 Women's Giving Circle of Howard County's Big Give 2025 Letter of Intent for Funding - Submit by April 18, 2025
- Are you a nonprofit serving Howard County that focuses on women and girls? - Or one that has a program that supports women and girls? - Apply for the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in potential funding from members of the WGC's Big Give 2025! Learn more and download the WGC Big Give 2025 Letter of Intent here Questions? Contact Dee Athey: [email protected]
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 Happy Women's History Month and International Women's Day!
The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to amplify the voices and stories of women givers in our community through our regular series "Our Giving, Our Stories". Inspiring philanthropic leadership and increasing giving by amplifying the voices of women and girls are among the goals of this effort and we are committed to advancing this important work in our community. This month we are profiling Judy L. Smith in Honor of Women's History Month. Read Judy's full profile here When did you start giving to issues that are important to you? "For as long as I can remember, I have been giving to issues that are important to me. As a child, I remember my parents providing opportunities for us to support our neighbors, community and local schools. This behavior became a habit and carried on into my adulthood. It was reinforced by the companies that I worked for through corporate outreach." Judy supports the following: "Other than the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, I support the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, Howard County Library System, and Howard Community College." Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" and nominate a woman today! We are always accepting the names of women throughout the year who may be profiled for their inspiring philanthropic leadership.  Happy Women's History Month! We had a fabulous night on March 4 at WGC's 2025 Annual Celebration & Pink Party! It was wonderful to have so many of us together last night at Howard Community College to discuss how philanthropy can, and is, supporting women's health. View photos from the event below and review the event slide deck here. WGC Events Committee Chair Jade McClary welcomed everyone and mentioned that Time Magazine reported that dozens of congresswomen were planning to wear pink last night to the Joint Address to Congress to signal protest against policies that are negatively impacting women and families. As Jade said, "while pink is our branded color, and beautiful, it is also a color of power and protest, and one that the WGC will continue to embrace." We honored former WGC Advisory Board Member Judy Smith for Women's History Month, and we enjoyed delicious food from Chef Jamila, non-alcoholic drinks from Beth Harbinson and Sobar, and women-made wine from The Wine Bin. WGC Chair Jennifer Woods declared that the state of the WGC is strong. She provided 10 data points about our impact the last 23 years, and highlighted the role that WGC is playing locally, regionally, and nationally in growing the women's collective giving movement:
As Jen said, "this is the power of our giving circle." WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz welcomed everyone and underscored the power of collective giving. She highlighted that we are more than donors—we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers, and as a people-powered philanthropic ecosystem, we are committed to engaging in conversations and partnerships that continue to leverage our collective voices and collective power to support our community. As Buffy said, "giving circles like the WGC are a movement, not a moment." In advance of our Annual Celebration we invited the community to let us know what you are thinking about women’s health, and Buffy provided a sampling of what we heard:
We then welcomed Keynote Speaker Elizabeth Edsall Kromm, PhD, MSc, Assistant Secretary, Population Health and Strategic Initiatives, Maryland Department of Health, who attempted to address these concerns while discussing gaps in the continuum of women’s health, focusing on menstrual health, reproductive health, maternal health, and menopausal health in our community, and how philanthropy can, and is, providing support. As Elizabeth said, "philanthropy can help by supporting policy advocacy, staying up-to-date with needs and issues as identified by key coalitions and organizations, and looking to maximize impact." Candace Dodson-Reed, Vice Chair of the WGC, and Chair of our Grants Committee then mentioned how proud she is of the work we are doing in terms of investing our collective dollars in the community to support women and girls. She noted that it is a challenging time for women and girls, and we know that less than 2% of overall charitable giving in the US goes to organizations that support women and girls. This is something that the WGC - along with many other women’s giving circles and funders - are focusing on. She reviewed the WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County, and how we continue to utilize the data to inform our grantmaking and partner in the community and then provided four data points about the continuum of women's health and four examples of how WGC has recently provided funding. As Candace said, "WGC