GCN Summary 

Why We are Here:   Giving Circles -- a form of shared giving and social investment networking -- represent a growing trend in philanthropy as community organizations established by individuals are seeking to have greater involvement in their giving.  Also, there are broader issues and trends in philanthropy as a whole that are making "Giving Circles" as a mode for individual giving more attractive and fulfilling.  Our mission is to assist Giving Circles and other individual donors in making their contributions more meaningful by helping them to better network among themselves, leverage their resources, and enhance the impact of their giving.

Growing Trend in Giving Circles:  Currently, there are an estimated 800 Giving Circles nationwide¹.  As of 2006, there were 400 catalogued Giving Circles in 44 states and the District of Columbia.  Approximately 40% (160) of them surveyed have alone raised $88 million since their inception (most since the year 2000) and granted almost $65 million to fund community needs.² Giving Circles are ethnically diverse, with a majority female (in members) but are increasingly co-ed or all male (47%)², and comprised of all formality levels and sizes, from a hand full of neighbors hosting "parties with a purpose" to some as large as 400 members -- supporting largely local U.S. communities but also increasingly international communities. With the fast growth of these local community groups and other like-minded individuals seeking to join or grow their own circle, there is understandably a growing need for information and networking. Further, there is a desire to leverage each other's capability and ultimately to enhance the impact on the causes they promote and better meet the needs of the individuals and organizations that they are serving. The Giving Circles Network seeks to meet the needs of the donor Giving Circles so that they in turn can ultimately have as meaningful of an impact as they and their recipient partners seek to achieve.

Find & Network with Circles

Start or Join a Giving Circle

Learn More:

•  About Us, the Giving Circles Advisory Panel and the GCN Board of Directors

• About Giving Circles

• Giving Circles in the News

• Giving Circle Central

• GCN Knowledge Base