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This post originally appeared on the Give Global Blog.
As we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, one of my favorite holidays of the year, I couldn’t help myself from finding links to one of my favorite growing philanthropic trends: giving circles.
Giving circles, part of the general category of collective giving, are groups of donors who pool their resources – be it time, talent or treasure – and decide as a group where they want to use those resources to make an impact. For example, a circle may consist of 10 friends who each pitch in $100 every quarter and meet up over dinner to choose where to donate. Often, circles form around identity groups within geographies, such as women of a particular county or LBGTQ+ activists of a city. Giving circles are an amazing tool to encourage donors to have fun while expanding awareness of different causes, increasing their charitable giving and making a real difference.
Now that we’re up to speed, what do giving circles have to do with St. Patrick’s Day? Let me tell you:
Commitment to making a difference St. Patrick’s life story can get a little lost in the holiday celebrations we are accustomed to today, but St. Patrick was a real person who lived a remarkable life that he dedicated to making a difference. Born in Britain around A.D. 420, at the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. After six years of forced labor, Patrick escaped back to Britain. He did not take his freedom for granted once reunited with his wealthy family though: He returned to Ireland and dedicated his life to serving others, supporting the growing Irish Christian minority, condemning persecution by the British government, and advocating against slavery.
The link to giving circles comes from Patrick’s work to bring others along with him on his quest to positively impact the world. He connected with communities and shared his vision, inspiring them to become change makers as well. Forming a giving circle is a way to introduce friends to a new side of philanthropy and for your entire group to share in a journey of giving and making a difference. While lots of mythology also surrounds his life (it’s unlikely that there were ever any snakes in Ireland), his example of committing to what you believe in can inspire any donor.
St. Patrick’s Day symbols and how they relate to giving circles.
Parades: Parades can be a great analogy for giving circles. Each float offers its own presentation and energy. The parade would be boring if each group was the same, and the variety of viewpoints makes for a cohesive and enjoyable whole.
This variety is the same thing that makes giving circles so exciting. Even in circles that are based around a central factor, like women business leaders or religiously grounded circles, each member brings a unique viewpoint that enriches the whole. By embracing these differences and learning from your giving circle peers, you can turn your philanthropy from a solitary walk to a full-blown parade!
Four-leaf clover: A four-leaf clover is one of the classic symbols of the luck of the Irish. It really does take a fair amount of luck to find one, it is estimated that only 1 clover in every 10,000 has four leaves. In the context of the holiday, a four-leaf clover is used to add some festive pizazz to decorations and clothing – and to make everyone feel a little extra lucky!
While a four-leaf clover might help, a member of a giving circle does not have to wait for good luck to make a change they want to see. If you have been wishing for the longest time that the local arts center could host more shows or that the garden in the schoolyard could get a refresh, you don’t have to wait for some lucky coincidence to make your goals happen. Being part of a giving circle means you get to make your own luck! Even if your donations alone could not sponsor a whole new garden, by pooling resources with your friends and sharing your passion with them, you can inspire real and impactful changes in your community – no luck (or four-leaf clover) needed.
Pot of gold: One of the most enduring images from the mythology around St. Patrick’s Day is the pot of gold. We know that leprechauns like to keep their stash safely at the end of the rainbow, but where should your circle hold onto its funds? Determining where to keep the pooled funds can be a logistical challenge for giving circles of any size. Having one member hold the funds is a lot of responsibility and extra work for that individual, and finding institutional partners can be expensive and inconvenient. Luckily (you see what I did there??), there is a solution.
Growfund for Giving Circles offers a no-minimum donor-advised fund platform that can allows your circle to economically and easily collect its funds in a single online tool, empower members to contribute directly to the pool and facilitates grantmaking to any nonprofit organization. Growfund for Giving Circles can take the stress of money management out of your giving circle experience, allowing you to focus on what drew you to your circle in the first place: the GIVING. Visit MyGrowfund.org to learn more!
Seattle, Washington (April 26, 2019) –
Supported by a lead grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 19 other funders, 82 participants from dozens of American giving circles and giving circle networks came together for a historic gathering in Seattle, Washington to connect with and learn from each other, and to build a vision for amplifying, strengthening and scaling giving circles across the United States.
