In this episode, our hosts sit down with Susan Ryan to spotlight Power of 100 Eagan Women, a women’s giving circle that turns individual donations into a powerful $10,000 gift for local nonprofits.

Susan explains how the model works:

100 women each donate $100
Members hear from three local nonprofits
Everyone votes, and one nonprofit walks away with $10,000

You’ll hear how Power of 100 Eagan is:

Making charitable giving simple, social, and impactful
Supporting nonprofits that serve Eagan and surrounding communities (including Dakota County)
Building friendships and community among women who want to give back

How any woman can join (you don’t have to live in Eagan)
What it means to be a Founding Member
How nonprofits can apply to present and be considered for the $10,000

QUOTES:

It’s really a giving circle. It’s a philanthropic adventure, and we’re just trying to help out.

If you have 100 women, and they each give $100 to a charity they vote on together, then that charity gets $10,000 — which is really exciting for the charity.
You don’t even have to live in Eagan to be a member of Power of 100 Eagan. We’ve got women from all around the area who want to support Eagan, because Eagan is in their heart.
Friendships have formed from it. People who want to be generous, who want to donate but don’t know who to donate to . they get together in that room twice a year, and all of a sudden they start recognizing people and start doing things together, because they have a common bond.

LINKS & REFERENCES:

MORE ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan Ryan is a retired technology professional who's happily traded corporate deadlines for community impact. She serves on the steering committee of Power of 100 Eagan Women, where she leads the nonprofit outreach and application review process connecting local charities with collective giving. She's also involved with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, helping recruit volunteers, raise funds, and share the mission of building and delivering beds so NO CHILD SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN! Named the Dakota County Regional Chamber’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year, Susan enjoys playing Mah-Jongg and cards, competing in bean bag and golf leagues, and spending time with family and friends. Helping neighbors help neighbors is what makes this work so meaningful to her.

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025: 100 Women, $10,000: The Power of 100 Eagan Women