has always walked the talk, and I am especially proud in this current environment." Candace introduced Paula Seabright, Chair of WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive to highlight some of the specific work WGC is doing to support menstrual health. Paula explained that "Break the Cycle" is our effort to highlight period poverty through education, fundraising, and grantmaking to support women and girls in Howard County. One part of this work is hosting seven amazing student interns who are supporting these efforts, all of whom spoke to attendees about their thoughts on their experience this year. As Paula said, "I have had the honor of leading these young women on a journey to learn more about philanthropy, women’s philanthropy, and how an organization like the Women’s Giving Circle can make an impact on issues impacting women’s health. We have focused on period poverty because it's a need that is easily and often overlooked." WGC Advisory Board Members Kashonna Marrow and Jade McClary ended the celebration with information on how to give and get involved in the WGC. After the Annual Celebration, many of you asked how you can get or remain involved in our collective work. Here are 10 ways to engage in the coming months:
Many thanks to all of our sponsors so far this year, those who attended the event, and to everyone who supports the WGC and all that you do to support women's rights in Howard County. As Kashonna said, "We women are using our collective voices, power, and financial resources to support women’s rights in many forms, and utilizing the power of collective philanthropy. We truly are stronger together." Thank you for joining us!
 Last fall we announced our partnership with the Horizon Foundation to fund a new report highlighting stories and wisdom from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County.
The report, “Elevating to Evolve: Stories of Wisdom, Excellence, and a Call for Change from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County” highlights Black women's experiences in nonprofit leadership in Howard County and how we all can better support them. This new report highlights stories and wisdom from Black Women Nonprofit Leaders in Howard County who are currently or formerly in nonprofit leadership positions, those who have declined positions of leadership, and those in the potential pipeline for leadership in the future. The goal of the report is to elevate their stories and experiences, and to share perspectives on how we can better support women of color leaders as individuals, boards, and specifically as funders. With this report we hope to be better allies, better funders, and to be a more supportive community particularly to Black women in nonprofit leadership roles. We will soon release the report and provide information on how you can learn more about the report, and the action items for all of us within it. Join the WGC and the Horizon Foundation for a Conversation to Discuss our New Report: Elevating to Evolve on March 27, 4:00 - 5:30 pm at ACS or April 1, 8:30 - 10:00 am at ACS - email [email protected] for further information.  Across the nation and around the world, giving circles unite people to pool their resources and invest in grassroots, community-based organizations. We are more than donors—we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers. And as a people-powered philanthropic ecosystem, we are always listening.
Right now, we hear our nonprofit partners sounding the alarm. They are navigating devastating wildfires, funding cuts, and policies that threaten the very communities they serve. They are showing up every day for people in crisis. The question is: Will we show up for them? The answer is clear: We must. Many of us may feel uncertain about what to do in moments like these. But collective giving was built for times of crisis. Giving circles remove barriers, move resources quickly, and stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines. Now is the time to take action. What We Can Do—Together 1. Give Your Time & Talent → Show Up and Ask
2. Give Your Treasure → Move Money, No Strings Attached
3. Give Your Testimony → Amplify Their Voices
4. Give Your Ties → Activate Your Network
This is What We Do. Giving circles exist for moments like this. We don’t wait, we don’t hesitate, and we don’t let grassroots leaders stand alone. Whether in times of quiet progress or urgent crisis, we show up. And we will continue to do so. Stand with us. Share this message with your giving circle and confirm your commitment. Not part of a giving circle? Join us. In action and solidarity, Philanthropy Together’s Network Braintrust
 Looking for a Galentines/Valentines gift for the ones you love?
Give a gift to the WGC “In Her Honor“! Recognize someone special by making a special gift in her honor to the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County. Giving a gift that supports women and girls is a way to celebrate and honor the women and girls in your life while making a lasting impact for women and girls in Howard County for the future. We will inform those you wish to honor by email. And, we will announce your gift in our marketing efforts. Learn more here!  The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to amplify the voices and stories of women givers in our community through our regular series "Our Giving, Our Stories".
