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"We are so excited for these amazing young women" said Paula Seabright, Chair of WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle. "They are learning about philanthropy, grantmaking, fundraising, community, leadership, advocacy, and support for women and girls."  What a day for the 5th Annual "Own Your Freedom" Juneteenth Celebration at Centennial Park! Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. Led by WGC Advisory Board Member Cheryl Gray, WGC Advisory Board Member Jessica Moreno was honored to be there representing the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County! "We were excited to attend the 5th Annual Juneteenth celebration in support of WGC Advisory Board Member Cheryl Gray, and as an exhibitor and a recipient of support" said Jess. "I loved meeting so many women and providing information and a presentation about the Women's Giving Circle and the work we are doing in support of the community!" One of the ways we celebrate Juneteenth is by coming together and giving back to our communities and we were honored to be a part of this important event.
 please join us. Friends, The Women's Giving Circle is excited to host two upcoming events that I hope you will attend. Read the full eNewsletter here WGC's Leaving Your Legacy Virtual Lunch & Learn - Monday, June 16, 12:00 - 12:45 pm via Zoom. A legacy gift is a powerful way to ensure that your values and commitments endure beyond your lifetime. Join us as we explore various ways you can include charitable giving in your financial and estate planning and hear from WGC donors Barbara Lawson, Kashonna Marrow, Jean Moon, and Barb Van Winkle - all of whom are leaving their legacies through planned giving. Sign up here! WGC's Black Philanthropy Month Happy Hour - Tuesday, August 5, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at the Community Foundation of Howard County. We are excited to co-host this event with the Black Philanthropy Circle! Hear from WGC and BPC leaders about the work we are doing and how you can get involved. Register today! 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 
2025 WGC Grants To Date
2024 WGC Grants - Over $88,000 Invested in Our Community
 On May 5, 2025 WGC's Barb Van Winkle was the Keynote Speaker at the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle's Forum on "Engaging the Next Generation of Female Donors". As Barb stated, "I am so excited to be with you this morning to talk about one of my favorite subjects - the power of women’s giving, and in particular, how we are engaging the next generation of female donors."
"We are honored to work closely together with our long-time partners at the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle" said Barb Van Winkle". It is important for us to be there for one another to talk about our successes and challenges in our region, and on the national stage through our work on the Board of Philanos".  Friends, The Women's Giving Circle has been busy hosting and attending events this Spring and it has been wonderful connecting with many of you supporting our community along the way. Read the full eNewsletter here Thank you to the 57 women and girls who participated in the WGC's Big Give 2025 who collectively gave $32,000 in grants to our nonprofit partners! We invited and received 30 applications for funding, and Big Give donors determined 3 nonprofit partners to receive funding: TurnAround ($10,000), Luminus ($5,000), and MakingChange ($5,000). Our WGC Break the Cycle Student Interns reviewed the applications as well and decided to invest in Voices for Change ($5,000) as part of their Mini Give. And, all Big Give donors had an opportunity to give an additional $500 to one of the 30 applicants, resulting in another $7,000 in grants to 10 nonprofit partners and $32,000 in total funding. Learn more here. This, is the power of our giving circle. Are you interested in getting involved? We have two upcoming events that I hope you will attend: WGC's "Leave Your Legacy Through Planned Giving" Virtual Lunch & Learn on June 16, 12:00 pm and WGC's "Black Philanthropy Month Happy Hour" in Partnership with the Black Philanthropy Circle on August 5, 5:30 pm at the Community Foundation of Howard County. Learn more and register for both events here. 