named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Peer-Led Support Topic Meetings
Weekly online grief support meetings via Zoom that focus on specific topics such as overcoming loneliness, processing grief, building resilience, and rediscovering identity. One meeting per month is specifically for young widows.
W Chat
Monthly online meetings for members further along in their grief journey, focused on reinvention, reimagining the future, and finding joy. Held on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom.
W Clubs
In-person support groups for widows, created and facilitated by widows, offering community and connection at the local level.
W Connection GEM Program
Leadership development program that empowers experienced members to support new widows by becoming Guides, Encouragers, and Mentors (GEMs).
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Grief Support Groups and Counseling 3 activities
- Community leadership and capacity buildingProvides guides and support to help partners plan and lead local "Widow Workshops" in their communities, enabling expansion of peer-led programming.
- Peer-led support meetings for widowsHosts weekly and monthly peer-led virtual and in-person support meetings, including specialized groups for young widows and members further along in their grief journey, to help widows navigate challenges and reduce isolation. Meetings are conducted via Zoom and in local communities through W Clubs.
- Wellness webinars and educational workshopsOffers virtual wellness webinars and educational workshops led by experts and members on topics including trauma recovery, financial planning, emotional health, and solo travel to support healing and personal growth for widows.
-
-
Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- End-of-life planning initiative using humorCreated and launched "Last Laughs," a project and card game that uses humor to facilitate conversations about end-of-life planning, which received a 2025 Clio Bronze Award.
-
-
Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Monthly newsletter and resource distributionProduces and distributes a monthly newsletter with resources, tools, and event information to support widows’ healing and engagement with the organization’s programs.
-
-
Friendly Visiting & Social Companionship Programs 1 activity
- One-on-one peer support and onboardingProvides personalized onboarding and one-on-one peer support through trained volunteer widows via the FirstConnect program and welcome calls to help new members integrate into the community.
-
-
Palliative and End-of-Life Care Education 1 activity
- Research on bereavement and widowhoodConducts research on the health effects of bereavement, particularly among widows, to inform programming and understanding of long-term impacts.
-
-
Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
- Sliding-scale and donor-funded membershipsOffers a complimentary Kindness membership for widows who cannot afford the $75 annual fee and enables donors to purchase memberships for those in need, ensuring equitable access to programs and services.
-
-
Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Virtual and in-person community eventsOrganizes recurring virtual and in-person events including book clubs, meal-sharing gatherings, and Step Out events to foster social connection and shared growth among widows across the country.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$69K
Contributions & grants$67K97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$83K
Program expenses42%
Admin / overhead55%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$63K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$71K
Cash$31K
Investments$41K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$71K
Liquid reserves10.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWN NARGI | EXECUTIVE DI | 30 | $61K |
board members · 4
- JEANNE JACOBWITZ — DIRECTOR
- KIM FULLER — DIRECTOR
- PAT OSMAN — SECRETARY
- VALERIE PAGLIARO — TREASURER
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Dawn Nargi Partner — Cofounder of The W Connection who contributes to educational content on widowhood.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Partner — Kim Fuller, a board member of W Connection, is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., indicating a professional and organizational affiliation.
- Ellen Kamp Partner — Cofounder of The W Connection who contributes to educational content on widowhood.
- NeonCRM Partner — Platform used for volunteer and donation forms
- NeonCRM Partner — Uses NeonCRM for membership form processing and community registration.
- NeonCRM Partner — Uses NeonCRM for membership registration, volunteer interest forms, and donation processing.
- Nutrifacts, Inc Partner — Collaborates with W Connection to provide nutrition expertise in wellness webinars.
- Sallie Sanborn Partner — Child development counselor and child life specialist who provides expert advice for parents on preparing children for death.
- Shames JCC Partner — Hosts the Westchester, NY W Club meetings.
- Strategic Partners Partner — Businesses that create and lead virtual educational wellness webinars for members and may offer W Connection membership through employee benefits programs.
- Supporting Partners Partner — Entrepreneurs and businesses that support widows in their community and help promote The W Connection through local outreach and workshops.
- The W Connection Network — Membership-based organization providing services and resources to widows.
- W GEM Volunteers Partner — Volunteer group recognized for supporting The W Connection's mission and activities.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Four-Pillars Framework for Holistic Grief Recoverymethodology: four_pillars_frameworkBy structuring support around Connection, Encouragement, Education, and Empowerment, the organization guides widows from grief to growth because this phased approach addresses evolving emotional and practical needs over time, creating a clear pathway for rebuilding identity and agency after loss.
- Peer-Led Healing Through Shared Lived Experiencemethodology: peer_supportBy using widows as peer supporters and program leaders, the organization fosters deeper trust, reduces isolation, and promotes healing because shared lived experience creates authentic connection and mutual understanding that professional-led models cannot replicate. This model also enables personal growth for both giver and receiver through empowerment and purpose.