WGC BIG GIVE MEMBER: gifts of $1,200 
Registration for The WGC's Big Give 2026 is Open! 

"We 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 The Big Give is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future."

​2026 WGC Big Give Membership Overview 

• The Big Give 2026 is designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community.
• The Big Give 2026 will be a fun, fast-paced, "pop-up" giving circle learning and giving experience.
• Big Give Members will each contribute $1,200. (1 vote)
• And, teams of up to 4 women can be formed who collectively give $1,200 as a team. (1 vote per team)
• $1,000 of each Big Give Membership gift will be allocated to the grant pool and $200 will be allocated to our core support efforts.
• This opportunity is open to women 18 years and older who are interested in and able to participate in this two-month giving and grantmaking experience.
• The amount of grants given will be determined by the number of women participating.

2026 WGC Big Give Members Are: 

• Meeting twice: first on Monday, May 11 and then on Monday, May 18, 2026 to learn about philanthropy and to discuss and determine the nonprofits that will be funded.
• Collectively funding nonprofit partners with a demonstrated focus on women, girls, and their families in Howard County, to learn about and discuss together.

2026 WGC Big Give Membership Sign-Up:

• Those interested can sign-up and give your individual $1,200 payment here or your team payment here.
• Once the $1,200 is received we will be in touch with further information about getting started.
• If you are interested in hosting a team of up to four women who will have one vote, please contact us here.
• Team leaders should communicate with team members regarding your team payment.
• If you are interested in participating and need some support, please contact us here. 
• If you have any questions, contact us here.
• Sign-up for the 2026 WGC Big Give! Membership will remain open through April 17, 2026. 

"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." ​

Read the 2026 WGC BIG GIVE General Process and Grantmaking Guidelines 

​* We want to support participation in this process. If a team may need some assistance to participate, please contact us.

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• WGC's Big Give 2025 finished on May 19 and was a fun, fast-paced, and spirited learning, sharing, networking, and connecting giving experience, where 57 women collectively gave a total of $32,000 together to 14 nonprofit partners: $20,000 to Luminus, MakingChange, and TurnAround. Our Break the Cycle interns  gave $5,000 to Voices for Children through the Mini Give, which is part of the Big Give experience. And, we all gave $7,000 in "Spirit Awards" to 10 additional nonprofit partners.

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• WGC's Big Give 2024 finished on May 20 and was a fun, meaningful, fast-paced giving circle learning, connecting, and giving experience, where 53 women collectively gave $20,000 together to three nonprofit partners: Columbia Housing Center, Grassroots, and Tuerk House. 

 

• WGC's Big Give 2023 finished on June 6 and was a fun, fast-paced, "pop-up" giving circle learning and giving experience, where 35 women collectively gave $20,000 together to three nonprofit partners: Bridges to Housing Stability, Columbia Community Care, and Girls on the Run.​

 

• WGC's Big Give 2022 was a wonderful four-month journey of learning, sharing, and grantmaking, where 27 women gave $20,000 together to three nonprofit partners: Grassroots, HopeWorks, and the Howard Community College Educational Foundation. 

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