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    What a night at the WGC's Big Give 2025! The WGC's Big Give 2025 evening was a fun, meaningful, fast-paced giving circle experience where 57 women and girls collectively gave $32,000 to 14 nonprofit partners in Howard County, while learning and connecting. Designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community, The WGC's Big Give is a fast-paced, hands-on giving experience that provides opportunities to learn, connect, share, network, and celebrate their giving. "As the incoming President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County, I firmly believe that women’s philanthropy is shaping the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving" said Melissa Curtin, WGC Big Give Chair. "WGC's Big Give is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future, and I am proud that the WGC is one of our largest, most visible, and most active funds of the foundation." WGC's Big Give 2025 donors met first on May 12 to review grant applications and narrow down the three nonprofit partners they collectively chose to receive funding - TurnAround, Luminus, and MakingChange. Representatives from each organization joined WGC Big Give donors on May 19 to provide a presentation, and then our Big Give donors made final decisions on grant award amounts. Read about the WGC's Big Give 2025 Kick Off meeting on May 12, 2025. "We are proud to support our nonprofit partners on the ground focusing on women, girls, and families in our community" said Candace Dodson-Reed, WGC Grants Committee Chair. "The WGC's Big Give is a wonderful hands-on opportunity to bring more voices and lived experiences to the philanthropic table." 50 WGC Big Give Donors pooled $20,000 and gave the following grant awards:
The WGC's Mini Give is part of our WGC "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive and Student Intern Program, where our interns meet monthly, learn about philanthropy. leadership, period poverty and help to support WGC's period product collection efforts to support our nonprofit partners. Our student interns reviewed the 30 Big Give applications and together made a decision on their Mini Give grant award. "We are so proud of these amazing young women" said Paula Seabright, WGC Break the Cycle Chair. "They spent the last nine months learning about philanthropy and how to affect change, which they most certainly have done." 7 WGC Mini Give "Break the Cycle" Student Interns gave a $5,000 grant award:
11 WGC Big Give Spirit Awards totaling $7,000: And each WGC Big Give team and our Student Intern Mini Give team gave a $500 Big Give Spirit Award grant to one of the 30 nonprofit partners that applied to receive funding from the WGC Big Give of their choice, totaling $7,000:
"WGC Big Give Donors were invited to celebrate their giving and show their excitement and comaraderie through team spirit, which can be seen in this year's pictures" said Dee Athey, Director of Grants and Community Outreach at the Community Foundation of Howard County. "Their efforts to review the Big Give applications and determine what nonprofit partners to fund were serious, and they also added some fun and spice to the important process of giving away money thoughtfully, and effectively." When asked to describe in one word how WGC Big Give and Mini Give donors felt awarding these grants, here's what they said: "Grateful", "Optimistic", "Determined", "Amazing", "Open-Minded", "Philanthropic", "Inspired", "Fulfilled", "Excited", "Connected", "Hopeful", "Proud", "Curious", "Happy", "Spicy", "Energized", "Positive", "Elevated", "Wonderful", "Dynamic", "Elated", "Psyched", "Bright", "Mindful", "Inclusive", "Powerful", and "United"! This, is the power of our giving circle: 57 women + $32,000 + 14 nonprofit partners = 1 WGC Big Give community! "Giving circles are a movement, not a moment" said WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz. "We are more than donors - we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers who are leveraging our voices and dollars to have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone though the power of collective giving." For the second year we were honored to be hosted by our partners at Vectorworks, a 3D design software company that has its global headquarters in Columbia. "We are excited to continue to partner with the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County" said Lee Draminski, WGC Advisory Board member and Vectorworks professional. "We love supporting our local community through the WGC Period Product Drive, hosting The WGC Big Give, and in numerous other ways!" You can learn more about the WGC's Big Give 2025 here and view photos below! Interested in participating? Sign up for the WGC's Big Give 2026 here! "I am thrilled to be a part of the WGC's Big Give said Kashonna Marrow, WGC's Membership & Development Committee Chair. "The Big Give has grown each year in the number of women and girls who are participating and in the amount of grant awards we are able to provide to our nonprofit partners, and our goal for 2026 is to engage 100 individual donors or teams - sign up today to join us!"  It was just Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 12 - 18, which was created to draw attention to the issue of period poverty and the negative impact it has on people who menstruate, and the WGC was proud to be participating through our WGC "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive!
