Phoenix has a new women-led collective with philanthropy on the brain and community impact at the center.
Women in Philanthropy (WIP), founded by Maddie Craigen and Maddie Lydon, is launching in the Valley with a mission to bring together purpose-driven women who want to support children’s charities across Phoenix while building the kind of network that does more than exchange business cards.
The group, open to women ages 21 to 45, is designed to blend fundraising with professional connection, mentorship, and personal growth. Think less stiff gala energy, more modern give-back circle with ambition, intention, and a real reason to show up.
Women in Philanthropy will benefit its affiliated nonprofit, For the Kids Foundation, with plans to create meaningful opportunities for women to give back through fundraising, community events, and hands-on impact.
“Women in Philanthropy was created to give women a seat at the table when it comes to driving real impact in our community,” says Craigen. “We believe that when women come together with intention, the impact is exponential.”
The organization’s focus is clear: support children’s charities across the Valley, build a network of philanthropic female leaders, create social and service-driven experiences, and provide professional networking, mentorship, and guidance. Basically, it is doing good with a strategy deck and a social calendar.
“This is about more than fundraising, it’s about building a community that stands for something bigger,” says Lydon.
For a state full of women building companies, brands, careers, families, and communities, Women in Philanthropy is arriving with a specific point of view: giving back can be powerful, polished, and deeply personal all at once.
And yes, the name says philanthropy. But the real story is connection. The kind that turns a room full of ambitious women into something bigger than a room, and then points that energy toward kids across the Valley.
“WIP is about creating a space where professional women can come together to raise money for local children’s charities while also finding ‘their people’ along the way,” says Craigen.
Insider Takeaways
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Women in Philanthropy is a new Phoenix collective founded by Maddie Craigen and Maddie Lydon. The group is open to women ages 21 to 45 who want to support children’s charities across the Valley.
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The new organization will benefit its affiliated nonprofit, For the Kids Foundation.
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WIP blends fundraising with networking, mentorship, guidance, social experiences, and hands-on community impact.
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Its mission centers on creating meaningful opportunities for women to give back while growing personally and professionally.
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The group is positioning philanthropy as both a give-back mission and a modern women’s leadership network.
To learn more, visit womeninphilanthropyaz.com.
