The Story

Once there was a city.  And it was filled with women that had achieved much in their lives. Accomplished women that resided in corporations, as entrepreneurs, as philanthropists, as mothers, as politicians, as community activists, as educators. Each day these women would go to their particular places of work to contribute to the well being of themselves, their families and employers. The women loved their communities very much but were left with little time at the end of a day to consider its long-term enrichment. 

Time went by, and the city's need for the skills, resources and passion that these women possessed grew.  The city saw females entering the workforce in record numbers, yet the number of girls dropping out of school was increasing.  It witnessed the shift of household influence and power overwhelmingly being held by women. The city needed the combined strength of the similar views, values and outlook of female business and community leaders to enhance women's economic opportunities. These women had something to give back. Something more than the city had ever been given before... 

The Vision

In Spring 2010, we set out to build an exclusive network of like-minded women. The group was strategically developed to incorporate diversified, dynamic ladies of influence that have a passion for their community. We meet bi-monthly for an enjoyable evening of good conversation, wine and bites. The events are funded through corporate contributions via our Girls. We love his aspect of the organization, and truly believe it is key to the connecting, engaging and passion that fuels our desire to do more. 

However, as we continue to observe just how much the world is evolving, and the large role women have in this evolution, we couldn't help but think The Giving Girls could be so much more. 

The Giving Girls biggest opportunity lies in our ability to make a difference by inspiring the next generation of girls to begin thinking about the many options available to them.  The goal is that by inspiring our female youth to set bigger, attainable goals through access to relatable women who've "made it", and want to pass on their expertise and learnings, the girls will be better equipped for making good decisions about their future. 

The Opportunity > State, National and Global Levels

We believe that there are many ways for women to become involved and help the girls in our communities benefit from the combined knowledge and experiences of the organization. We call it, Connecting for a Cause. 

The Founding Giving Girls intend to initiate an annual Girls Summit in Fall 2011 - a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls. The interactive program aims to educate, inform, and boost self- esteem and self-respect for the young women of our community.  

The areas of focus under development are traditional and non-traditional careers, planet sustainability, community involvement and giving back. As interest has grown, we are also pursuing a  second tier of The Giving Girls to provide a community-wide mentorship program.  The concept of The Giving Girls continues to evolve, and with funding assistance, we could implement programs throughout the U.S., and even Globally, while engaging our private, public and government entities.  

There is no greater gift that The Giving Girls can give than making it possible for the girls in our communities to grow and prosper.

Meet The Founders

stacy bayless 

For years, The Giving Girls Co-Founder, Stacy Bayless, had thoughts of forming a women’s networking group to rival the “good old boys” networks that were a constant challenge in business relations. Armed with decades of marketing expertise and a deep knowledge of influencers and trends, the experience and interest in women’s initiatives led to the co-creation of The Giving Girls. 

Throughout her lifetime, Bayless has engaged with hi-profile, non-profit entities, as a volunteer, member of the board of directors, and has also held key leadership roles in each environment.  Her guidance has been instrumental in raising board involvement and increased multi-year funding for organizations such as Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Boys Team Charity, National Charity League and Home Base Youth Services. Stacy Bayless is a woman determined to carve her own path, and help make our world a better place today and in the future.

kelly ehlers 

Giving Girls Co-Founder, Kelly Ehlers, has over a decade of deep immersion in both the marketing - and nonprofit world. Grounded in business principles, yet leading with her unwavering passion and determination, her unique perspective and skill set were the guiding force behind forming The Giving Girls. From an early age, Ehlers’ passion has always been helping the less fortunate - in fact, her dream was to some day start a nonprofit entity with the intention of mentoring young girls.


Ehlers has served various charitable entities in both a board member and volunteer capacity. Helping shape the strategic direction and fundraising efforts for groups such as The McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Dress For Success Phoenix, The Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and Habitat For Humanity,there's no doubt that Kelly Ehlers is dedicated to lending her passion and expertise to help nonprofits thrive. 

Recently named one of the ‘Top 10 Up-And-Coming Business Women to Watch’ by the Phoenix Business Journal, Ehlers’ heavy involvement in the Phoenix community makes her the perfect female to help lead the efforts of The Giving Girls.