September 2007

The Business Monthly

By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz

Across the country, groups of friends who are getting together and giving together are changing the landscape of philanthropy. A national report by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Forum) finds nearly 12,000 people are members of giving circles - charitable groups where members pool their donations and decide collectively how to use them to benefit causes they care about.

There are now at least 400 giving circles nationwide - more than twice the number of two years ago. In 2006 alone, giving circles surveyed donated $13 million for community needs. And the circles are becoming more diverse. Once considered a women's philanthropy phenomenon, nearly half now have male members. The popularity of giving circles is also growing among people of color and in the gay and lesbian community.

"Giving circles appeal to a wide variety of people because they help you get more from your giving - more impact and also more say in how your money is spent," said Daria Teutonico, director of New Ventures in Philanthropy at the Forum. "Giving circles are encouraging the growth of a new generation of engaged donors," said Teutonico.

We see this national trend playing out in Maryland.

Anne Arundel Philanthropists

As one of the newest giving circles, Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) has experienced extraordinary growth in its first year, growing from 12 founding members to 95 members. "Women are looking for meaningful ways to be involved in their communities. AAWGT gives them that opportunity by providing ways to learn about how women's collective assistance and expertise can become a powerful vehicle for positive social change," said Gloria Pressman, AAWGT co-chair.

This thriving philanthropic tool definitely has staying power. Nearly a third of circles surveyed in the report have been through more than five rounds of grantmaking.

Howard County Giving Circle

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC) recently celebrated its fifth year with an event attended by more than 150 women. A fund at The Columbia Foundation, the WGC has experienced enormous success, working to fulfill its mission of building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.

In its first five years, the Circle saw 500 donors, with $528,224 pledged to address the issues facing women and girls in Howard County and $94,000 of grant money distributed to support the mission of the organization. Thirty-two women received financial aid from the WGC Scholarship Fund at Howard Community College and, notably, more than 40 people were the direct beneficiaries of more than $11,000 from donors who responded to calls for help from The Response Network, an e-mail process by which potential donors are notified of emergency situations where immediate contributions are needed to assist individuals and families in need.

This summer, nearly 50 girls participated in the second year of "Journey: A Residential Camp for Middle School Girls," a pilot program developed by WGC to assist the healthy development of young women. "The theme of womanhood and what it means to be a woman was prevalent throughout the week in every aspect of the program," said Dorothy Harris, chair of the WGC's advisory board. "Issues of feminism, women's history, equity, gender differences and female consciousness were interwoven as the girls were challenged to think about the preconceived expectations that society has set forth for them and how to break those expectations to become their own individual person," she added.

In July, the WGC hosted a "Salute to Women in the Arts: a Celebration of Women Arts Organizers and Artists" featuring a reading by Lucille Clifton as part of Columbia's 40th birthday celebration, and sponsored "Equality at Stake: The Economic Status of Women in Howard County" to highlight the report recently released by the Howard County Commission for Women. And in August, a number of women formed the WGC's "Circle Team" for the second year, to compete in the Iron Girl Triathlon and raise funds for the WGC.

Like-Minded People

Giving circles like the WGC are so popular because they offer like-minded people a chance to network, socialize, learn and make a difference together.  Giving circles can be found in Baltimore City, Frederick County, Washington County, Easton, Anne Arundel County, and in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. These circles have brought together thousands of donors who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support programs that benefit numerous causes, including women and girls, education and social entrepreneurs.

The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (ABAG) hosted the first regional workshop for established giving circles on June 26. Fifty participants representing 17 giving circles in the region participated.

To learn more about this workshop and giving circles in our region, visit www.abagmd.org/givingcircles.  To learn more about the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, visit www.womensgivingcircle.org. Those interested in starting a giving circle can visit the Forum's Giving Circle Knowledge Center at www.givingforum.org/givingcircles for all the "how-tos."

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is communications director at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, the region's premier resource on philanthropy, dedicated to informing grantmakers and improving our community. She can be reached at bbschwartz@abagmd.org or visit www.abagmd.org.