Could Giving Circles Rebuild Philanthropy from the Bottom Up? | Nonprofit Quarterly

Could Giving Circles Rebuild Philanthropy from the Bottom Up? | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Grassroots giving goes mainstream: Popular giving circles are sweeping across the country

Grassroots giving goes mainstream: Popular giving circles are sweeping across the country: "There’s a new form of grassroots giving that is taking Canada’s charitable sector by storm.

Here’s how it works: Gather 100 people four times a year, with every person committing $100 per meeting. Each meeting lasts no longer than one hour, during which time members listen to pitches from three local charities, then vote on which charity will get the pot of pooled money. Charities issue tax receipts to donors and repo"



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'Giving circles' growing as new form of Pittsburgh philanthropy - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

'Giving circles' growing as new form of Pittsburgh philanthropy - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Giving circles typically have involved friends meeting over drinks and food in each other's living rooms to discuss what charitable causes they should support.

But the model has evolved into one that some foundations are using to assemble groups of donors with common interests around particular issues and then help those groups make informed, strategic contributions.

When giving a little becomes a lot: Jarvis DeBerry | NOLA.com

When giving a little becomes a lot: Jarvis DeBerry | NOLA.com: In New Orleans, a group of women inspired by McCarty's philanthropy decided to get into the giving business themselves. They started a giving circle and called it, Zawadi, a Swahili word for gift.

Philanthropic ’100 Women’ is growing and moving | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

Philanthropic ’100 Women’ is growing and moving | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs: "The grass-roots philanthropy group meets quarterly to raise money for local non-profits.

Members pledge to contribute $100 each, four times a year to a local charity. The recipient group is decided at each meeting by member vote following pitches from three members on behalf of their own favorite charities. The pitch makers are selected at random at each meeting.

The group met three times in 2010 and raised a total of about $45,000 for three non-profits."

Women's Leadership Council paved new path for charity

Women's Leadership Council paved new path for charity: "How have women changed the face of charity in San Antonio?

It's not an idle question. The United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County today is recognizing longtime civic leader Joci Straus for the spark she lit more than 10 years ago that led to the formation of the Women's Leadership Council.

It's an exclusive group, not only for how much money they give but also for the shoe-leather work many put into the charity as volunteers. Incredibly, until Straus marshaled local forces, this resource largely had gone untapped."

Giving circles growing in Central Texas

Giving circles growing in Central Texas: "Seven years ago, giving circles were an anomaly in Austin.

Back then, Impact Austin was one of the few such groups in the city. In typical giving circle form, its members got together, pooled their money and donated it to charity. Since then, the group has donated $2.6 million to area nonprofits.

But these days, Impact Austin isn't the only game in town. Since the group's 2003 inception, other giving circles have emerged, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into local charities."

Philanthropic endeavor by women raising $50,000 for women's health projects at Martin Memorial � TCPalm.com

Philanthropic endeavor by women raising $50,000 for women's health projects at Martin Memorial � TCPalm.com: "STUART — Women in Philanthropy began with 10 women talking over breakfast.

They had cash, but not a lot of time, and they wanted to make a difference in the lives of other women."

Giving Circle opens the potential pool of philanthropy | The Daily Tell

Giving Circle opens the potential pool of philanthropy | The Daily Tell: "The start of the new decade offers hope for economic recovery for countless Americans, still many might not be able to make sizeable donations to national nonprofits that will be working hard to serve those in need. One way concerned community members can make a difference is through participating in giving circles – groups that combine their efforts to make a united contribution."

All Together Now: Giving Circles Increase Impact | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog

All Together Now: Giving Circles Increase Impact | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog: "The past year’s financial crisis calls for a reevaluation of how we fund our organizations. In the face of a reality where reputable Jewish foundations and endowments have lost hundreds of millions of dollars, we have been reintroduced to the notion that the collective power of individuals has the potential to sustain our community’s needs."

Midland's 100 Club lets busy philanthropists give and go - MLive.com

Midland's 100 Club lets busy philanthropists give and go - MLive.com: "Philanthropy, simplicity and volunteerism are hallmarks of the newly-formed Midland 100 Club.

Women meet three times a year to make pitches for nonprofit organizations."

