​Ten Ways the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is Utilizing Our Strengths to Respond to COVID-19

It goes without saying that it is a very challenging time for our country right now. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by COVID-19. We are truly in unprecedented times.

As we try to adjust to the new daily realities for ourselves and our families during this public health crisis, it is heartening to see funders come together to harness the power of philanthropy to make a difference in our communities. 
 
The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland is not alone in wanting to do the most good by leveraging the things that make our circle an empowering way to give. Giving circles all over the country are using their unique strengths to make a difference.
 
We have focused on communicating regularly, being nimble and flexible, broadening our grantmaking scope, collaborating with other funders, seeking information and resources from trusted partners, and leveraging our large network of donors to have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone - all hallmarks of the strength and draw of giving circles.
 
Here are ten ways the WGC is utilizing our strengths to respond to COVID-19. We:

1. Quickly planned with our Advisory Board to communicate with our donors, nonprofit partners, and the community that we were taking this public health crisis seriously, canceling events, and continuing our work remotely.
2. Decided to set aside additional funds to focus on our nonprofit partners and the broader community in the coming weeks and months.
3. Determined we would broaden the scope of our grantmaking and Emergency Response Network at this critical time to stay nimble and flexible in order to be as responsive as possible to growing community needs.
4. Focused on leveraging the strength of our Emergency Response Network to learn of and highlight needs, accept donations, and provide funding quickly.
5. Engaged our Young Women's Giving Circle to support our nonprofit partners through their Spring Feminine Product Drive.
6. Committed to regular communication, transparency and amplifying our collective voice – among our leadership, donors, prospective donors, funder and nonprofit partners, the media, and the broader community, through both traditional and social media.
7. Joined forces with local funding community partners – The Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, and United Way of Central Maryland - to rapidly raise funds and deploy critical resources to nonprofits in Howard County through the newly created HoCoRespond.com - with the initial goal of raising at least $100,000 by early April and giving grants by mid-April.
8. Prioritized connecting regularly with our statewide funding community through our regional association of grantmakers, Maryland Philanthropy Network, to learn and share together.
9. Looked to regularly connect with national funding resources focused on the coronavirus, including our collective giving partners at Philanos and Philanthropy Together, and our national regional association partner United Philanthropy Forum and the Council on Foundations.
10. Have chosen to participate in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

 
The WGC is building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County, Maryland. We bring women together to learn about issues impacting our community, and pool our dollars to fund programs that address those issues. We’ve been part of the Howard County community for 19 years, have raised over $1 million to support our efforts from over 1,000 donors, and have given over $500,000 through over 100 grants to nonprofits that support women and girls in our community.
 
We continue all of this work today, and we’ve done it together – as a giving circle. 
 
“We will continue exploring the path forward in providing relief to our community and look forward to leveraging our strengths as a giving circle and working with others to make a bigger difference together than we might otherwise make alone” said WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle.
 
“We are all in this together.”
 
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is the Executive Director of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland. The WGC is a fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County, Maryland. You can reach her at buffybschwartz@wgchowardcounty.org and www.wgchowardcounty.org

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