Inspiring philanthropic leadership and increasing giving by amplifying the voices of women and girls are among the goals of this effort and we are committed to advancing this important work in our community. This month we are profiling Valerie Montague in Honor of Black History Month. Read Valerie Montague's full profile here What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Find something that resonates with you and that makes you feel good when you share it with others. Whether you mentor young people, testify about legislation, volunteer at a food pantry, lead book clubs or donate to charity, you are helping others in impactful ways that make our community better. And, in Howard County, whichever way you prefer to give back, there is an organization, emotional space, and/or physical place for you to do so. " Valerie supports the following:
Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" and nominate a woman today! We are always accepting the names of women throughout the year who may be profiled for their inspiring philanthropic leadership.  Collective giving thrives on the power of community-based organizations—our nonprofit partners, who are closest to those in need and play a vital role in our society. Yet, in the last week, the nonprofit community has been rocked by confusion and concern following executive orders from the current administration, with further policy changes looming that could impact the entire social sector and our most vulnerable communities.
The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is monitoring these recent actions - as a fund that is building a community of philanthropists to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County, we are committed to engaging in conversations and partnerships that leverage our voices and collective power to support our community. Here are three ways you can make a difference during these challenging times to support the nonprofit community:
Now is the moment to unite our efforts and harness the strength of our community. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and ensure that our nonprofit partners have the support they need. Join us. * Adapted from our partners at Philanthropy Together One of WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive interns picked up a car full of products today from our partners at the Howard County Library System and dropped them off to our partners at Howard County Public School System.
We are honored to work in partnership with so many to support women and girls in our community. Learn more about WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive here.
new year, lots going on. Happy New Year! We are ready for the year ahead and the opportunities we have to bring us all together to learn, share, connect, and pool our dollars to support women and girls in our community. We appreciate the importance of building community and being there for one another, now more than ever. To that end, I hope you will join us at our upcoming WGC Annual Celebration & Pink Party on Tuesday, March 4, 5:30 - 7:30 pm - at Howard Community College, where we will discuss "The Continuum of Women's Health and How Philanthropy Can Help" with Keynote Speaker Elizabeth Edsall Kromm, PhD, Director of the Prevention and Health Promotion Administration for the Maryland Department of Health. You can purchase tickets and/or sponsor here - see you soon! READ THE FULL ENEWSLETTER HERE There are numerous additional ways to support the WGC - from donating to WGC's Break the Cycle Period Product Drive, to supporting a woman in need through WGC's Emergency Response Network, to becoming a WGC 2025 Sponsor, to joining the WGC's 2025 Big Give, to leaving a Legacy Gift to the WGC ... and more. Any gift, of any size, is valued and appreciated! This, is the power of our giving circle. Thank you for all you do to support women and girls. Please contact WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz with any questions. Sincerely, Jennifer Woods WGC Advisory Board Chair [email protected] www.womensgivingcircle.org 
2024 WGC Grants
 The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to amplify the voices and stories of women givers in our community through our regular series "Our Giving, Our Stories". Inspiring philanthropic leadership and increasing giving by amplifying the voices of women and girls are among the goals of this effort and we are committed to advancing this important work in our community. This month we are profiling Dr. Abbie Diane Martin in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Read Dr. Abbie Diane Martin's full profile here What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Connect with others who have the same passion. Look for a need and work with others to find solutions. Then develop a plan to address the need. There is plenty of work to be done - so jump into the vineyard and get involved in a cause that you know will make a difference for one or many." Dr. Abbie Diane Martin supports the following:
Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" and nominate a woman today! We are always accepting the names of women throughout the year who may be profiled for their inspiring philanthropic leadership.  As we begin the new year, we are proud that the WGC continues to play a role in leading the national women’s collective giving movement and the growth of the philanthropic sector overall.
