Major Funding Sources 
Focus on Funders: Avon Calling or
Avon’s Calling? – The Avon’s Products Foundation
When you think Avon, you probably think of the “Avon Lady” or their slogan “Avon calling”. Sarah’s Circle has experienced first-hand Avon’s calling – their calling as a funder for programs for women. For several years now, Sarah’s has received a grant from the Avon Products Foundation, and we are very grateful.
The Avon Products Foundation has been in existence since 1955, and has continually had as its mission “to respond to the needs of women and their families”, promoting economic opportunity for women around the world. They have contributed over the years more than $40 million in charitable grants, both in the U.S. and more recently, for global projects including Russia and South Africa. The Foundation supports three key areas: education, community and social services, and arts and humanities. The Chicago area site, located in Morton Grove, was allotted $62,500 to donate locally in 2000. They awarded 16 grants this past year, the highest number of grants in seven years.
I spoke with Sari Rubin, communications and employee relations specialist in the human relations department for Avon in Morton Grove. She told me how their local grant-making process works. A team of six management associates from the divisions of the company meet together to review proposals, discuss them and make decisions They divide the applications into “yes”, “no” and “maybe”. Then they determine the amount each organization will receive. Last year, most grantees received $5,000 and a few received $2,000. When Rubin began working on the grants program, she made decisions alone about recipients, but she much prefers this team approach. Since none of the decision-making team has grant-making as their job responsibility, dividing the work into “chewable pieces” makes the process much more manageable, Rubin said.
Rubin herself, as communications and employee relations specialist, is in charge of all the local philanthropy projects of the Morton Grove facility. In addition to grants, this includes the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, which last year won an award for the best business campaign, and resulted in a 15 percent increase in contributions to breast cancer funding. The remainder of her job is devoted to planning all events for all the divisions and writing and editing the company’s local newsletter. She also runs the tour program, manages the cafeteria, and is involved with many human resources projects, including policies, hiring processes and budget management. “I am a girl with many hats,” she admits.
But the philanthropic part of her work is dear to her heart. “I like the opportunity to make peoples lives better,” Rubin says. Even though the money that she helps to give away is not her money, “it’s a moving experience to be able to support people and agencies and their need.” The cross-cultural aspect of the work is exciting, too. The hard part of grant-making is saying “no” to someone, or choosing one agency over another. Avon has narrowed the focus of their giving to women and children, but the committee and Rubin still have to make hard decisions between a number of worthy groups and causes. They work hard to be open to a vast variety of organizations, Rubin said.
One of the most interesting features for me about being funded by Avon is that each organization is invited to an annual reception at the Morton Grove facility to receive the grant. This reception includes meeting a number of Avon employees, a yummy spread, meeting all the other grantees and hearing about their work, and if you want, at tour of the manufacturing plan. I have enjoyed this each year. The tour of the plant is fascinating!
I asked Rubin why Avon chooses Sarah’s Circle. Her response was, “Because we love Sarah’s. You embody our mission. Our efforts to help women to find work, to get them resources that they need to become independent are what Avon is all about. It’s just a perfect fit! It’s a good thing you do.”
So thank you Avon Products Foundation, for your generous support over the years. Thank you for your calling and thank you for calling!