OPTIONS Program

The application for OPTIONS Class 26 is now open.

Discover the power of women’s philanthropy

Women’s Foundation of Indiana’s OPTIONS program was designed to help participants get smart about critical issues impacting women and girls, and learn to use their work, wealth and wisdom to make ours a community where women and girls can thrive.

The 10-month program, featuring monthly two-and-a-half-hour sessions, includes guest speakers, field trips, community exploration and leadership development. Participants, age 25 and older, end the program with:

A better understanding of the data and voice that reveal the experiences of women and girls in all the ways they show up in the world
A personal giving plan
Experience in group grantmaking
An understanding of how to better invest to tackle issues that impact women, girls and their families

Join the more than 500 women who have amplified their philanthropic voice, power and leadership through OPTIONS.

Meet the Current Class Meet the Alumnae

When we come together with mutual respect and a passion for women and girls’ health and well-being, we can learn and do so much. I loved networking with my OPTIONS class 21 and donating 100% of our collective funds directly to the community groups that we visited and the on-going scholarship fund.

Tamara Cypress, Class 21

Application Information

Eligibility to apply: Interested candidates must be 25 or older and identify as a woman or non-binary femme.

The cost to participate in the program is $500. Applications for the 2027 class will be open from Thursday, Oct. 1, to Saturday, Oct. 31.

All applicants are asked to commit to being curious, open-minded and interested in the following:

Supporting the mission of Women’s Foundation, its commitment to advancing women and girls, and its support for people in all their intersecting identities;
exploring critical issues impacting women and girls in our community;
creating a personal giving plan; and
contributing to a robust sector of women-and-girl-serving organizations.

OPTIONS Class 26 will meet from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of the Jan. class on the following dates:

Jan. 19 (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.)
Feb. 16
Mar. 16
Apr. 20
May 25
June 15
Aug. 17
Sep. 21
Oct. 19
Nov. 16

Attendance is mandatory for the first class of the year on Jan. 19. Missing more than one session will result in a class member’s participation being delayed to a future year.

Application Letter of Recommendation Form Supervisor Support Form

Want to learn more before applying?

Join us for a virtual OPTIONS Class 26 Information Session on Tuesday, Oct. 6 to learn more about the program, application process and what to expect as a participant. Attendance is not required to apply.

Register for the Info Session

We invite you to contact Wendy McNamar at WendyM@womensfund.org to discuss the OPTIONS program further.

The OPTIONS Program increased my understanding and exposure to issues facing women and girls in Central Indiana, but it also connected me to the amazing organizations in our community working to address those issues. Prior to OPTIONS, I was pretty unfocused with my community engagement because I was overwhelmed by all of the things I cared about, but what OPTIONS did was help me hone my philanthropic plan, so that I can more intentionally spend my time, talent, and treasure moving the needle on issues that were most critical to me. But perhaps the best gift OPTIONS gave me was an incredible group of brilliant, kind, strong, and generous women whom I now call friends, and I can walk alongside as we work to make the world a better place.