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Below are the descriptions of the Giving Circles
who have a member participating on the GCN Giving Circles Advisory Board:
Geographic Representation
(Below Panel Descriptions;
See also: Panel Data)
*Nationwide/Global (Geographically Dispersed
Membership Giving Internationally):
Global Sojourns Giving
Circle
1. Funding Arts
Network (FAN) (Miami-Dade, FL)
FAN is a non-profit organization dedicated
to supporting and enhancing the diverse visual and performing arts programs
in Miami-Dade County through a competitive grant process for arts providers
funded entirely by membership contributions. FAN is managed and run by
volunteer members, allowing it to allocate 100% of its membership
contributions to the grant pool. A newly instituted corporate membership
includes an additional portion directed toward administrative expenses. FAN
provides capacity-building workshops for grant applicants and seeks to
foster arts involvement and appreciation among its members through quarterly
panel presentations on issues affecting the arts, member participation in
the grant screening process and group attendance at funded programs. The
concept for FAN evolved in the early 1990s over the concern that government
funding for cultural programs was shrinking and corporate support,
especially in South Florida, provided only a small fraction of the funds
needed to sustain a healthy cultural environment in Miami-Dade County. In
the 11 years of its existence FAN awarded grants totaling $2,018,100 awarded
to 75 organizations ($200K in 2005; $195K in 2006, and $220K in 2007. Source: FAN Website Revised
1/29/08
2.
Washington Womenade (Washington, DC)
Washington Womenade was formed in 2001 by
six women friends who wanted to find an easy way to raise money
 for
Washington D.C.'s poor and homeless. They began throwing large potluck
supper parties for all of their friends, asking each guest to bring a dish,
and a check for $35. They have since held two or three parties each year,
raising anywhere from $3000 to $12,000 per event. Many guests write large
checks when they donate - and many friends who cannot make it to the party
send their contributions in. One of the co-founders is a physician who
treats D.C.'s poor and homeless population, and she is the primary conduit
of money from their donors to those who need it. Washington Womenade writes
checks for rent, utilities, groceries, prescriptions, dentures, Meals on
Wheels, field trips for children - and many other needs. All checks are
written to the agency or institution requiring the funds - not to the
individuals. So the checks go directly to landlords, the gas company, the
pharmacy, and so on. Their group has been written up in several
publications, including Real Simple Magazine and the Washington Post, and
several stories were picked up by local papers across the country. In this
way the idea has traveled, and there are currently over 28 local Womenades
across America, as well as one in Canada, and one in Switzerland. The name "Womenade"
is used by these other groups, because they all hold potlucks, just for
women, and raise money for local causes and charities. Washington Womenade
is the original - or Mother of All Womenades! But each local Womenade is now
independently serving its own community, and is organized and celebrated, by
women in their own state. Source: Panel Member
3.
Women for Wise Giving of Alexandria (WWGA) (Alexandria, VA)
The mission of Women for Wise Giving is to
provide a monetary catalyst to help emerging non-profits overcome hurdles on
the way to becoming successful established organizations serving the needs
of their Alexandria community. Because they recognize that it is often
easier for established non-profits with long track records to receive
funding, they focused their giving circle on investing in emerging
non-profits with new ideas and energy. Toward this end they will
strategically invest their pooled contributions annually to provide a
catalyst to an organization that is newly emerging with a mission to improve
the quality of life for Alexandrians. Source: WWGA Website
4. Women Making A
Difference (Charleston, SC)
The mission of WMD is to build a community
of women philanthropists, maintain a permanent endowment fund, and provide
grants to institutions and initiatives that advance the well-being of women
and children in Charleston County. The idea behind WMD is that if women come
together and pool financial resources, volunteer time and ideas, they can
make a more significant impact and truly "make a difference". WMD is a
membership organization with grant funds raised through annual membership
dues. Giving levels are: Ruby $250 - $499; Sapphire $500 - $999; Emerald
$1,000 - $2,499; Diamond $2,500. 85% of funds go directly to grants; 10% of
funds go into the WMD endowment fund to ensure future giving; 1% is paid to
the Community Foundation to manage the WMD Grantmaking and Endowment Funds
and to aid WMD in Grantmaking – a very small fee for all of the services
they provide. Four (4%) of funds are reserved for operational expenses such
as mailings and event costs that can not be donated. Source: WMD Website
5.