Donors in 'Giving Circles' Donate More Than Other People, Study Finds - Philanthropy.com

Donors in 'Giving Circles' Donate More Than Other People, Study Finds - Philanthropy.com: "Donors in 'Giving Circles' Donate More Than Other People, Study Finds

Donors who participate in giving circles — in which individuals pool their money and decide collectively how to distribute it — give more than other donors, give more strategically, and give to a greater number of organizations, according to results of a study released this week."

Asian American Giving Circles « The South Asian Philanthropy Project

Asian American Giving Circles « The South Asian Philanthropy Project: "The article by Andrew T. Ho, “Asian American Giving Circles: Building Bridges Between Philanthropy and Our Communities,” provides an excellent review of Asian American giving circles in the United States. The article provides an insight of how existing Asian American giving circles were formed in the United States, their respective characteristics, challenges they face as well as the tactics they employ to overcome those challenges."

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Hosting a ‘giving circle’: Finding new donors and new dollars
Louise Chatterton LuchukBy Louise Chatterton Luchuk
November 24, 2008

My $500 donation is important, but when it gets pooled with the $500 donations of several other people, the total impact of our giving grows. When we commit to making this level of donation over a few years, the impact is even greater. Now factor in that we want to know as much as we can about the project we’re investing in and track the difference our philanthropy makes to the cause. Well, the value of that $500 donation just grew exponentially."

Asian American Giving: Just released! Asian American giving circles survey

Asian American Giving: Just released! Asian American giving circles survey: "The paper, Asian American Giving Circles: Building Bridges Between Philanthropy and Our Communities was presented at the 37th Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Conference this November in Philadelphia by Andrew T. Ho, of Council on Foundations.

The research paper shows that these Asian American giving circles enjoyed enthusiastic responses from community organizations"

Rochester Women's Giving Circle practices hands-on philanthropy | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

Related Stories on Giving Circles we've seen

Rochester Women's Giving Circle practices hands-on philanthropy | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle: "or the 33 women in the Rochester Women's Giving Circle, writing a check wasn't enough.

'All of us have made individual donations,' says Alyce Van Patten of Rochester, 'but we were looking for a way to have a greater impact.'"

Leader Newspapers- Women Philanthropists announce $100,000 grant opportunity

Leader Newspapers- Women Philanthropists announce $100,000 grant opportunity: "(June 25, 2008) — Women United in Philanthropy, New Jersey’s first women’s giving circle has announced the availability of up to $100,000 in grant funding for Bergen County programs serving women. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2008.

“We are very excited to have reached our 100-member mark and be able to award a grant of such impact,” states Maxine Frampton, director and member of the group. “Our members are looking to give this year’s contribution to a program that makes a big difference in the lives of women—something that truly helps lift them out of poverty by giving them the tools they need, be that housing, health care, job training or financial support.”"

Giving circles mix fun, fundraising - USATODAY.com

We have some related material on this topic on our AFP Questions and FAQ Blog
http://afprc23.blogspot.com/search?q=NPGivingCircles


Giving circles mix fun, fundraising - USATODAY.com: "Giving money is fun, and raising it is fun,' said Susie Elbing, a founding member.

Such informal charitable groups, known as giving circles, are rapidly spreading as a new form of philanthropy across the USA."

The Republican-American What women give (and why they give it) Waterbury's Women's Initiative Fund striving to help those in need

The Republican-American What women give (and why they give it) Waterbury's Women's Initiative Fund striving to help those in need: "What women give (and why they give it) Waterbury's Women's Initiative Fund striving to help those in need BY BRYNN MANDEL REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN As women go , so goes society. That largely sums up the philosophy of countless nonprofit organizations that provide women from Africa to Central America everything from support for selling handicrafts to microloans for

It turns out, a similar giving philosophy — one focused on women and children — can also work closer to home."

News 14 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Pay it Forward

News 14 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Pay it Forward: "Pay it Forward
06/08/2007 07:00 AM
By: Ivanhoe Newswire

Giving Back
New grassroots philanthropy efforts called giving circles are springing up all across the country. See what they do.

AUSTIN, TX -- New grassroots philanthropy efforts called giving circles are springing up all across the country. These organizations prove people don't have to be rich to give back to their communities.

At 17 years old, Lidia Hernandez found herself homeless."