 HoCoRespond funders denounce heinous attack on nation’s democracy The Community Foundation of Howard County, the Horizon Foundation, the United Way of Central Maryland and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County jointly condemn the acts of violence perpetrated on our United States Capitol and our elected leaders on January 6 in a deliberate attempt to disrupt the certification of a fair and democratic election. This attack on the peaceful transition of democratic power – which is so core to our principles as a nation – is an affront to us all. We join other foundations across the county in condemning this egregious act of domestic terrorism rooted in racism, intolerance and bigotry. We affirm the salience of our work centered in racial equity, which drives us to create a better future in which we all thrive and a future in which injustices in health, housing, criminal justice and social services are overcome. Furthermore, as philanthropic leaders and as stewards of humanity, we commit to continuing to work together to make 2021 a year that not only combats COVID, but one that affirms democracy. Franklyn Baker, President and CEO, United Way of Central Maryland Nikki Highsmith Vernick, President and CEO, Horizon Foundation Barb Van Winkle, Advisory Board Chair, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County Beverly White Seals, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Howard County ##
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 The WGC is a fund that gives grants … it’s what we do!
We've been part of the Howard County community for 19 years, have raised over $1 million to support our efforts, and have given over 100 grants to nonprofits that support women and girls in our community. Since we formed in 2002, the WGC has granted over $625,000 to our nonprofit partners in Howard County. 2020 Grants Snapshot: In 2020, the WGC gave a total of $124,071 to our nonprofit partners in Howard County. We gave $29,550 as part of our planned grants to programs that benefit women and girls, $37,921 that was matched with $6,600 through our Emergency Response Network, and $50,000 through our HoCoRespond partnership. In March 2020 the Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and Women's Giving Circle of Howard County announced new emergency funds and actions to support community members affected by COVID-19, and established HoCoRespond.com to support Howard County nonprofits on the frontline of support, focusing on assisting with food security, housing, childcare and healthcare. To date we have collectively given 46 grants to 34 organizations for a total of $608,500 in HoCoRespond COVID-19 Emergency Funds to Howard County nonprofits since March. Our 2021 grantmaking cycle is currently underway - stay tuned for additional information. The WGC’s grant focus is on programs that increase the life skills of women and girls, encourage the healthy development and personal authority of young girls and raise the awareness of gender disparities in our community. In 2021 we will continue with our extended grantmaking scope to support our community through the escalating COVID-19 pandemic. The WGC is an endowed fund at the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Learn more at www.womensgivingcircle.org  ninety-nine girlfriends, Collective Giving for Impact: Portland and SW Washington By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director
For Philanos, a national network that serves to catalyze the movement of women in philanthropy by connecting women’s collective giving grantmaking organizations. Giving circles and collective giving groups are working to address power in philanthropy. Why? Because there are times that funders inadvertently hinder nonprofits doing the work they know best. According to the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (the Project), this can slow down progress, perpetuate inefficiency, and obstruct nonprofit growth and innovation. Trust-Based Philanthropy reimagines that dynamic. Infused by core values of power-sharing, equity, humility, transparency, curiosity, and collaboration, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project believes philanthropic efforts will be more successful and rewarding if funders approach each grantee relationship as an ongoing partnership rather than a one-time transaction. The Project outlines a trust-based approach that relies on six interrelated principles which, when practiced together, can help alleviate power imbalances:
If you were able to join the Philanos monthly webinar series on October 13 on Women's Giving Circles & Trust-Based Philanthropy, you heard an introduction to trust-based philanthropy for giving circles - what it is and how it can be reflected in collective giving. The webinar presented its principles and practices, the reasons for its emergence, and the impact it has had on the social sector. We heard from two perspectives: Colby Swettberg, Chief Executive Office of the Silver Lining Institute in Boston spoke from the nonprofit perspective; and Philip Li, President and CEO of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation in New York City, spoke from the funder perspective. In addition to sharing their experiences, they helped us understand how we might apply trust-based philanthropy principles to the collective giving model – how we educate our members, how we evaluate applications and organizations, and how we remain open to supporting organizations we may not know very well. Philanos Affiliate Member Impact 100 Seattle is committed to incorporating trust-based philanthropy principles and practices throughout their grantmaking philosophy. In fact, they proudly and publicly state their grantmaking philosophy as believing in trust-based philanthropy to drive enduring improvements in the Puget Sound Region. As a somewhat new organization, they are working hard to address some of the unhealthy power dynamics in traditional philanthropy. Here are their grantmaking principles:
“We are offering support beyond the check ... we want to be an organization that grants with curiosity” said Jennifer Larsen, Impact Seattle 100 Vice President. “We worked hard to remain in a learning posture throughout the process and sustained an equitable process throughout.” The principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy have been important for funders across the country in general, and in particular the last ten months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Philanos Affiliate Member ninety-nine girlfriends has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting their work to be responsive to the situation at hand in their community. As they state publicly on their website, “ninety-nine girlfriends plays a unique role in our region in connecting women in collective action and supporting nonprofits. All of us must pivot as the pandemic moves through our community ... ninety-nine girlfriends will play our role in ‘flattening the curve’ to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and the severity of its impact on our community.” Ninety-nine girlfriends has been vocal about leveraging best practices by philanthropic leaders across the country and highlighting Trust-Based Philanthropy principles to their philanthropic response to COVID-19. In fact, they have highlighted recommendations from the Council on Foundations and the Whitman Institute. The Council on Foundations created a Call to Action to guide philanthropy’s commitment during COVID-19, where over 600 organizations have signed. Among the recommendations are to:
COF’s recommendations are based on the work of the Whitman Institute, advocating for Trust-Based Philanthropy. There is much we will learn about the Trust-Based philanthropic response to COVID-19 in the months and years to come. Giving circles and collective giving groups across the country are increasingly listening, learning, and responding by incorporating Trust-Based Philanthropy principles and practices throughout their grantmaking philosophy and seeking to help alleviate power imbalances. And, Philanos is committed to being an ongoing resource and partner to our Affiliate Members across the country on the principles and practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy. _____________________________________________________________________________ Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is a member of the Philanos Communications Committee and is the Executive Director of Philanos Affiliate Member, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland. Buffy can be reached at buffybschwartz@wgchowardcounty.org. Erika Strauss Chavarria, Founder of Columbia Community Care, Recognized as a WGC Featured (S)hero1/5/2021
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"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving." - Barb Van Winkle, Chair
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