Recent studies by the Collective Giving Research Group demonstrates that giving circles have exploded in popularity in America, and that they offer a way to meaningfully engage people in giving and in investing in their communities. A recent report from the Lilly School of Philanthropy found that giving circles tripled In number from 2007 to 2017, to 1,500, and have donated as much as $1.29 billion in that time.
“Giving circles are a major part of the future of American philanthropy,” said Marsha Morgan, chair of the Community Investment Network, one of the 5 networks co-leading the initiative. “Neighbors, friends, family, church and synagogue members – these are all ‘everyday givers.’ People are coming together, pooling their money, networks, and expertise, and investing in the change they want to make in the world. Giving circles are democratizing and diversifying philanthropy, and engaging tens of thousands of people in shaping their communities.”
The gathering marked a milestone within a year-long “co-design” process for the giving circle movement, shepherded by five Giving Circle Networks: Amplifier (a network of circles inspired by Jewish values), Asian Women Giving Circle, Catalist (formerly the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network), Community Investment Network (a network of African American circles), and the Latino Community Foundation (a network of Latinx circles). The co-design process is engaging dozens of giving circle leaders, networks, and stakeholders to collectively design ways to strengthen and expand the giving circle movement.
The process itself reflects the collaborative spirit of giving circles: dozens of diverse stakeholders from across the giving circle movement, from different communities and affinity groups, with different funding areas and approaches, are joining forces to design the common strategy and tactics needed to support the growth and sustainability of giving circles nationwide. Together, participants represented thousands of people already in giving circles who believe in the power of collective giving and are changing the face and the future of philanthropy.
“My favorite part of the gathering was hearing the stories of hope and impact that so many giving circle leaders shared about their communities,” said Paula Liang, Chair Elect of Catalist, a network of 68 women’s funding groups. “There is a rich history of generosity and collective action in all of our communities and throughout American history, and this project can help us move that work forward while opening it up to so many more people. Joining a giving circle makes your giving more informed, more influential, and more impactful.”
Giving Circle membership also leads to greater civic engagement. Dr. Anthony C. Hood, a member of the Birmingham Change Fund giving circle and Director of Civic Innovation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told the story of the current Mayor of the City of Birmingham, Alabama, Randall Woodfin who is the youngest mayor in the city in 100 years. Woodfin’s first step into civic involvement was as a member of the Birmingham Change Fund, which exposed him to the issues facing his community and the civic pathways to addressing them.
Masha Chernyak, VP of Programs at the Latino Community Foundation, shared the story of Martin Vargas Vega, a child of farm-workers parents in Watsonville, California, who joined the Latinos in Tech Giving Circle with his first tech job. Vargas Vega is launching another giving circle with Latino leaders in his hometown. “We are helping to reclaim philanthropy for the Latino immigrant community and grounding the work in love and justice,” said Chernyak.
Over the two-day convening, leaders shared ideas and resources for a field-wide infrastructure that will help inspire more grassroots philanthropy, strengthen communities, and increase American giving overall. The vision includes:
- Launching a major awareness campaign to make giving circles a household name within American communities
- Developing more resources and training programs to diversify and democratize philanthropy
- Creating an innovative incubator program to enable people to create and sustain new giving circles
- Supporting new technology to make it easier for circles to connect with one another and with grantees
- Hosting national and regional gatherings to bring the movement together.
