Sigma Kappa Foundation Inc

TO CREATE AND FUND LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP AND PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES THAT REFLECT THE VALUES AND SPIRIT OF SIGMA KAPPA SORORITY

THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOMPASS THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER, THE FRATERNITY/SORORITY COMMUNITY, THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. THE SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TOTALING NEARLY $2 MILLION SINCE 1989. GRANTS ARE MADE PURSUANT TO APPROPRIATE GRANT DOCUMENTATION. NO GRANTS OR ALLOCATIONS ARE/OR INCLUDE FOREIGN GRANTS.SIGMA KAPPA EDUCATIONAL GRANTSEDUCATIONAL AREA GRANTS. THE EDUCATIONAL AREA GRANT PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL INITIATIVE WHEREBY THE SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION MAY MAKE HOUSING GRANTS FOR PURELY EDUCATIONAL SPACES IN LOCAL CHAPTER HOUSES, AS LONG AS THE SPECIFIC REQUEST COMPLIES WITH INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL AREA GRANT PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT ELIGIBLE CHAPTERS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, RELIEVE THE LOCAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OF SOME OF THE BURDEN OF PROVIDING STUDY AND LIBRARY FACILITIES. EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP GRANTS. SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS WERE SUPPORTED BY A FOUNDATION GRANT. THE EMERGING LEADERS CONFERENCES (ELCS) ARE A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR COLLEGIATE EMERGING LEADERS. ATTENDEES AT THE ELCS ARE TO BE IN THEIR FIRST ELECTED LEADERSHIP POSITION, OR HAVE NOT YET HELD A LEADERSHIP POSITION WITHIN THE CHAPTER. THROUGH A CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR ALL WOMEN, THE ELCS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF COLLEGIATE LEADERS AND FACILITATORS IN ATTENDANCE. FOCUSING ON CONCEPTS SUCH AS AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, BELONGING, VALUES CONGRUENCE, UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND LIVING WITH INTEGRITY, ATTENDEES WILL CONSIDER WAYS TO USE THEIR OWN VALUES AND EXPERIENCES TO BREAK DOWN FEELINGS OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME IN THEMSELVES AND PERHAPS EVEN CONSIDER WAYS TO LESSEN THESE FEELINGS FOR OTHERS.THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (TLI) IS AN APPLICATION-BASED FOUR-DAY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR COLLEGIATE MEMBERS. THE CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON THREE TOPICS: CLIFTONSTRENGTHS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE ENNEAGRAM. ALL OF THE CURRICULUM FOR TLI IS DESIGNED AND WRITTEN WITH THE GOAL TO DEEPEN THE COHORT'S LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT. NONE OF THE CONTENT IS SPECIFIC TO SIGMA KAPPA, RATHER FOCUSED ON GENERAL LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES, HELPING TO SET UP THE COHORT FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREER ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS. THE MENTOR RELATIONSHIP SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE COHORT MEMBER IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS THEY SET AT TLI, WHILE SERVING AS SOMEONE EACH COHORT MEMBER CAN LOOK TO FOR GUIDANCE. AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATION IN TLI, PARTICIPANTS ARE READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE COMMUNITIES AND HAVE THE SKILLSET TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS. THE LEADERSHIP AND HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARENESS CONTENT CONTAINS A TOTAL OF 23 ELEARNING COURSES THAT WERE PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE A FIELD EXPERT WHO SERVED AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. AS SIGMA KAPPA'S ELEARNING STRATEGY GROWS AND DEVELOPS, WE ARE STRIVING TO PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS WITH ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, USING SIGMA KAPPAS ONLINE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE LEARNING CENTER. THIS SUITE OF 23 COURSES WILL BE HOUSED AND AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS THROUGH THE LEARNING CENTER.A TWO-PART SOLUTION TO BIG PICTURE VOLUNTEER TRAINING NEEDS WAS OFFERED IN THE SUMMER OF 2021. THE FIRST PART WAS A VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER SUMMIT, HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021 AVAILABLE TO ANY VOLUNTEER. THE SECOND PART WAS A FOUR-WEEK RELEASE OF EIGHT NEW ELEARNING CONTENT MODULES MEANT TO EXPAND ON TOPICS INTRODUCED DURING THE VIRTUAL SUMMIT. TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE VIRTUAL SUMMIT AND THE ELEARNING SERIES INCLUDED DEIA, GOVERNANCE, CLIFTONSTRENGTHS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND WORKING TOGETHER AS TEAMS, ESTABLISHING MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS AS VOLUNTEERS, AND MENTAL HEALTH. LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT GRANT. THE GRANT FOR THE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT PROGRAM IS USED TO CONDUCT THE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING OF CHAPTER MEMBERS AND THE TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS TO DO SUCH COUNSELING. GROUP DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES ON LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING, ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGH SCHOLASTIC ATTAINMENT, CITIZENSHIP, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND ADVANCED LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR SELECTED INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER MEMBERS OF THE SORORITY REGARDING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP AND STUDY TECHNIQUES, AND IN ADDITION EACH CONSULTANT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE ANY CHAPTER MEMBER SEEKING INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING REGARDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS.THE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT PROGRAM EMBODIES THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE VALUE OF PERSONAL GROWTH. THE PROGRAM CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGES PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP CONSULTANTS TO PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY GROW AS WELL AS BECOME MORE DIVERSE IN THEIR SKILLSETS ALL WHILE MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING OTHERS. LEADERSHIP CONSULTANTS GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING AND SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, PATIENCE, CONFIDENCE AND STRENGTH THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM HELPS LEADERSHIP CONSULTANTS LEARN HOW TO HANDLE SITUATIONS THAT DON'T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED AND TO FACE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES WITH GRACE, RESILIENCE AND POSITIVITY, PARTICULARLY IN A YEAR WITH MUCH UNCERTAINTY DUE TO COVID-19. THE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT PROGRAM TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, ALL WHILE UTILIZING THE SKILLSETS DEVELOPED TO INSPIRE OTHERS. ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PIECES OF THE LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT PROGRAM IS LEARNING WHO YOU ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND HAVING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM ALONG THE WAY.CAREER DEVELOPMENT GRANT. A GRANT WAS GIVEN TO THE SORORITY TO CONDUCT A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CALLED CAREERHOUSE, FOR MEMBERS WHO WERE SEEKING CAREER GUIDANCE DURING AND FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS PANDEMIC HAS RESHAPED HOW CAREER PLANNING EXISTS. WITH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES SPIKING, IT IS ESSENTIAL NOW MORE THAN EVER FOR JOB SEEKERS TO KNOW AND ARTICULATE THEIR VALUE TO EMPLOYERS, ACCESS THEIR NETWORK, AND HAVE A RESUME THAT STANDS OUT. THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT WOMEN DURING A TURBULENT TIME TO CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION TO NAVIGATE THEIR CAREER. THE "CAREERHOUSE" TEAM WILL PROVIDE A ROUTINE AND CONSISTENCY IN THE LIVES OF MEMBERS BY MEETING WITH THEM TWICE A WEEK.TOP THEMES THAT "CAREERHOUSE" HAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH RESEARCH CONVERSATIONS WITH CURRENT STUDENTS AND YOUNG ALUMNAE INCLUDE: NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE EVERYTHING TO GRADUATE ON TIME GRADES, MEANING THEY WILL DECLINE INTERNSHIP OR NEW POSITION OFFERS BEING RESCINDED OR CANCELLED LACK OF INTERNSHIP OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES BEING UNPREPARED FOR GRADUATION FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT SCHEDULE AND GOOD QUALITY WORK UNDERSTANDING HOW THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS HAS CHANGEDTHE INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE: PARTICIPANTS WILL BE PREPARED TO CONTINUE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE JOB SEARCH WITH STRONGER LANGUAGE ON THEIR RESUMES, NECESSARY INTERVIEW SKILLS AND THE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR DECISION MAKING. SIGMA KAPPA WILL BE CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR MEMBERS BY PIVOTING QUICKLY AND OFFERING THE CAREER SUPPORT STUDENTS AND ALUMNAE ARE NEEDING RIGHT NOW. THE PROGRAM LEADERS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO SEE STUDENTS AND ALUMNAE SUCCEED AND TRIUMPH THROUGH AN EMOTIONALLY UPSETTING AND STRESSFUL TIME. THEY WILL SAVE STUDENTS AND ALUMNAE TIME AND STRESS BY BRINGING THE EXACT TOOLS AND SKILLS (AND IN THE RIGHT ORDER) TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THIS TIME OFF CAMPUS AND WORKING REMOTELY.

NINETY-TWO SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO OUTSTANDING MEMBERS WHO EXEMPLIFY SIGMA KAPPA'S VALUES OF INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND SISTERHOOD.SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE SCHOLASTIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COLLEGIATE AND ALUMNAE SISTERS. THESE WORTHY OPPORTUNITIES COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM SIGMA KAPPA SISTERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND OTHER DONORS. IN THE PAST YEAR, SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION ADDED TEN NEW SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MEMBERS.

THE FOUNDATION WAS CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO 12 MEMBERS WHO HAVE SEVERE FINANCIAL DISTRESS DUE TO PRESIDENTIALLY-DECLARED DISASTERS, UNEXPECTED LIFE OCCURRENCES SUCH AS A LOSS OF A JOB AND ILLNESS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO MEMBERS WHO ARE FACED WITH HORRIFIC ISSUES AND HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT.