WGC Advisory Board Member Mary Thompson was honored to announce the WGC-Sponsored Business Women's Network of Howard County Lifelong Learner Scholarship to Melanie Ventura this week! 

The BWN has given over $80,000 to date in Lifelong Learner Scholarship awards since 2000 to local women to pursue degrees, technical certifications, and training programs to advance their careers and impact our community.

Each BWN Scholarship recipient has demonstrated leadership and commitment in her community and has a unique story to tell.

​We believe in supporting women's empowerment and we are proud of our partnership with BWN!

Vectorworks has once again supported the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County's Feminine Hygiene Product Drive.

In recognition of National menstrual hygiene day on May 28, 2023 Vectorworks conducted a month long feminine products drive. Physical products and $380 in monetary donations were collected and the company generously matched the $380. "A woman's menstrual cycle is a part of her regular hygiene and often, menstrual products are forgotten during donations" said Tabitha Harvey, Vectorworks Senior Director. "Knowing how essential it is for women to have access to feminine products and the rising costs of the products I was moved to support the feminine products drive organized at work in honor of world menstrual hygiene day ... It's great to have an organization in the community that can fill the gap and provide these essential products to women in need."

​Learn more and donate here!

“PowerUP! Baltimore: The Spark Igniting Collaboration” is Philanos’ National Conference to be held November 5-7, 2023 for visionaries who believe in the power of women’s collective giving to create impact in local communities. 

Conference Overview
​

• As the largest network of women’s collective giving groups, Philanos represents over 90 giving circles whose 20,000+ members have cumulatively granted $207 million in their local communities. 
• Regional giving circles and networks of philanthropic organizations have joined forces with Philanos to collaboratively host this conference at the Four Seasons in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
• Attendees will be a national audience of more than 400 giving circle leaders and members, philanthropic advisors, and practitioners of trust-based and intentional philanthropy.
• Our speakers and 20 breakout sessions in four specific topic tracks under the theme of “collaboration” will address the power of collaborative grantmaking, best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving, and trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

Conference Registration 
​

• $595: Early Bird Pricing, for Philanos Affiliates, members of MD Philanthropy Network, and members of DMV Collective Giving Network 
• $750: Non-Early Bird, for Philanos Affiliates, members of MD Philanthropy Network, and members of DMV Collective Giving Network 
• $850: Non-Member

Please Join Us! REGISTER HERE - Early Bird Pricing Ends June 30!

Conference Hosts:

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD is honored to co-host with:

• Anne Arundel Women Giving Together  
• Baltimore Women's Giving Circle 
• DMV Collective Giving Network
• Giving Together, Inc.
• Many Hands (DC) 
• Maryland Philanthropy Network 
• Women's Giving Circle of Harford County 

"We are PoweringUP! to welcome you to Baltimore November 5-7, 2023. What will Spark your interest at the conference - a talk, an idea, a conversation over dinner? The opportunities to network and learn from circle members will be plentiful. So join us in November to meet with, learn from and ignite friendships with women from across the country!" Ann Daniels, Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Calling all Volunteers!

Are you interested in volunteering at the conference? Learn about the fun, non-taxing and meaningful ways you can spend time supporting the conference and meeting others here. See you in Baltimore!

Philanos Conference Chairs
​

• Susan Benford, Philanos Chair
• Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Co-Chair Elect
• Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Philanos Communications Co-Chair

​​
[email protected]

The WGC's Big Give 2023 concluded on June 6 with 35 women pooling their dollars to have a greater impact together than they might otherwise have alone - the power of a giving circle! 

The Big Give is designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community in a fun, fast-paced, "pop-up" giving circle learning and giving experience.

"The WGC's Big Give is an exciting opportunity for women to roll-up their sleeves and get involved in the work of the WGC!" said WGC Chair Jennifer Bodensiek.

Big Give 2023 members met in May and June, learned and shared together, and collectively made the decision to grant $20,000 to three nonprofit partners: Bridges to Housing Stability, Columbia Community Care, and Girls on the Run:

• Bridges to Housing Stability received $10,000 to support their strategy to to recruit and train two women with lived experiences of homelessness to their Board of Directors and committees, where they can provide invaluable insight into solutions that yield improved outcomes for their clients.
• Columbia Community Care received $6,000 to support their ongoing series for "All Who Mother" that incorporates networking, learning, sharing, health, and wellness for women who "mother" others.
• Girls on the Run received $4,000 to support their efforts to provide sneakers and other running equipment to girls and their running buddies from Title 1 schools for their learning and enrichment program that incorporates running.

​"Not only are we providing support to our nonprofit partners through the Big Give" said Melissa Curtin, WGC Membership & Development Committee Chair, "but we are continuing to bring women to the philanthropic table, and providing critical connections to the community that go far beyond the Women's Giving Circle."

The Big Give 2024 was held at The 3rd, a community space in Columbia for women of color entrepreneurs, and one of the Women's Giving Circle's partners. 

"The WGC walks the talk!" said The 3rd Founder and CEO Laura Bacon."WGC leaders are committed to not only supporting partners with funding - but also with access, information, ideas, networking, promotion, and other opportunities for doors to open, with long-term sustainability in mind." 

The Big Give 2024 is Open! 

We are now inviting women to join the Big Give 2024, that will take place in the Spring of 2024. Learn how it works and join here.

"The WGC's Big Give unleashes the power of collective giving to invest in nonprofits that improve the lives of women and girls right here in Howard County" said Dee Athey, Director of Grants and Community Engagement at the Community Foundation of Howard County. The Big Give is another reminder that local giving means better living for all of us."

Why join the WGC's Big Give?

"I loved meeting other women who wanted to pool our money so we can have a bigger impact together on programs that benefit women and girls in our community" said Kashonna Marrow. "The energy, excitement, and empowerment in the room was palpable!"
​
Our 2024 goal is to have 50 women/team donors participating so we can collectively give $50,000 to nonprofit partners in our community - join us!

​"We firmly believe that women’s philanthropy is shaping the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving​" said Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director. "WGC's The Big Give is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future."

WGC Immediate Past Chair Barb Van Winkle and Grants Committee Co-Chair Alison Canning enjoyed visiting our partners at JA of Central Maryland, and meeting leaders from our long-time funded JA Rising Women Program. JA Rising Women is a 13-week after school program focused on training young women to be the next generation of successful entrepreneurs. In 2014, the WGC funded its first multi-year grant in partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, providing $60,000 over three years to create a unique, hands-on opportunity for local high school students to learn all about business. These cohorts, ranging in size from 12 to 30 young women, work together to develop a product or service then guide it through the countless steps from idea to market. Participants collaborate to select their CEO, who then conducts interviews and selects her leadership team. Together, they identify and create key positions for their peers, and this is only the beginning. Learn more here