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Participants Included: Giving Circle Networks:
- 100 Who Care Alliance
- Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy
- American Muslim Fund
- Amplifier
- Awesome Foundation
- Catalist
- Community Investment Network
- Dining for Women
- Giving Project Learning Community
- Hmong Impact Giving Circle
- Inspired Women Paying It Forward Network
- Jewish Teen Funders Network
- Latino Giving Circle Network / Latino Community Foundation
- Social Venture Partners International
- Women’s Giving Circles Internationa
Individual Giving Circles:
- The Arev Fund
- Asian American Impact Fund
- Asian Women Giving Circle
- Birmingham Change Fund
- Denver African American Philanthropists
- For Her: A Black Women Giving Movement for Black Girls
- Full Circle Fund
- Latino Giving Circle San Diego
- Latinos in Tech
- Natan
- Next Generation of African American Philanthropists
- Orchid Giving Circle
- Peninsula Latina Giving Circle
- The Philanthropy Connection
- RadFund
- The SAM Initiative
- Shared Nation
- Women’s Catalytic Fund
- Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County
- Young and Dangerous Giving Circle Fund / Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Supporting Institutions & Thought Leaders:
- Bank of America
- California Community Foundation
- Civic Spirit
- Collective Giving Research Group / Johnson Center for Philanthropy
- Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- #GivingTuesday
- Global Impact
- Jewish Community Federation
- Justice Funders
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Learning by Giving
- The Leighty Foundation
- LM Strategies Consulting
- The Lodestar Foundation
- The New York Women’s Foundation
- Oregon Jewish Community Foundation
- The Raikes Foundation
- Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
- Schwab Charitable
- Seattle Foundation
- SKR Advisors
- Washington Women’s Foundation
- Women’s Philanthropy Institute
20 Funders Co-Invested in this Process:Institutional Funders:
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Bank of America
- Global Impact
- W. K. Kellogg Foundation
- Lodestar Foundation
- Ms. Foundation
- Schwab Charitable
- Delores Barr Weaver
Giving Circles, Networks, and Members:
- Asian Women Giving Circle
- Dianne Chipps Bailey
- Kris Barnes
- Virginia Bayer
- Catalist
- Community Investment Network
- Latino Community Foundation
- Paula Liang
- Julia Taylor
- Natan
- Teresa Radzinski
- SAM Initiative
- Courtenay Wilson
Press Contact
Isis Krause, [email protected]
By Lindsay Bressman
Lindsay Bressman currently facilitates a Parents Giving Circle at Hannah Senesh Community Day School, co-facilitates a 7+ year old virtual giving circle with 30+ members in memory of a dear friend, and will be facilitating a Brooklyn-based Pop Up Giving Circle focused on supporting refugees and funded through UJA-Federation.
Reaching Across the Aisle: How Giving Circles Can Bridge People with Political, Economic, Ethnic, & Religious Differences
Situation: You have $50 to donate. As usual, you can give this money towards any cause that you deem most pressing, to any organization that you trust to address a societal issue in a way that mirrors your values, politics, and philosophy.
Now, imagine you are part of a team, and instead of $50, you have $5,000 to give away. The caveat? You are not the only person making decisions; the members of this so-called group must come to an agreement on where to distribute the shared financial gift.
This is the model of a modern-day giving circle. Giving circles represent an approach to philanthropy that has historic roots in mutual aid societies (e.g. Freemasons or Habitat for Humanity), but in recent years has grown in accessibility, popularity, and impact.
In Angela M. Eikenberry and Jessica Bearman’s meta-analysis of this movement, the authors found data to indicate that when people participate in giving circles, they give at higher amounts, they are more intentional about their giving, and they engage more deeply with their communities.
Essentially, in a giving circle, a group of individuals come together and contribute an amount of money to a pooled fund, leveraging small payments into a larger, more impactful gift. Over the course of one or multiple meetings, the circle engages in dialogue to identify shared morals, to debate the merits of varying approaches to societal issues, and to select–cooperatively–a recipient of the group’s larger donation.
Joelle Berman, the Executive Director of Amplifier, a giving circle network and resource provider, succinctly states the ultimate goal of this concept: “We all come with a unique set of values and passions that drive us to give and make change; a giving circle presents us with the opportunity to find the overlap–what unites us, and what will fortify us, as we give and act together.”
Even when groups are fairly homogenous or reared in comparable settings, finding the overlap can be challenging. Each individual is driven by complex, often haphazard, internal principles with a distinct perspective on society, problem-solving, and how philanthropy fits into this equation.
What happens when a giving circle is comprised of people stemming from different ethnicities, races, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and political allegiances? Could they as a group effectively select a single recipient?
We are living in a time when there is very little room for civil disagreement—among family members, on university campuses, and in Congress. Rare is the conversation in which conflicting opinions are shared with an open mind and heart, a willingness to listen and empathically understand a diametrically opposed viewpoint. How can giving circles create a safe and productive forum for a diverse group of people to work together and align their donation goals? Here is simple advice for anyone looking to try.
