Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County Announces First Executive Director

Brings Extensive Experience in Women’s Philanthropy and Giving Circles

The Advisory Board of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, a fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County, is excited to announce the appointment of Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz as its first Executive Director. The Women’s Giving Circle is building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.

“It is truly full-circle having Buffy take the helm as our first Executive Director almost 20 years after helping to start the circle as a founder, serving as Chair, and then consulting with the WGC the last two years” said Barb Van Winkle, WGC Advisory Board Chair. “As a recognized leader in the field, we are thrilled to have her energy and experience helping to guide the WGC into our 20th year and beyond."

Beaudoin-Schwartz is a philanthropic leader whose professional career, volunteer efforts, and activism have been focused on women’s issues, human rights, and social change through philanthropy. She is co-author of the award-winning book Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World, has written articles on women’s giving, and is active with national groups, including Women’s Giving Circles International, Catalist, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Infrastructure Support Group for the American Giving Circle Field.

“I am excited and honored to step into this position” said Beaudoin-Schwartz. “I strongly believe that giving circles help to democratize philanthropy, and that pooling our money so we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone is a powerful way to engage in giving and invest in women and girls in our community.”

She began her career working for an international human rights organization in Washington, DC, and has served as Director of the Baltimore Giving Project, Communications Director at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (now Maryland Philanthropy Network), and is currently President of her own firm BBS Consulting, working with foundations, nonprofits and political campaigns.

Buffy has been recognized for her work in philanthropy: as part of the “Circle of Excellence” having been honored as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women three times - in 2003, 2008 and 2010 by The Daily Record. She was named an "Innovator of the Year" in 2004 by The Daily Record, and one of "40 Under 40" in 2004 by the Baltimore Business Journal. She was a first Impact Award Winner in 2012 by The Mall in Columbia and the WGC, and was honored to be inducted into the Howard County Women's Hall of Fame in 2019.

She is active in the community and has served on numerous Boards of Directors including the Community Foundation of Howard County, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Hope Works, Sobar, Our Maryland, and the Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System, and is involved in gun violence prevention efforts. She has a BA in Russian History from the University of Maryland and has lived in Howard County for almost 30 years. She and her husband Howard have four children ranging in age from 27 – 13 and a newborn granddaughter.

Find more information about the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County at www.womensgivingcircle.org

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