The WGC's Big Give 2026: A Powerful Start!

Wow, what a night to kick off the WGC’s Big Give 2026!

The Women’s Giving Circle’s Big Give is more than a two-night experience - it’s a dynamic, hands-on opportunity for women to learn, connect, and engage in meaningful grantmaking to support women and girls in Howard County.

Now in its fifth year, the Big Give continues to grow in both participation and impact.

This year, 50 women have come together, giving individually and as teams, to collectively invest $26,000 in local nonprofits. Over the past five years, more than 220 women have participated in the WGC's Big Give, with many returning year after year and helping to build a strong, connected community of collective giving, directing more than $120,000 to organizations serving women and girls in our community.

At Monday evening’s kickoff session, participants connected through what moves them, explored the broader landscape of philanthropy in the United States, and engaged in thoughtful discussion as they reviewed this year’s proposals, guided by WGC Big Give 2026 Co-Chairs Laura Bacon and Kashonna Marrow.

As a fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County, WGC is proud to be part of a strong and enduring partnership that supports our work. CFHC President and CEO Melissa Curtin reflected on the power of collective giving and CFHC’s role in supporting WGC from the very beginning - laying the foundation for nearly 25 years of impact as we approach this milestone anniversary next year. We are especially grateful to Dee Athey, CFHC Director of Grants and Community Engagement, for thoughtfully facilitating our grantmaking process.

• “The Big Give is such a powerful example of what happens when women come together with intention and purpose,” said Laura Bacon, WGC Big Give Co-Chair. “It’s not just about the dollars we give - it’s about the conversations, the learning, and the shared commitment to making a difference in our community.”

We were also honored to welcome Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, who joined us to share her perspective on the importance of this work and the impact of women coming together through collective giving.

After reviewing 37 Letters of Interest, participants selected this year’s finalists through a collaborative and engaging process. They will reconvene next week to hear directly from those organizations and make final grant decisions.

• “What makes this experience so meaningful is that everyone has a voice in the process,” said Kashonna Marrow, WGC Big Give Co-Chair. “We’re bringing together different perspectives, asking thoughtful questions, and learning from one another as we decide how to invest in women and girls in our community.”

In addition to the Big Give, the WGC's Young Women’s Giving Circle (YWGC) is also participating in the grantmaking process through the Mini Give. YWGC interns have reviewed the same proposals and will announce their own grant award at next week’s session.

• “The level of engagement and insight our YWGC interns have brought to this process has been inspiring,” said Paula Seabright, WGC Grants Committee Co-Chair and YWGC Chair. “They’ve taken this responsibility seriously and are already demonstrating the power of the next generation of philanthropists. I can’t wait for them to share their decision next week.”

The WGC's Big Give is about more than grantmaking - it’s about building a community of women who are learning, giving, listening, sharing, connecting, and leading together through the power of collective philanthropy. Participants will gather again next week to hear from finalists, make final grant decisions, and celebrate the impact they are creating together.

​Stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s grant recipients and award amounts. You can learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle and the Big Give here, and view photos from the kickoff event below.

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