This week, our amazing student interns will be providing a $5,000 "Mini Give" Grant - stay tuned for more information! And, learn more about our amazing interns here. What is Period Poverty? Half of the population menstruates. We all know plenty of people that have a period. But not everyone knows that two in five people struggle to purchase period supplies due to lack of income. This is called period poverty, and chances are we each know someone who has experienced this need – a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend. For many individuals, a period is a setback. It’s something that dictates where they can go, what they can do, and how they’re perceived. For 1 in 3 low-income women, this means missing work, school, and outings because of a lack of period supplies. No student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the basic necessities they require. Since 2022, the WGC has supported women’s health and highlighted period poverty in Howard County through the WGC’s “Break the Cycle” Period Product Drive, an effort to highlight period poverty through education, donations, fundraising, and grantmaking to support women and girls in Howard County. The WGC has chosen to continue our focus on this important issue because it's a need that is easily and often overlooked and we believe it is time to break the cycle of period poverty” This effort is important to the WGC because:
WGC’s “Break the Cycle” has Three Components:
Connect with us on Instagram to follow our efforts and learn more about this important issue and how you can get involved! "The WGC has chosen to continue our focus on this important issue because it's a need that is easily and often overlooked" said Paula Seabright, WGC's Feminine Hygiene Product Drive Chair. "It's time to break the cycle of period poverty and we invite our community to join with us." You can learn more about getting involved in our efforts here The Community Foundation of Howard County’s Spring Party is always one of our favorite events of the year - and this year the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County took over the bar again - nothing better than having fun for a good cause! We love our community #collectivegiving  WGC Leader Melissa Curtin Named Community Foundation President & CEO
The WGC is thrilled to welcome Melissa Curtin as the newly appointed President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. Curtin brings extensive experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to CFHoCo, including a successful tenure as President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, where she, the Board of Trustees and the staff team tripled annual grantmaking and assets under management in less than three years. “I believe deeply in the power of philanthropy and the vital partnerships between nonprofits, donors, and our community,” said Curtin. “I’m honored to join the Community Foundation of Howard County and to partner with the Board of Trustees, the dedicated staff, generous donors, and community partners to expand the Foundation’s impact and contribute along with those who are already shaping a stronger, more equitable Howard County.” Curtin currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Foundation and the Board of Directors for the Touchstones Discussion Project. She served on the Advisory Board for the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, a fund at CFHoCo, and is currently the Chair of The WGC’s “Big Give” 2025. "Melissa is a long-time WGC leader and current Chair of the WGC's Big Give" said Jennifer Woods, WGC Chair. "As a fund of the Community Foundation, we are excited to work closely together with Melissa and the team to support our community." She previously served on the boards of the Maryland Philanthropy Network, Maryland Community Foundation Association, Standards for Excellence National Council, Maryland Nonprofits and the Maryland Commission for Women. Curtin holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Wyoming, along with numerous professional certifications. "We are so fortunate to work with Melissa in this new leadership capacity" said Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director. "She has vast experience in the sector and a unique understanding of the opportunities that Community Foundations and giving circles have to bring more diverse voices and lived experiences to the philanthropic table to support our community." Curtin succeeds Beverly White-Seals, who led the Foundation for the past 13 years and is transitioning into a part-time position as Chief Executive Grandmother for her two young grandchildren. Here is the official announcement “Melissa’s proven track record of community foundation leadership, combined with her deep commitment to Howard County, where she has lived for over a decade, makes her the ideal person to lead the Foundation into its next chapter,” said Barbara Rishel, Chair of the CFHoCo Board of Trustees. “Her strategic vision, fundraising expertise and collaborative approach to community engagement align perfectly with our mission and values.” Wow, what a night to kick off the WGC's Big Give 2025! The WGC's Big Give 2025 is designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community in a fast-paced, hands-on giving experience. "We firmly believe that anyone can be a philanthropist, and that women’s philanthropy is shaping the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving" said Melissa Curtin, WGC Big Give Chair. "WGC's Big Give 2025 is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future." The WGC's Big Give 2025 has 57 women who have pooled funds individually and as teams who will collectively grant a total of $25,000 to several nonprofits that support women and girls in Howard County. WGC Big Give members will meet again next week to hear from this year's finalists and determine final grant awards - and will be joined by WGC's "Break the Cycle" student interns who will give a WGC Mini Give grant award as well. WGC Big Give members like to give grants thoughtfully while celebrating our giving at the same time - check out the spirit wear among our Big Give teams! Two teams will be chosen to give two additional $500 grant awards based on their giving spirit - stay tuned! "Giving circles are a movement, not a moment" said WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz. "We are more than donors—we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers who are leveraging our voices and dollars to have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone though the power of collective giving." You can learn more about the WGC's Big Give 2025 here and view photos from tonight's kick-off below! It was a beautiful day at the Books in Bloom Literary and Arts Festival! The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County was a Sponsor, had a table promoting our “Break the Cycle” Period Product Drive, and we were honored to MC the inspiring "Spilled Milk" Storytelling Event About Motherhood - great start to Mother's Day weekend - Happy Mother's Day to all who mother all the things  At the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, we are always looking for ways to work smarter, communicate more effectively, and amplify our impact. As part of these efforts, last year we started occasionally using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support and supplement some of our writing and communications.
