COEUR d'ALENE - It's going to be a busy week for the Women's Gift Alliance, a philanthropic membership organization for Kootenai County women.

Members have two events planned. The first takes place Tuesday and is aimed at engaging existing members and attracting new ones.

Those who join the Women's Gift Alliance pool their financial resources to provide meaningful support to cultural, charitable and educational projects in the community.

"There aren't very many of us who could write a check for $22,000 on our own," president Janet Robnett said.

As a group, Women's Gift Alliance members did it twice, earlier this year.

One of those checks went to Specialized Needs Recreation, a local nonprofit that works to provide meaningful community activities for children and adults with disabilities.

The grant was awarded to purchase a 14-passenger van to replace the 20-year-old vehicle the group had been using.

The other check went to Lakes Magnet Middle School; its main purpose, to purchase band instruments.

The Tuesday event, billed as an "education/social" for past, present and prospective members, takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Windermere/Coeur d'Alene Realty Conference Room, 1000 Northwest Boulevard. Prospective members who wish to attend should contact group members by email: [email protected].

Members commit to an annual donation of $1,000. Half of that is pooled with other members' contributions and distributed through a grant selection and review process.

The other $500 is then split evenly, with half of that going into the alliance's endowment fund. The remaining $250 is gifted to nonprofits and charities specified by the member donor.

Kootenai County qualified nonprofits and charitable organizations, with projects that make a significant impact in the region, are encouraged to attend the Wednesday event - a forum for potential grant applicants.

To be considered for a grant award, projects must meet one or more of the following criteria: "create a bold, new venture; address a significant community need; foster collaboration and partnerships; or enrich the fabric of the community."

The grantees' forum takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. Information will be provided about applying for grant funding.

The Women's Gift Alliance was formed in 2004, and has since contributed more than $600,000 to various agencies. Almost $300,000 has been distributed in large pooled grants ranging from $18,000 to $26,000, benefiting community endeavors such as Kootenai County Search and Rescue, Coeur d'Alene Homes Serenity Garden and Project Safe Place Host Home Program. Individually designated gifts have exceeded $143,000, benefiting more than 100 different nonprofits in the region. The alliance's endowment fund now stands at more than $180,000.

Information: www.wgakc.org