Who We Are

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.

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.

nwf-mission-7-in-front-of-nwf-logo

Ila & SilverSummit HealthPlan CEO posing with SSHP scholarship recipients. SSHP awarded $70,000 in scholarships to SSHP members in 2022

Mission

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

Since 1983 Nevada Women’s Fund has awarded $9,024,064:

  • $4,096,982 in Grants
  • $4,927,082 in Scholarships

In 2022 alone Nevada Women’s Fund awarded over $290,000 to women living and educating in Northern Nevada.

The Nevada Women's Fund 2022 Board of Directors posing for a picture outside

2022 NWF Board of Directors & Staff

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 Director of Operation & Events. The board convenes nine meetings annually. Standing committees include: Allocations, Board Leadership, Development, Investment and Finance and Marketing.

Nevada Women’s Fund Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

Nevada Women’s Fund is committed to promoting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We recognize
that human capital is our most important asset. We embrace and encourage diversity within our staff,
board of directors, volunteers and scholarship recipients. We believe that through embracing and
encouraging diversity, Nevada Women’s Fund is better able to achieve its mission.

2023 Board of Directors

Officers

Jill Johnson

Jill Johnson

Chair

Bishop Manogue Catholic High School
Courtney Sweet

Courtney Sweet

Vice Chair

Gunderson Law Firm
Craig Wesner

Craig Wesner

Treasurer

Civil Engineer
Danielle Eaton

Danielle Eaton

Recorder

UNR School of Medicine/Renown
Sarah Crumby

Sarah Crumby

Immediate Past Chair

Cupit, Milligan, Ogden & Williams, CPAs

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
Karen Purcell

Karen Purcell

PK Electrical, Inc.
Erica Mirich

Erica Mirich

Truckee Meadows Tomorrow
Frankie Vigil

Frankie Vigil

Lumos & Assoc.
Earstin E. Whitten

Earstin E. Whitten

Co-Founder

Soulful Seeds
Emily Wieczorek

Emily Wieczorek

Two Peas In a Prada
Viki A. Windfelt

Viki A. Windfelt

Nevada State Board of Accountancy
Gretchen Sawyer

Gretchen Sawyer

TMCC Foundation
Ben Calingaert

Ben Calingaert

Persing Professional Group
Kara Martinezmoles

Kara Martinezmoles

Renown
Jen Eastwood

Jen Eastwood

Good Giant
Katie Nannini

Katie Nannini

NV Energy
Kelly Corrigan

Kelly Corrigan

Race178
Kendra Jepsen

Kendra Jepsen

Jepsen & McMenomy
Norma Seltz

Norma Seltz

Higher Education | Marriage & Family Therapist 
Olivia Baugh

Olivia Baugh

Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
Pam Czyz

Pam Czyz

Kara Harris

Kara Harris

First Independent Bank
Cynthia Osborn

Cynthia Osborn

Assured Partners
Nicola Nielon

Nicola Nielon

Casey Neilon
Laura Nelson

Laura Nelson

Eide Bailly
Angela Bradley

Angela Bradley

Nevada State Bank
Randy Brown

Randy Brown

AT&T Nevada
Sarah Sommers

Sarah Sommers

Elemental LED, Inc.

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

Director of Development & Programs
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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.

Marge
Millar

Director of Operations
& Events
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Marge Millar comes to Nevada Women’s Fund after more than a decade as a community volunteer and eventually a board member passionate about the work of the Fund. Marge quickly became an integral part of the Northern Nevada community after moving to Reno with her husband Chuck in 2000. The majority of Marge’s professional career was in banking where she worked as a branch manager at Nevada State Bank in Reno, Nevada. There, she built strong relationships with many business professionals which she leveraged to support her extensive work in the nonprofit sector with organizations such as Junior Achievement, the Veteran’s Guest House and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful.

Eventually Marge left banking to work for one of her favorite not for profits, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful where, as Business Manager, she combined her experience in finance with her passion for fundraising and events to help grow the organization. Marge’s favorite role is being mom the her daughter Megan, now a sophomore at the University of Nevada Reno. In her spare time Marge loves to share good food and good wine with friends, travel with her husband or get lost in a good book.

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.

2022: Marilyn Newton

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