In our 16th year of operation, we were able to publish and print our publications Musicwoman Magazine and Musicman Magazine because of the generosity of our donors who paid for our graphic designer and editors work. The biggest surprise was a $1,000 grant from Conquest Graphics to print our publications for distribution at our annual fundraiser on October 24, 2023. We are expressing our deep gratitude to Conquest Graphics for this grant that enabled us to continue the work we do to promote women musicians, globally. Post-COVID, the cost of printing almost tripled. This grant was a boon to our mission. If we had not won this grant, everything we do would come to a screeching halt. Yes, we publish our magazines online at http://issuu.com/joancartwright that is available to readers, worldwide. However, the physical magazine makes a greater impact on those who can hold it in their hands and flip through the pages to read the stories of our amazing members and supporters. In 2024, we received another grant for $1,050, which will benefit us greatly, since we are planning the first annual Musicwoman Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, October 19, 2024, where we will distribute the 2024 issues of our publications. We are indebted to Conquest Graphics for this delightful annual in-kind service!

It is our goal to garner enough advertising to print our magazines on a quarterly basis, rather than the annual release. It takes the creativity and ingenuity of our staff of writers, photographers, graphic designers, and editors to produce these publications. Also, it takes money to pay them for their time. So, our donors keep us afloat. But printing is another process, altogether. We could not afford to print any magazines without the in-kind support of Conquest Graphics. Most people are willing to donate funds for our graphic designer and editor but are hesitant about earmarking their donations for printing. Therefore, we are beholden to Conquest Graphics because they realize the important impact that physical publications have on society-at-large. The truth is we are not able to print enough magazines to satisfy our customer base. We have 434 members and those in good standing are supposed to receive the annual publications. But the cost of printing and postage has risen so high that this membership benefit has become almost impossible to fulfill. So, of the magazines we print, most go to sponsors, donors, and advertisers. In September 2023, we were able to print 30 each of our magazines for our fundraiser. Earlier in the year, we printed several copies of the 2022 editions. In 2024, we will be able to print more magazines only because of the generosity of Conquest Graphics. For that we are most appreciative!

Our ultimate goal is to create a third publication, MusicTeen Magazine to feature the stories of teenaged musicians, who attend music schools or private lessons with seasoned musicians. We have made contact with several organizations that produce talented teenagers in music. Their stories will undoubtedly be an inspiration to young people interested in musical production and performance. But it takes money to make that happen. So, we are ever seeking sponsorships, donations, and new members to help us fulfill our mission. Music is a powerful tool for change. We live in a world where war and violence prevail. Music is the most prevalent element for peace. That’s why this grant from Conquest Graphics is so meaningful to our organization. When young people have the opportunity to write about their musical experiences and see their stories in print, they are motivated to keep practicing, to hone their musical acumen.

For more information about our nonprofit, visit http://wijsf.org

Read our publications online at http://issuu.com/joancartwright