MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: DEBORAH BUSSEL

Debbie Bussel is a long-time Women's Fund supporter, whose passion and commitment to social change has led her to become a driving force in the world of philanthropy.

Why did you decide to donate to the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade?

I first became interested in supporting the Women’s Fund during the time I worked for Planned Parenthood in Homestead. I appreciated their philosophy of organizing women donors and I remember thinking, 'We've got the seeds of something here.' I was happy to support the Women's Fund as it evolved because I realized this type of relationship building is what needs to take place if we're going to have real social change.

Later, when I started working as a philanthropic consultant, I became aware of the potential of what a Women's Fund could do.I saw how it was injecting a different approach to funding into the whole field of philanthropy by engaging donors and building relationships with grantees. These relationships are more democratic and not as distant as traditional philanthropy.

I work with funders, primarily foundations, and I help them develop their grantmaking strategies. A lot of what I do is what the Women's Fund does. I help funders make a long-term impact in the areas they feel passionate about. I also help them reflect on their role as funders and how to make change that doesn’t involve imposing their interests or desires on an organization.

Being a funder on your own can be isolating. A lot of people give in a knee-jerk way and they don’t have that real experience of benefiting from collective action. Pooling money from women donors in the community -- like Women’s Fund does -- provides an important forum for addressing long-term problems. I am really grateful that I was brought into this community through the Women’s Fund because it is drawing dynamic, creative people together and building leadership that is putting out solutions.

Why do you continue to be a member?

Being a Women’s Fund donor means being a part of collective action and being part of a community of people with very different strategies and constituencies working together. It is really fulfilling its potential but its work is not done! Women’s Fund has evolved into a critical organization in Miami-Dade that is rallying financial and human resources throughout the community.

Why should others get involved and support WFMD?

As a donor who is involved with the Women’s Fund, I feel fortunate to be part of this collective effort to make social change through thoughtful giving. By supporting it in my small way, I feel connected to it, I feel proud of it. You can learn a lot about the community by getting involved in the Women’s Fund and it all adds up to a very rewarding experience. Anybody who has been involved with the Women’s Fund should feel proud.