The Global Fund for Women's
Empowerment (Traverse City, MI)
As an inter-generational, globally directed
giving circle, their mission is to empower women and their children living
in extreme poverty with the skills and means to foster good health,
education, and economic self-sufficiency. Established in 2008 (with 30
members), they are currently applying for non-profit status and seeking to
fund grants in the $25-50K range. Source: The Global Fund for
Women's Empowerment Mission & Vision Documents.
6. Giving Circle of HOPE
(Reston, VA)
After 16 years of working on various school
and charity events, four Reston-area women decided, "Let's do something
permanent." The Giving Circle of HOPE was founded in January 2004. Called "a
new type of philanthropy group" and "a social investment club," the Giving
Circle of HOPE seeks to make a difference in the community with monetary
grants and gifts of time. Their membership is as diverse as their community
and includes women (and a few men) of various ages, backgrounds, and
professional experience. They currently have over 100 members. Members who
contribute a dollar a day ($365 annually) may serve on the Grant Sub-Circle
to research and evaluate grant applicant organizations. As Voting Members
they determine how the Giving Circle will "invest" their funds. Both Voting
and Service Members may participate in the Circle's ongoing and monthly
service projects and social events. In just three years, the Giving Circle
of HOPE has awarded over $145,000 in grants, performed over 3000 hours of
volunteer service, and been honored with numerous community service awards.
The leadership is very active in promoting giving circles in other areas.
The Giving Circle of HOPE is a component fund of the Northern Virginia
Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization (Tax ID #51-0232459). All
contributions are tax-deductible. Source: GCH Website
7.
Impact Austin (Austin, TX)
"Ordinary women...extraordinary impact"
Impact Austin is a community of women that
seeks to transform lives in the Austin area through high-impact and lifelong
giving. Each member contributes $1000 annually; all member donations are
pooled and the entire amount is extended in the form of $100K+ grants. These
significant grants fund high-impact projects, enabling extraordinary things
to be accomplished in the Austin area. Impact Austin is willing to extend
grants in five focus areas: Culture, Education, Environment, Family and
Health & Wellness. Members may sit on application review committees to help
select the finalists in each category. Once the finalists are selected, each
member votes on her choice to receive that year's grants. The number of
grants extended annually is determined by the number of members that year.
Impact Austin also believes in teaching the next generation
of women the art and importance of giving. In 2005, Girls Giving Grants was
established. By combining individual donations of $100, young women (ages 12
to 18) learn the power of collective giving and the mechanics of the grant
review process. Impact Austin creates a tradition of giving by encouraging a
lifetime commitment by its members to active philanthropy, and by passing
this tradition on to the next generation. Impact Austin is a non-profit
organization exempt from federal taxes under the Internal Revenue Service
Code 501(c)(3). Source: Impact Austin Website and Rebecca Powers.
8. San Diego
Women's Foundation (SDWF) (San Diego, CA)
 Nationwide, women are increasingly
influential in family decisions about charitable giving. Recognizing this
trend, a group of women established The San Diego Women's Foundation in 1999
in order to increase the participation and leadership of women in
philanthropy. As of January 2008, the SDWF is comprised of 261 members
strong and growing, and has granted $1.3 Million into the San Diego
community and built an Endowment Fund of $1.8 Million. The San Diego Women's
Foundation educates and inspires women to engage in significant and
sustainable philanthropy to strengthen the San Diego region. Each year they
focus on one of six interest areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Civil
Society, Employment/Economic Development, Environment, or Health and Human
Services. The San Diego Women's Foundation (SDWF) is in its eighth year of
grant making. Source: SDWF Website
9. Global
Sojourns Giving Circle (GSGC) (Arlington, VA)
The Global Sojourns' Giving Circles is a
community of individuals who pool their time, talent and financial resources
to support sustainable grassroots projects in sub-Saharan Africa, develop
close and direct connection with those projects and increase their knowledge
of the issues, places an d international philanthropy. As one of few
internationally-focused Giving Circles with members dispersed throughout the
U.S. (and hosted by The Clarence Foundation), it raised more than $20K in
its first year of giving, including $15,671 in funds and $5,000 in donated
services in support of children and wildlife conservation (its two main
causes). Having vetted 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa
during that timeframe, GSGC selected two NGOs to fund in Livingstone,
Zambia: Ray of Hope and Tusa Munyandi. Through this giving, GSGC supported
families who began or expanded small businesses through micro-loans and
helped girls attend school. Source: GSGC Annual Report
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