- Focus on Shared Values
A cornerstone of any giving circle is the shift in conversation from “you should be giving to X organization” to “WHY do you give?” This concentration point unfailingly prompts giving circle members to share their personal and cherished stories and to identify the values that motivate their desire to give. Despite differences in tenets, this exercise illuminates the humanity and vulnerability of others and can expedite the ability to connect.
As an example, The Giving Project is an initiative, in association with Headwaters Foundation for Justice and Resource Generation, that recruits diverse cohorts from a range of races and economic backgrounds to engage in grant giving. Madeline Shaw, a cohort member, remarked on the profound nature of this experience: “I had never had a chance to dialogue so explicitly about money and giving in a cross-class space — it was a huge gift.” Read More About the Initiative Here
- Emphasize a Neutral Third Party
As stated, the goal of a giving circle is to ultimately select a recipient based on a majority or unanimous vote among the group. The power lies in challenging the members to be accountable for bending their comfort zone, conversing respectfully, and uncovering what seems initially to be an impossible-to-reach consensus. The ability to rise above conflicting attitudes and instincts and to find enough common ground to choose an organization to support can be incredibly life-affirming.
Community lay leader Shari L. Edelstein started the Colorado-based Olive Branch Giving Circle to bring together an interfaith giving circle focused on the Israel/Palestine conflict. Her intention was to see if individuals with contradictory perspectives could meet in the middle, and she was right. The giving circle members “discovered that it is possible to move forward with positive, concrete action to support pro-solution strategies and organizations even if there [a]re areas of disagreement.” Read More Here
- Ask for Help
At the heart of a successful diverse giving circle is adept facilitation. Fortunately, we are in a golden era of giving circles and are surrounded by an abundance of organizations dedicated to providing accessible tools to manage conflict resolution and foster effective dialogue and decision-making.
- Giving circle connectors, such as the aforementioned Amplifier and the Latino Giving Circle Network, convene groups and consolidate lessons learned to create best practices and “plug and play” exercises customizable for a range of giving circle structures.
- Organizations such as Essential Partners offer training for giving circle facilitators to gain key skills in helping groups navigate challenging conversations, such as setting clear ground rules and cultivating a sense of cohesion early on.
- Excitingly, emerging digital infrastructures such as Growfund’s new platform are serving to support giving circles in designing fresh approaches to the giving circle concept by easing the fiscal logistics in the form of a donor-advised fund and enabling collaboration among individuals and groups that may not have otherwise seen an opportunity to connect.
New Site Seeks to Make It Easier for Giving Circles to Blossom
By Heather Joslyn
Over the 10 years since Tracey Webb founded Black Benefactors, a Washington-area giving circle for African-American donors, she has had many conversations with people who want to get serious about their giving.
Sometimes, if they have heard of donor-advised funds, they investigate that option.
“The first thing they tell me is, the initial donation to open a fund is a barrier to them,” Webb says.
But perhaps no longer. On Monday, Global Impact, a nonprofit that raises money largely for international charities and awarded about $80 million in its 2017 fiscal year, launched a new online site, Growfund for Giving Circles, which it has been testing for about a year with a few select groups…
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Custom version of Growfund charitable giving platform leads the shift in philanthropy by offering an easy-to-use and affordable Donor Advised Fund with community sharing features
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 5, 2018 – Global Impact, a world leader in growing global philanthropy, launched a version of its Growfund charitable giving platform designed for Giving Circles of any size. Growfund for Giving Circles is the first Donor Advised Fund (DAF) with no minimum, offering a more affordable and flexible way for Giving Circles to pool their money together, invest and distribute funds for social causes.
According to the Collective Giving Research Group, more than a thousand Giving Circles and 525 chapters exist in the United States, granting $27.7 million in 2016 and as much as $1.29 billion since inception. Formalized Giving Circles most often leverage a DAF; however, typical DAFs require a minimum initial contribution between $5,000 to $25,000 and high maintenance fees, which can restrict a Circle’s ability to grow its membership and amounts to grant. With Growfund for Giving Circles, not only is there no minimum, but contributions can be invested with the first $1.
“Our vision for Growfund has been to democratize philanthropy by giving Americans at any income level the opportunity to invest and grow their charitable contributions. These Giving Circles represent democratized giving, so it’s important we help them flourish,” said Scott Jackson, president and CEO of Global Impact. “We anticipate the number of circles and granting amounts will grow with better resources.”
