios is the facilitator for our funds in Central America.
Below is a statement from Gilda Larios:
We have learned that it takes time to build a network
and create initiatives. Working with networks of women (rather than
individuals) creates a connected group of women who feel accountable not only
to Mary’s Pence but to the women’s network. The network provides training and a
broader view of the role of women, along with leadership opportunities
and support. Monthly business meetings create a place to share knowledge and
connect with other communities.
ESPERA Fund participants help other local women’s
businesses. The Incubator Project, for example, requires eggs that are
purchased from other women who are not part of the network thereby supporting
the work initiatives of even more women. As the incubator project expands so
does the business of the women providing eggs to them. The model shows us that
it is better to work locally with women in nearby communities.
Unlike other organizations, the women own the process,
not Mary’s Pence. We have learned to start small but think big. These women are
thinking about the power of the money within their own life context. This takes
time and it is an attitude shift when you have had little to call your own.
This is not only a process of building a sustainable income but a process of
building self-esteem. It is a process of realizing the right to have a long
term vision and meaning for your life, not merely to get by.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Ms. Katherine Wojtan
Term:
Since
Oct
2008
Chief Executive Profile:
Background includes experience in strategic planning, project management and training/facilitation, mostly in a corporate setting. She has facilitated retreats on nonviolence, was a founding member of Conversation with Other (cross conflict facilitation), has volunteered for Nonviolent Peaceforce, and served as a core team member founding the Minnesota Peace Team which was created to provide a nonpartisan presence during the Republic National Convention.
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
ESPERA Fund
- Budget:
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$75,000
- Category:
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Community Development
- Population Served:
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Female Adults
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Female Adults
Program Description:
ESPERA Funds are community lending pools, granted to women's networks.
They own the funds and manage the funds. A Mary's Pence facilitator
visits 3 times per year to support the women in this process. The money does not return to Mary’s Pence, but instead will be used by the women now and into the future.
Each ESPERA Fund is designed by the women involved to best meet their needs. This is a very important statement. We believe in the wisdom of local women. They understand the issues that they face in their every day lives, and they know their needs best.
All ESPERA Funds have these things in common:
- A woman’s network owns each fund and reaps the benefits.
- The women manage the fund, setting interest and terms.
- These loans are used for income generating projects.
A typical ESPERA Fund does the following:
- Creates 20-40 loans per year, impacting up to 160 women, fostering business enterprises.
- Supports a fund coordinator who works to equip women with the skills they need to participate in the market.
- Strengthens the network and partnerships among women, nurturing dreams and expanding opportunities.
- Is self-sustaining, with administrative costs funded through interest on loans.
Mary’s Pence supports each network with start up and administrative costs during the first year. Each network has the support of a Mary's Pence Fund Facilitator who visits the women between 2 and 4 times per year.
Program Long-Term Success:
ESPERA Funds were piloted in 2008, we have initiated pilots in 5 counties. Our goals include keeping the money in the lending pool in circulation, working toward sustainability of the fund through interest, strengthening the women's networks, building skills, and fostering new income generating businesses.
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Ministry Grants
- Budget:
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$30,000
- Category:
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Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
- Population Served:
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Female Adults
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Female Adults
Program Description:
Through the use of its Ministry Grants, Mary’s Pence funds projects that increase the economic security of women and increase women’s voice in their community. We support efforts for systemic change that improves the status of women.
Ministry Grants are awarded year-round with a maximum award of ordinarily $4,000 to organizations that have a budget under $150,000 and receive less than 50% of their funding from government, church, a parent organization, or foundation sources. Grantees may receive only one grant per year but may reapply to receive up to a maximum of three grants. Study Grants will be given on a limited basis.
Mary’s Pence is rooted in Catholic social justice and in the feminist values of participation, mutuality, sustainability, integration, and stewardship and embracing and demonstrating one or more of these values is an important criterion for us as we evaluate grant applications
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
We receive an final report from each grantee at the end of the granting year which describes outcomes and learnings.
Program Success Examples:
Funding Needs
Our funding helps support our ministry grants and ESPERA Funds. The majority of this funding comes from individual donors. Many faith communities also support us through a tithing fund or collection. Women’s Religious congregations have generously supported Mary’s Pence through the years. Periodically we receive a grant from a Foundation for a specific project.
Volunteer Needs
We always welcome volunteers to help our mission in various ways with work pertaining to many different aspects of our day-to-day activities.
Request for In-Kind Contributions