search icon

Quickly search the TTCF site for what you’re looking for.

Queen of Hearts Women’s Fund in Tahoe Truckee

Queen of Hearts Women's Fund

Making a bigger impact together

Since February 2006, more than 1,300 women have raised over $1.3 million! These funds are held in an endowed fund at TTCF. Every year, that $1.3 million funds grantmaking to benefit the people and places of Tahoe – Truckee. It will serve our region forever.

Accomplishments include:

  • $700,000+ in grants to local nonprofits
  • $75,000 to help establish a local chapter of Aim High
  • 100+ local senior citizens “adopted” every year to brighten the holiday season in TTCF’s Senior Gifts Program

Grant Educate Motivate Serve

The Queen of Hearts Women's Fund has traditionally provided grants across four areas of impact.
Queen of Hearts Women’s Fund in Tahoe Truckee

Health and Human Services

“Community” means standing beside one another in moments of need. These grants shelter our neighbors, defend their rights, and empower them to create brighter futures.

TP

Education and Youth Development

These grants connect young people with their true potential. Grantees include after-school programs, mentoring, and literacy initiatives.

ElDragon MtForge e

Arts, Culture, and Community Benefit

These grants add vibrancy to our region and explore our sense of community and self. Grantees include public art projects, intellectual cultural experiences, and performance arts.

Lake Mary Nature

Environment, Recreation, and Animal Welfare

These grants contribute to those things at the center of our community culture: open spaces, wilderness, recreation, and wild and domestic animals.

Listen to "Women in Philanthropy" Podcast

Stacy Caldwell, CEO, interviews three women about the Queen of Hearts, Girls Giving Back, and women in philanthropy

Women and Girls in Local Philanthropy

History of the Women's Fund

Partnering with Sierra Senior Services, the Fund fulfills the holiday wishlists of local seniors. Supporters go above and beyond to care for our elders.

The power of a thousand women

In February 2006, women who love North Tahoe-Truckee came together with a similar dream. The goal was to attract 1000 community-minded women to donate $1000 each to raise $1 million within a single year. 

To date, over 1,300 supporters have raised $1.3 million and granted $691,518 to local nonprofits.

The fund has sponsored women to join, jumpstarted a major youth education program, and have hosted and funded educational films.

Do you believe in the power of women acting together?

Learn more about the Queen of Hearts

Girls Giving Back: A Youth Philanthropy Project

Over the years, GGB have fundraised and presented at the GEMS event. In 2019, they ran and emceed the entire event.

Young girls change the world

Girls Giving Back (GGB) is made up of young women who want to make a difference. It’s made up of and run by girls between 12-18 years old who have a connection to the Queen of Hearts. 

Participants learn how to fundraise, research nonprofits, write a proposal, award grants, and facilitate events. GGB awards $2500 annually to a youth-focused project.

Learn more about joining Girls Giving Back

Reach out about joining GGB
GGB members review grant proposals focused on youth benefit. They disclose conflicts of interest, argue for their favorites, and come to a vote.

Making a difference on their terms

At the practical level, GGB members learn hands-on how to:

  • Fundraise
  • Run events
  • Research nonprofits
  • Write and evaluate grant proposals
  • Deliberate and award a grant

Through mentorship and friendships, participants develop skills and their own voices in decision-making rooms. Participants become empowered as they step into adulthood.

An early GGB grant supported the Bigs in Blue mentorship program. The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is for police officers to mentor young boys.

Creating a better world for local youth

Since 2014, GGB has awarded an annual grant of $2500 to youth-focused projects. Often times, through fundraising events, they receive matching grants from donors. This increases grant sizes for recipients! 

Grants have included:

  • Bigs in Blue Mentorship Program for Boys
  • Purchasing uniforms for the high school marching band
  • Lake Tahoe Music Festival Youth Mentoring Program
  • STEM Education for Girls

We make a bigger difference together. Click below to join the Queen of Hearts Women's Fund with an initial $1,000 donation. You can also donate to support the Fund's grantmaking!

Join the Women's Fund

More about Women in Philanthropy