Compounding Collective Giving: Meet the Maryland Women’s Society
August 18, 2026
Imagine: you’ve just joined the University of Maryland’s newest giving society, the Maryland Women’s Society. You’re entering uncharted territory for Terps—a first-of-its-kind society at Maryland where donors give $1,000 and vote for an initiative on campus that they’d like their philanthropy to directly support.
Now, multiply that times 119. The result? 119 members giving $119,000 to support three significant initiatives across campus this upcoming academic year. The compounding effect of collective giving is just starting for the Maryland Women’s Society, but it all began with an ambitious goal under the helm of Marlene Feldman, chair of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees and first president of the Maryland Women’s Society.
Feldman hoped to see 100 members in the society’s inaugural year, and the call to action was met with tremendous enthusiasm. “It has given us all an incredible amount of Maryland pride because we cannot believe all of the fabulous things that are going on on campus that our students and our faculty and staff are spearheading,” said Feldman.
With 100% of the funds raised dispersed each year, Maryland Women’s Society donors are making a tangible difference right away. The three inaugural winners span academic and support units across campus. First place went to the Division of Student Affairs’ Women’s Leadership Program, a 10-month experience designed to support students as they transition from college to the professional world. $50,000 from the Maryland Women’s Society will support a cohort-based model for the program.
The A. James Clark School of Engineering’s HERizon Innovation received $44,000. This program addresses longstanding gaps in innovation and care through an interdisciplinary approach to women’s health by aligning engineering, research and collaboration. Funding from the Maryland Women’s Society will help support a flagship symposium, pilot research grants and graduate student engagement.
The food pantry in the College of Education received $25,000. Funding from the Maryland Women’s Society will allow for consistent replenishment, expanded offerings and enhancements to the pantry space.
The Maryland Women’s Society put out a request for funding proposals to UMD faculty and administration and received 48 in response – at least one from every unit on campus, through vice presidents or deans. Because all 119 members of the society had the opportunity to read the proposals and to vote on which to fund, members looked beyond the schools, colleges or units they usually support to gain a broader view of UMD. "I liked the idea of having an impact that you can help shape,” said Jackie Cardello ’93, president and managing partner of GRF CPAs & Advisors and a founding member of the Maryland Women’s Society. “You can actually read and see and understand what's going on and what this money may potentially go towards and how it's helping people. It makes it a little more personal."
The proposed projects aligned well with priorities for Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, the largest fundraising initiative in the university’s history focused on supporting tomorrow’s trailblazers, bold and brave solutions and stronger communities. “We look[ed] for bold ideas. We're willing to fund bold ideas. The university does that, so we wanted to piggyback on that with the amount of money that we had to spend,” Feldman said.
Feldman has an even more ambitious membership target this year: 250 members. She also points out that membership is open to all, not just women. Allies can join, and they can also gift memberships to others. To attract people who are just starting out on their career journeys, the society has created a junior membership for those 30 years old and younger, who can join for $250. Those joining through this membership will have an equal vote as to who is awarded the funds next spring.
While philanthropy is central to the mission of the Maryland Women’s Society, it also strives to build a community of women and allies–many of whom are leaders at UMD and in the community. The society’s annual luncheon was hosted at University House thanks to founding member First Lady Sylvia Pines. UMD’s Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer Rice King, another founding member, served as this year’s event host and welcome speaker.
At the luncheon, Feldman spoke about where the society is headed next. “Our mission is clear,” she said. “We are a society that believes in the power of collective giving with a vision to have an immediate impact on our campus.”
Interested in seeing an immediate impact at Maryland through your philanthropy? Learn more about the Maryland Women’s Society and Join today!