WGC Executive Director, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, and our Immediate Past Chair, Barb Van Winkle currently serve on the Board of Philanos, the national women’s collective giving organization. Philanos’ mission is to support and strengthen women's collective giving organizations through education and collaboration designed to promote women's philanthropy and informed, impactful grant making in communities. Barb serves on the Executive Committee as the Treasurer and Buffy is the co-Chair of the Communications Committee. Philanos hosts monthly webinars and regular Affinity Group virtual meetings that all WGC donors are invited to attend! Learn more here. In October 2024, WGC leaders worked on a national level to bring attention and resources to underserved communities through collective giving by participating in multiple convenings and educational experiences with the Philanos Board of Directors in Mississippi and Alabama. This trip provided an unprecedented opportunity for the Philanos Board, and for Barb and Buffy to learn about the history and current conditions in the South, and how we can help elevate community-centric giving in the region, and they are brought this learning and knowledge to the WGC to inform our ongoing work. "We were proud to be among those working nationally to bring additional attention and resources to underserved communities" said Barb Van Winkle, Immediate Past WGC Chair. "We will continue to support this important work and bring what we learn to the Women's Giving Circle." The WGC was honored to co-host the 2023 Philanos PowerUP! Baltimore National Conference, which brought together hundreds of leaders in the women's collective giving movement to learn, share, network, and connect together. Numerous WGC leaders played a role in the success of this conference, including serving as panelists and facilitators for the gathering. And, WGC's Malynda Madzel was awarded the prestigious national Willoughby Award at the conference for her efforts to change the status quo for philanthropy in our community. WGC will play a role in coordinating the upcoming 2026 Philanos PowerUP! Texas National Conference - mark your calendars! Buffy also serves on the national Steering Committee for this year’s Philanthropy Together We Give Summit May 13-15, 2025. Philanthropy Together is a global initiative, co-created by hundreds of collective giving leaders, to scale and strengthen the growing movement. They are on a mission to diversify and democratize philanthropy. Buffy, Barb, and other WGC leaders have served on We Give Summit panels in the past, sharing about WGC's efforts, and learning from others. Buffy currently serves on the September 2025 Maryland Philanthropy Network Annual Member Gathering planning committee. MPN's mission is to build and activate a diverse, informed, and effective network of philanthropists to inspire transformational impact throughout Maryland. "We are honored to be learning, sharing, and connecting with other women's collective giving leaders across the country who are rolling up their sleeves and doing this important work" said WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz. "We are proud to be a part of Philanos, Philanthropy Together, and the Maryland Philanthropy Network and participating in important efforts while representing the WGC and we will continue to help do this work nationally, regionally, and here in our community." We are proud that WGC leaders are playing a role in leading the growth of the national women's collective giving movement and the national and regional philanthropic sector overall, which ultimately supports and uplifts all we are collectively doing here in Howard County.  Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County Announces New Leadership
The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is very pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Advisory Board, as well as the full slate of Executive Committee and Advisory Board members for 2025. The newly elected Advisory Board members are Shaundra Turner Jones, Yolanda Sonnier, and Robin Stimson. “We are thrilled to welcome these incredibly talented women, each of whom bring diverse experience and unique backgrounds to the Women’s Giving Circle” said WGC Advisory Board Chair Jennifer Bodensiek. As well, we are very grateful to Adora Brown, April Force Pardoe, and Barbara Peart, whose terms are ending on the WGC Advisory Board after years of dedicated leadership and service. “Adora, April, and Barbara have deep community knowledge and a true passion for philanthropy” said Jennifer Bodensiek. “We have been fortunate to have them by our side as we work to shape the future for women and girls in Howard County through the power of collective giving”. The WGC is honoring Adora, April, and Barbara for all that they have done and will continue to do for the WGC through the WGC’s Barb Van Winkle Leadership Fund. This is a fund honoring former WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle and all WGC leaders, and we invite gifts in honor of WGC women's philanthropic leadership the last 23 years with a gift in her/their honor. Shaundra Turner Jones Shaundra Turner Jones is Principal and Founder of STJ PR, Communications & Consulting, LLC. As an outcomes-driven strategic communications leader with extensive corporate communications, public relations, media relations, crisis management, public affairs, foundation and reputation management experience, her inclusive approach