Growfund for Giving Circles automates the administrative functions of processing contributions and grants, which reduces the costs to as low as 1% of collected funds. Investment options in the platform allow these funds to grow, so more money can reach recipients. Circle administrators can set parameters for membership and now have one location to track who joins and how much members give, and to communicate with members for grantmaking and other collective activities. The Growfund team will provide support and guidance, while a suite of communications capabilities will aim to unite the Giving Circle community and educate new donors about strategic giving and philanthropy.
Black Benefactors is a Giving Circle currently using Growfund to support its mission to enhance the well-being of black children, youth and families by encouraging philanthropy, community service and advocacy in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Tracey Webb, the organization’s founder, said, “Growfund values the myriad benefits of Giving Circles and collective giving. As such, it was the perfect choice for Black Benefactors as we began our 10th year of operation. The platform provides the essentials we need to run our Giving Circle effectively—a user friendly interface, custom donation page, real time notification of online gifts, monthly reports and great customer service. I’m pleased with our partnership and look forward to the growth of this new game-changing tool for collective giving.”
Brandolon Barnett, senior director at Global Impact and Growfund’s director, said, “We leveraged Global Impact’s expertise with philanthropy, finance and technology to design this version of Growfund that eliminates many of the barriers faced by groups that want to give collectively but currently can’t. By making it easier to start, join, or manage a Giving Circle through Growfund, we aim to advance the collective giving movement and unlock more donations by individuals of all backgrounds and means, so they can benefit from the tools of traditional philanthropy and give more strategically to make the change they want to see in the world.”
About Global Impact
Global Impact is a leader in growing global philanthropy. The organization builds partnerships and raises resources that help the world’s most vulnerable people by providing integrated, partner-specific advisory and backbone services; workplace fundraising and representation; campaign design, marketing and implementation for workplace and signature fundraising campaigns; and fiscal agency and technology services. Global Impact works with more than 300 public and private sector workplace giving campaigns to generate funding for an alliance of more than 100 international charities. Through strategic council and implementation support, Global Impact equips private sector and nonprofit organizations to achieve their philanthropic goals. The organization also served as administrator for four of the world’s largest workplace giving campaigns, including the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA) and the Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas (CFC-O). Since 1956, Global Impact has generated more than $1.8 billion to help the world’s most vulnerable people.
Learn more at charity.org. Follow Global Impact on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook.
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Contact:
Micaela Vivero
Global Impact
703-717-5265
[email protected]
“I’ve been giving to various charities…As asks come in from friends and family, I can turn to my Growfund and give from that.” -Amber M. #WhyIGrowfund
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“I made donations in their honor…to impact causes that matter to my family and friends as well.” -Lauren J. #WhyIGrowfund
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2017 has been a brutal disaster year, but we’re heartened by how Growfunders are able to give back to the communities who need aid the most. Recently, we heard from a company that has been using Growfund to run its workplace giving campaigns. They created a Giving Opportunity on Growfund to raise money for hurricane relief, and employees across its multiple sites in the region were able to contribute to the fund. The company matched, and as a result, the employees were able to raise thousands of dollars in just a fews days to help. Before Growfund, such a company-wide effort would not have been possible!
When disasters strike across the world, Growfund immediately equips change-makers to help rebuild people’s lives through Featured Giving Opportunities (FGO) like these disaster-specific ones, which have been collecting funds to support the victims devastated by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and the earthquake in Mexico.
While FGOs can be set up for any cause, these FGOs streamline donations to charities like the American Red Cross, Americares and Save the Children, who are on the ground working with communities on disaster relief and recovery efforts. Together, donations directed to these FGOs provide assistance such as shelter, homemade meals, emergency supplies, and, in the case of Houston, mobile medical units. Growfund’s Featured Giving Opportunities take the guesswork out of finding the right charity to get the job done.
If you haven’t already, check out the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, Hurricane Irma Relief Fund, Hurricane Maria Relief Fund, and the Mexico Earthquake Relief Fund to support the impacted communities.
“My son picked the name of our Growfund; he called it The Better World Fund because that’s what we’re hoping to make through our giving.” -Vicki E. #WhyIGrowfund
