When the state comes calling
How Carol Doane's Advisory Council appointment opened doors for Woman of Wonder donors
Sometimes the best opportunities arrive in a formal envelope.
For Woman of Wonder founder Carol Doane, that opportunity came in summer 2021 when Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman appointed her to join the Combined Fund Drive Advisory Council. Out of thousands of nonprofits across Washington, the Secretary of State's office selected Carol to help shape how state employees give to charity.
The irony? Carol spent her entire two-year term meeting fellow council members through a computer screen, thanks to the timing of her appointment during the pandemic. "We developed advisory policy for the state's workplace giving program while working in our home offices," Carol recalls. "Not quite the networking experience anyone imagined, but it saved a lot of road trips to Olympia."
That virtual appointment created very real opportunities for Woman of Wonder supporters.
The pre-tax giving option hiding in plain sight
Here's what many Washington State employees and retirees don't know: you can donate pre-tax dollars directly from your paycheck or retirement check to Woman of Wonder through the Combined Fund Drive.
Former Woman of Wonder board member Debbie Dunn discovered this option years ago when she worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation. She became one of our earliest Combined Fund Drive supporters, quietly directing pre-tax dollars to women's scholarships with each paycheck.
"Debbie told us about the program," Carol explains. "Before COVID, new state employees learned about the Combined Fund Drive during orientation. After everyone went remote, that information pipeline got spotty."
The result? Thousands of state workers and retirees may not realize this giving option exists.
Why the Combined Fund Drive levels the playing field
Think about workplace giving for a moment. If every nonprofit could visit state offices to pitch their cause, agencies would lose countless work hours to presentations. Employees would face an overwhelming parade of asks.
The Combined Fund Drive solves this elegantly. The program vets participating nonprofits, assigns each a charity code, and lets employees choose where their dollars go. Everyone gets equal access. The employee maintains control.
Since 1984, Washington State employees have pledged over $169 million through this program to charities. In 2023 alone, state employees raised over $4.2 million for nearly 3,100 participating nonprofits.
Woman of Wonder is among those vetted charities, which means state employees and retirees can support women's education through automatic payroll deductions. All they need to do is search give.wa.gov for “Woman of Wonder” or the nonprofit’s Charity Code: 1482772.
A state that values giving infrastructure
Not every state makes charitable giving this accessible to employees.
Washington State has maintained the Combined Fund Drive for over 40 years, vetting nonprofits, providing administrative infrastructure, and making it simple for employees to support causes they care about. The state processes donations, distributes funds, and ensures accountability.
That infrastructure matters. It says something about Washington's values: community support shouldn't be complicated.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we're grateful for a state government that recognizes its employees want to give back and removes barriers to make that happen. The Combined Fund Drive doesn't just collect donations, it demonstrates that collective action, even through individual paychecks, strengthens communities.
How pre-tax giving puts more dollars to work
When you donate through the Combined Fund Drive, your contribution comes out before taxes. That means more of your money reaches the cause you care about, and you reduce your taxable income.
For someone in a 22% tax bracket donating $500 annually, pre-tax giving saves approximately $110 in taxes. That same person could increase their donation to $550 while spending the same out-of-pocket amount as a $440 after-tax donation.
The math works beautifully for donors who want their dollars to stretch further.
Why women's education matters for everyone
Woman of Wonder has awarded over 50 scholarships to Washington State women pursuing degrees at accredited colleges and universities. These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet.
Each scholarship represents a woman gaining skills that boost her earning potential. A single mother creating stability for her family. A woman developing critical thinking abilities that enhance her community contributions. The economic ripple effects benefit Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County, and communities across Washington State.
When women access education, entire families stabilize. Local economies strengthen. Communities thrive.
How to give through the Combined Fund Drive
Current state employees and retired state employees receiving pension checks can participate. Here's how:
Visit the Combined Fund Drive website at give.wa.gov and search for Woman of Wonder using the charity code: 1482772. You can set up one-time or recurring donations that come directly from your paycheck or retirement check as pre-tax contributions.
The process takes minutes. The impact lasts lifetimes.
The woman who inspired it all
Woman of Wonder is also thankful for Wilma A. Doane, who worked to pay her own college tuition when family support wasn't available. She later worked to pay her husband's college costs, then worked to provide college tuition for their children.
Wilma's first job included a memorable act of principle: she refused to join a union that wouldn't guarantee equal pay for equal work. Throughout her career, she mentored others and championed workplace equity.
Her legacy lives on through scholarship recipients who gain the education to build fulfilling careers and stable families.
Published Thanksgiving Thursday, November 27, 2025
Thankful for Washington State providing nonprofits a way to connect with state employees.
Kim Wyman appoints our founder Carol Doane to the Combined Fund Drive’s Advisory Council.
RESOURCES
Washington State Combined Fund Drive Official Site - History, participation numbers
Washington Secretary of State News Release - 40-year CFD anniversary, 2023 giving totals
UW Combined Fund Drive Resources - Administrative details, eligibility, distribution schedules
Charity Navigator & GuideStar Profiles - Verification of nonprofit status, mission confirmation
Letter from Secretary Kim Wyman (above)