Who We Are

Mission

Nevada Women’s Fund is dedicated to strengthening our community by empowering women to improve their lives and those of their families.

Sasha Osorio, scholarship recipient, and her daughters Mariah, Soraya, and Yazmine

Lynn Atcheson, Maya Miller, & Barbara Thornton, founding members

Our History

We were founded in 1982 by concerned women who wanted the best for the women and families of northern Nevada. The Nevada Women’s Fund was born to correct the then national imbalance of financial distribution from traditional resources that resulted in less than 6% of grants going to women and children. And it worked. In fact, since 1983, our distributions are now over $8.4 million.

We work with our community of individual donors, sponsors and partners to raise funds and other resources to ensure we can meet the growing needs of our community and ultimate impact families long-term.

Board of Directors

The Nevada Women’s Fund Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders who share our vision of a brighter world for Nevada’s women and families. The board of directors governs the organization and its daily operations are guided by a President & CEO, Development & Programs Administrator and Administrative Assistant & Event Coordinator. The board convenes nine meetings annually. Standing committees include: Allocations, Board Leadership, Development, Investment and Finance and Marketing.

Board Member, Jill Johnson with her daugher Romy, and her mother Richelle O’Driscoll a former board member

2021 Board of Directors

Officers

Sarah Crumby

Sarah Crumby

Chair

Cupit, Milligan, Ogden & Williams, CPAs
Jill Johnson

Jill Johnson

Vice Chair

Bishop Manogue Catholic High School
Karen Purcell

Karen Purcell

Treasurer

PK Electrical, Inc.
Marge Millar

Marge Millar

Recorder

Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
Jamie Gazza

Jamie Gazza

Immediate Past Chair

Nevada State Bank

Board Members

Amanda Alfaro

Amanda Alfaro

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate
Amber Maraccini

Amber Maraccini

Medallia
Andi Cassinari

Andi Cassinari

2 News
Candace Borrego

Candace Borrego

US Bank
Courtney Sweet

Courtney Sweet

Gunderson Law Firm
Craig Wesner

Craig Wesner

Civil Engineer
Danielle Eaton

Danielle Eaton

UNR School of Medicine ; Sierra
Veterans Research and Education Foundation
Earstin E. Whitten

Earstin E. Whitten

Soulful Seeds
Emily Wieczorek

Emily Wieczorek

Two Peas In a Prada
Erica Mirich

Erica Mirich

Truckee Meadows Tomorrow
Gretchen Sawyer

Gretchen Sawyer

TMCC Foundation
Jamii Uboldi

Jamii Uboldi

Northern Nevada Medical Center
Katie Silva

Katie Silva

Peppermill Resort & Spa
Jen Eastwood

Jen Eastwood

Foundry
Katie Nannini

Katie Nannini

NV Energy
Kelly Corrigan

Kelly Corrigan

Race178
Kendra Jepsen

Kendra Jepsen

Simons Hall Johnson PC
Norma Seltz

Norma Seltz

Higher Education | Marriage & Family Therapist 
Olivia Baugh

Olivia Baugh

Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
Pam Czyz

Pam Czyz

Northpointe Bank
Randy Brown

Randy Brown

AT&T Nevada
Sarah Sommers

Sarah Sommers

Elemental LED, Inc.
Viki A. Windfelt

Viki A. Windfelt

Nevada State Board of Accountancy

Meet Our Team

Ila Achtabowski

President
& CEO
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Ila comes to Nevada Women’s Fund as a proud native Nevadan born and raised in Fallon.  She brings 25 years of business experience having served as CEO of her family’s small loan company since 1999.  While ensuring the profitability and growth of the family business Ila worked extensively in the community, most notably at Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada. There she served as interim Executive Director for an organization whose mission was close to her heart – financial literacy.  Ila also sat on the WCSD Career and Technical Education Board representing Business & Entrepreneurship and the board of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of National Charity League. 

Ila is the PROUD mother of two young adults; son Evan is 19 and a kinesiology major at the University of Nevada Reno, and daughter Emma is 16 and a Junior at Galena High School.  In her spare time, Ila is happiest in her kitchen cooking, sitting around a large table with delicious food, decent wine and great friends or outdoors running, hiking and exploring.

Ila is thrilled to be starting a new professional chapter at Nevada Women’s Fund and honored to be in a role that uplifts and empowers women and their families

Michele
Montoya

Development & Program Administrator
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Michele is Development and Program Administrator for the Nevada Women’s Fund. She holds multiple years’ experience in strategic fund, business, affordable housing, economic and new program development, with a strong emphasis in data analysis.

Michele holds a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno and also a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is active in the community through many professional organizations and currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and Nevada Day Treasure Hunt. Her interests outside of work include rock-hounding, yoga, reading, traveling and cycling.

Stephanie
Gonzalez

Administrative Assistant
& Event Coordinator
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Stephanie is our Administrative Assistant and Event Coordinator. A native of North Lake Tahoe and later working in Truckee and Verdi, Stephanie comes to the Nevada Women’s Fund with experience in photography, website, client management, skills in customer service and problem-solving. She is quite experienced with adjusting rapidly to changing environments.

Stephanie has previously worked with non-profit organizations including the Sierra Community House and Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies. Her prior knowledge and desire to make a difference in her community make her a perfect fit for the Nevada Women’s Fund. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, watching movies, volunteering, and spending quality time with her family and her dog, Banjo!

Recognitions

Hall of Fame

At its annual Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon, the Nevada Women’s Fund recognizes community involvement and significant community contributions through its Hall of Fame award.

2021: Angela D. Taylor

2019: Sandy Pearce Raffealli

2018: Jane Adams Nichols, Ed.D.

2017:  Norma Webster

2016:  Nancy Fennell

2015:  The Honorable Deborah Schumacher

2014:  Bertha Miranda

2013:  H. Elizabeth Lenz

2012:  Mary-Ellen McMullen

2011:  Mimi Ellis Hogan

2010:  Joni Kaiser (recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award)

2009:  Nancy Cashell

2008:  Jennifer Satre

2007:  Fianna Combs*

2006:  Charlotte McConnell

2005:  Fritsi Ericson (recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award)

2004:  Sally de Lipkau

2003:  Dorothy Lemelson

2002:  Frankie Sue Del Papa

2001: May Shelton, Barbara Vucanovich

2000:  Jan Evans*

1999:  Sandy Miller

1998:  Assistance League of Reno-Sparks

1997:  Evelyn Mount, Jean Ford*

1996:  Trudy Larson, M.D.

1995: Marilyn Melton

1994:  Bertha Mullins, Sue Wagner

1993:  Lynn Atcheson

1992:  Maya Miller*, Barbara Cavanaugh Thornton

1991:  Gloria Fundis, Soroptimist Int’l of Truckee Meadows, Harriet Wolfe*

1990:  Joan L. Dyer, Dolores Feemster, Twentieth Century Club

 1989:  Dorothy Gallagher, Martha Gould, Moya Olsen Lear*, Dolora Zajick

1988:  Martha H. Jones*, Bernice Mathews, Inga Thompson

1987:  Dean Roberta Barnes,  Alice Jane Clark*, Joni Kaiser

1986:  Marsha Deming*, Patricia Miltenberger, Reno/Sparks YWCA

1985:  Eva Adams*, Physician’s Spouses, Jean Bonar, Hazel Guardella*

1984:  Maggie Banks*, Margery Cavanaugh*, Dr. Mary Fulstone, Juyoung Shin

1983:  Frances Smith Crumley*, Dr. Ann Howard, Linda Howard, Patty Sheehan

*deceased