Giving circle

A giving circle is a form of participatory philanthropy where groups of individuals donate their own money or time to a pooled fund, decide together where to give these away to charity or community projects and, in doing so, seek to increase their awareness of and engagement in the issues covered by the charity or community project.[1] Many circles, in addition to donating their money, also contribute their time and skills to support local causes.

Structure and function

The current manifestation of giving circles is a relatively new trend, but it is built on old traditions dating back hundreds of years to mutual aid societies and other forms of giving for the community. In the United States, giving circles were initially composed of women; they are now more diverse in race, age and gender, although women continue to make up the majority of members.[2]

The structure of the circles can be informal or formal. On the informal side, circles may vote and choose an organization to support and each member writes an individual check. Formal circles may have their money housed at a local community foundation and have staff that support the work of the circle. Giving circles can range in size from a handful of members to several hundred.

Individual donors who join or form a giving circle typically seek to build community within their circle through social events, in addition to the economic impacts of the groups.

In a 2007 study, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers' New Ventures in Philanthropy initiative identified approximately 400 giving circles in the United States, more than double the number from two years earlier.[3]

A survey of 160 circles, published in 2008, found they had leveraged nearly $100 million, $13 million of this in 2006 alone. Nearly 12,000 people took part in the 160 giving circles surveyed. Nearly half of circles have male participants, and the popularity of giving circles is also growing among racial, ethnic and tribal communities as well as in the gay and lesbian community.[4]

Another study conducted in 2005 by Angela M. Eikenberry, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, found that giving circles generally bring both long-time and new philanthropists to organized philanthropy.[2] For both groups, participation seems to increase levels of giving while bringing “new money” to the nonprofit sector; especially to small and locally based organizations. Members also seem to learn about and give to organizations and individuals, and in areas of interest, they most likely would not have given to otherwise. In addition, members are more thoughtful, focused and strategic in their personal giving because of educational experiences in the giving circle. These findings are based on 30 interviews with giving circle participants, staff, and philanthropic professionals working with giving circles, document analysis, and secondary data.

Research by Eikenberry and Jessica Bearman, published in 2009, and largely based on a survey of giving circle members compared to a control group, found that that giving circles influence members to give more and to give more strategically. Their members give to a wide array of organizations and are highly engaged in the community. Giving circles increase members’ knowledge about philanthropy, nonprofits, and the community but have a mixed influence on members’ attitudes about philanthropy, nonprofit and government roles, and political/social abilities and values. Level of engagement, length of engagement, and size of the giving circle seem to matter most, when it comes to understanding giving circles’ effects on members.[1]

Examples

United States

Examples of giving circles include the Zawadi giving circle in New Orleans, where 12 African American members collectively donated $24,000 over a two-year period.[5] Their money has provided intensive math tutoring for students at a local school, along with other projects.

The Queer Youth Fund, established in 2002 and based in Los Angeles, California, has invested more than $3 million in grants to small youth-led organizations in the United States and Canada that promote equality and justice for lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth.[6]

Founded in 2004, The African American Giving Circle of the Washington Area Women's Foundation has awarded over $120,000 in grants to community-based organizations in Washington, D.C. serving African American women and girls.[7]

Dining for Women (DFW) is a giving circle headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina with chapters in other parts of the United States, which raises monthly for international charities that support women and girls facing extreme challenges in developing countries.[8]

In 2006, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) established a giving circle movement that has resulted in the distribution of over $2.2 million to Asian American communities across the United States.[9] Included in this growing network of giving circles are the Lunar Giving Circle in San Francisco,[10] Asian Giving Circle in Chicago,[11] Cherry Blossom Giving Circle in Washington, D.C.,[12] and GVNGTogether in Boston, Massachusetts.[13]In 2016, the Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC) was studied by a Capstone team from NYU's Wagner School of public service. The team members where Carlos Rodriguez, Janice Lam, David Portalatin, Nicole Moriarty, and Paulina Toro.[9]

Amplifier Giving (www.AmplifierGiving.org) is the first concerted effort to network Jewish giving circles, catalyze the creation of new giving circles, educate circle members on best practices in philanthropy, and create a platform to connect NGOs and Jewish giving circles to each other efficiently and effectively. The Amplifier network includes 50 giving circles and 369 organizations. The Amplifier website has a circle and organization directory, online common grant application system, and a resource library with information about how to start and sustain a giving circle.[14]

The New York Times reported in 2013 that a giving circle, Women for Social Innovation, is providing seed money for social innovators helping women, girls and families in Greater Philadelphia.[15]

United Kingdom

The Kew Giving Circle in Kew, south west London, started meeting in January 1999 and is still active. It is the first recorded giving circle in the United Kingdom.[16] Its members contribute to a pooled Charities Aid Foundation account and meet to agree payments from the account to their selected charities.

The Funding Network is the largest known and first open giving circle in the UK. It is a charity that runs Dragons' Den-style events to bring together potential donors and charities to fund positive social change. It has raised over £5 million for over 700 projects across the globe.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Eikenberry, Angela and Bearman, Jessica (May 2009). "The Impact of Giving Together: a snapshot of a study on giving circles' influence on philanthropic & civic behaviors, knowledge & attitudes" (PDF). Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Eikenberry, Angela M (September 2006). "Giving Circles: Growing Grassroots Philanthropy". Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 35 (3): 517–532. doi:10.1177/0899764006287482.
  3. ↑ Kadlec, Dan (November 5, 2008). "Report: Giving Circles". Time. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Report: Giving Circles Are Here to Stay". Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. 2008. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Giving Circle Popularity Skyrockets to Become $100 Million Force" (Press release). PR Newswire. May 21, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ Osborn, Barbara (October 12, 2010). "Queer Youth Fund Fights Hate With Love". Liberty Hill Blog: News from the Frontlines. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ African American Women's Giving Circle Washington Area Women's Foundation website, accessed May 5, 2011.
  8. ↑ "About Us". Dining for Women. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "National Giving Circle Campaign". What We Do. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Lunar Giving Circle". Internet Archive. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Asian Giving Circle (Chicago)". Internet Archive. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  12. ↑ "About Us". Cherry Blossom Giving Circle. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. ↑ "GVNGTogether, Inc. Grants". MassTAP. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Home page". Amplifier Giving. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  15. ↑ Hannon, Kerry (November 27, 2013). "Giving Circles: More Impact to Go Around". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ Bibby, Andrew (April 23, 2000). "Squaring the Charity Circle". The Observer. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  17. ↑ "The Funding Network 10th Anniversary Impact Report" (PDF). 10th Impact Report. The Funding Network. July 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2015.

Further reading

External links

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