to problem solving consistently produces top-tier results for clients. This proven PR maven leverages relationships, strategic communications and effective public relations to support business growth. As a trusted partner to chief executives and senior leadership, she brings a keen sense of audience understanding, creativity, an ability to see blind spots, discretion and sound judgment to successfully navigate challenges and grow the business. Shaundra is an advocate of positively impacting the community through service. She and her family take pride in giving back and helping others. Learn more Yolanda Sonnier Yolanda F. Sonnier is the Administrator at the Office of Human Rights and Equity for Howard County Government. She also serves as the President of the Maryland Association of Human Relations/Rights Agencies (MAHRA). In this leadership role she serves on the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention out of the Office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. Yolanda feels strongly that human rights and equity is only accomplished in communities where all persons are engaged. She is passionate about engaging with the next generation, believes that we need the strength, innovation, passion, and excitement of our young people, and believes that teaching human rights and equity transforms our communities for the better. Learn more Robin Stimson Robin M. Stimson is the Community Engagement Manager at Columbia Association (CA). In her role, she spearheads initiatives that position the organization as a leader and key partner in Columbia, Maryland. Robin is passionate about advancing the CA mission and vision by helping to develop and maintain policy, service standards and protocols around programs and outreach. Robin has a Bachelor of Arts and Humanities in History from the University of Maryland College Park, as well as a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She credits her social work experience as key in her ability to advocate, educate and facilitate connection. Robin believes in the power of community to cultivate essential resources and programs for those in need, which includes educational workshops, grassroots advocacy, multimedia content, tailored peer support and innovative workplace change initiatives at local, state and national levels. Learn more The Women’s Giving Circle is building a community of philanthropists to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County. We bring women together to learn about issues impacting women and girls in our community, and pool our dollars to fund programs that address those issues so we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone. We have been part of the Howard County community for 22+ years, have given $1.2 M+ to our nonprofit partners and we have a $1.1 M endowment from 1,700+ donors that will ensure that there are funds to support women and girls in our community in perpetuity. The full 2025 slate of WGC Executive Committee and Advisory Board members are: Executive Committee:
Advisory Board Members:
We have lots of options to make an impact, and 1 final day to give to the WGC in 2024. Thank you for your generosity!
 thank you. As we celebrate the holiday season I want to thank all of you - our WGC community. Read the full eNewsletter here I am grateful to our Advisory Board, our Executive Director, our past leadership, and all of you - our growing community of donors, grantees, partners, and all those who are making a bigger difference together than we might otherwise make alone through collective giving. One way many women are doing this is through an end-of-year gift to the WGC. There are numerous ways to support the WGC - from donating to WGC's Break the Cycle Period Product Drive, to supporting a woman in need through WGC's Emergency Response Network, to becoming a WGC 2025 Sponsor, to joining the WGC 2025 Big Give, to leaving a Legacy Gift to the WGC ... and more. Any gift, of any size, is valued and appreciated! This, is the power of our giving circle. Thank you for your consideration of a year-end gift. Please contact WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz with any questions. Happy Holidays! Jennifer Bodensiek WGC Advisory Board Chair [email protected] www.womensgivingcircle.org  What a night celebrating philanthropy with the Community Foundation of Howard County! The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County was in the house as two of our visionary longtime leaders were honored. Congratulations Jean F. Moon and Alison Canning for all you do for our community, for all you’ve done to grow philanthropy, and in particular, for all you have done and continue to do for The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County! WGC's Advisory Board got together for an end-of-year gathering, where we toasted a meaningful year supporting women and girls in Howard County. WGC’s Advisory Board = true leadership! Thank you to everyone who stopped by Howard Community College to drop off period products for our "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive! We collected enough products today to support HCC's Food Pantry for students for a few months - we appreciate all of the support! Please click here if you are interested in donating and learning more about WGC's Break the Cycle Period Product Drive and the amazing work of our student interns! |
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving." - Jennifer Woods, Chair
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