I am writing this blog post about the use of AI - using AI - while listening to a fascinating conversation about "Going Beyond AI Ethics" as part of the Global We Give Summit because it was suggested as a positive thing to do for those of us in the nonprofit sector. So, why are we starting to use AI? Well, because it helps us brainstorm, draft, and edit materials — from blog posts like this one to newsletters and internal documents. It saves time and expands our capacity, which is especially valuable in a mostly volunteer-driven, community-focused giving circle like ours. We’re always looking for ways to innovate while staying rooted in our mission and using AI thoughtfully at times helps us communicate more effectively, operate more efficiently, and ultimately better serve our community. But just as important as how we use AI is why and under what values. We are committed to using these tools ethically and responsibly — always guided by human oversight, accuracy, confidentiality, and alignment with our mission. AI is a supplement, not a substitute, for the thoughtfulness, care, and purpose-driven decision-making at the heart of our work. We will also be adding a statement about our use of AI to our governance documents, to ensure clarity and accountability as this technology evolves. Our work is about community, connection, and trust. We believe that being transparent about how we work — including the tools we use — is one more way we can honor those values. Many thanks to the team at Philanthropy Together for their efforts to bring important conversations and information like this into the collective giving space, and for Nathan Chappell for the great conversation today at the We Give Summit! Feel free to reach out with any questions! - Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director
Wow! Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for our WGC "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive! We collected over 100 pounds of products to support students at HCPSS! “Rain didn’t stop us from coming out for our community" said Paula Seabright, Chair of the WGC "Break the Cycle" program. "Our amazing WGC Break the Cycle interns successfully surpassed their goal of collecting 75 pounds of period products for HCPSS community schools ... thanks to everyone who came out to support us!” Could make the drop off today but want to still support? You can donate here Many thanks to our wonderful community!  Happy Earth 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 Bess Caplan in Honor of Earth Day. Read her full profile here What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Many hands make light work. There is always something you can do to give back. Maybe it's time, maybe it's money, maybe it's sharing an idea. Maybe it's just as simple as teaching your kids to pick up their trash instead of throwing it on the ground. Or as simple as sending a heartfelt message to your child's teacher. We can all contribute and we all should contribute. We’re in this together." Bess supports the following: Wilde Lake CARES, Howard County Conservancy, and the Running Brook PTA 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.
 Friends, The WGC and Horizon Foundation have released a new report examining Black women's experiences, challenges, and contributions in nonprofit leadership roles 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” sheds light on the unique journeys of these leaders and calls for actionable steps toward greater equity and inclusion. I hope you will take a look. Read the full April 2025 eNewsletter here Have you registered yet for the WGC's Big Give 2025? It 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 experience, where all members decide together where to give several grants. Big Give members each contribute $1,200 as an individual or a team and then meet twice to discuss and determine the nonprofits that will be funded. Become a WGC Big Give 2025 Member by April 18 - register as an individual or team here! There are numerous other ways to get involved with 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 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  |
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving." - Jennifer Woods, Chair
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