03/06/2026
To the heart of the IRIS community,
At the beginning of 2023, IRIS was nothing more than an idea shared between five entrepreneurial women. We didn’t see ourselves in the traditional world of fundraising—the red tape, the rigid structures, the stuffy galas.
We focused on something else: incredible, bootstrapped grassroots organizations doing the heavy lifting in our community with little recognition inside entrenched systems.
So we decided that if their work wasn’t being amplified, we would become the amplifier—and we would do it our way.
To say we moved fast would be an understatement. We ran.
In just three years, we’ve poured over a quarter of a million dollars back into the hands of local organizations doing thankless work. We’ve seen what happens when you trust your gut and lead with your heart.
But in that momentum, we realized something profound: IRIS has become more than an annual event. It’s a movement and a responsibility we do not take lightly.
Success is a beautiful thing, but it requires a foundation strong enough to sustain it.
If we want this momentum to carry into the next ten, twenty, even fifty years, we must be as intentional with our structure as we are with our giving.
That’s why we’ve made the heartfelt decision to pause our signature event in 2026. We are taking this time to organize, to dream, and to ensure IRIS is built for the long term, and not just the moment.
A Sabbatical Year isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing better.
In 2026, we’ll be working behind the scenes to deepen our impact and widen our reach. We are protecting the soul of IRIS by refusing to rush it. When we show up next, we will do so with a foundation that is unshakable, choosing quality, longevity, and the future of the community we love.
Though the stage may be quieter in 2026, the work is very much alive.
We’re already creating new, innovative ways for you to engage and support our mission and we can’t wait to share what’s coming in the spring. And you’d best believe our signature event will be back in 2027!
Thank you for believing in our non-traditional approach and for walking this path with us.
IRIS is growing. And we’re doing it with heart.
