SD Grantmakers In Depth: Giving Circles
In This Issue
Note from Nancy
Ever since I heard about the concept of giving circles, I have been entranced by the amazing possibilities they hold, for both the giver and receiver. What a wonderful idea – people coming together in the same communal manner of a book club or investment club, but with the ultimate objective of helping others through collective and careful giving. And of course, as SDG members can attest, the greatest beneficiaries of giving circles are not just the nonprofits that receive the funding, but rather those that do the giving together. I see examples of this all the time when I talk to members of our SDG giving circle members. Anyone can indeed be a philanthropist. This research by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is a reflection of how much the future of philanthropy resides in the neighborhoods across the country and the world.
I hope you are enjoying your summer!
New Report on Giving Circles
Five years ago, giving circles were unheard of. Two years ago, they were a novelty. Today they are an established philanthropic force, to the tune of 12,000 donors and nearly $100 million raised to support diverse charitable causes. And while they were once considered a women’s philanthropy phenomenon and remain popular among women, giving circles have grown in popularity among men, young professionals, communities of color and the gay and lesbian community.
A new report (pdf) from the New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers describes how giving circles have grown exponentially in the last several years to the point where today, circles operate in nearly every state. This report (which was featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and in the Wall Street Journal) is the first in a series of three about giving circles. The second, slated for release in fall 2007, will showcase cost- and time-efficient models nonprofits and foundations use to host giving circles. The third, planned for release in 2008, will explore how giving circles are a gateway to greater involvement in philanthropy.
Giving circles come in many different forms, but they generally involve a group of friends (or colleagues, family members, etc.) who pool their charitable donations and decide collectively how to use the money to benefit the causes they care most about. Giving circles may involve as few as three people, or as many as several hundred. Donations range from spare change to thousands of dollars. And some circles are affiliated with nonprofits or foundations while others operate independently.
Giving Circle Knowledge Center
To assist foundations and prospective giving circle members to learn more about the opportunities presented by giving circles, the Forum has created an online Giving Circle Knowledge Center. The center includes
- information about the history and diversity of giving circles
- lists of giving circles across the country (searchable database coming soon)
- “how to" resources concerning the nuts and bolts of starting and maintaining a circle
- resources created especially for nonprofits and foundations interested in exploring ways to support giving circles.
Bloggers on Giving Circles
Sean Stannard-Stockton of the Tactical Philanthropy blog (and click here for a follow-up post) applauds the giving circle trend.
Todd Cohen points out in the Inside Philanthropy blog, though, that the growth of giving circles also poses challenges for donors and nonprofits.
The Donor Power Blog suggests that rather than trying to decide if giving circles are either a threat or opportunity, that organizations can and should learn to live with them.
Local Giving Circles
Check out a few of the giving circles in our community:
Sand Dollars - A Women's Charitable Fund is a newly- formed group of women primarily from the Encinitas/Carlsbad area (membership is open to women anywhere in North San Diego County). Their mission is "to support philanthropy
through the consolidation of our individual donations, because we can achieve more together than we can alone." Each member has made a charitable contribution of $500, all of which will go to support a grant to a non-profit organization, anticipated to total $7,000 in 2007. Sand Dollars is operated as a donor-advised fund at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. For more information, contact Terry Hassig or by phone at 760/271.6481.
North County Giving Circle: Elsa Singh organized a giving circle of twelve women who have committed support this year to Women's Empowerment International. Each of the women pledges what she is able to give and one person collects the checks. The group gets together socially 5-6 times a year and is planning a fall event to invite more members and form additional giving circles.
Blue Thong Society is a national women's organization launched in Encinitas in 2006 and designed to connect women trying to stay "young at heart." Each chapter partners with a local charity organization. Click here for more information about the group.
Several SDG members are examples of larger giving circles: Jewish Women's Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation, San Diego Social Venture Partners and Rancho Santa Fe Women's Fund. Also, Neighborhood Unity Foundation is in the early stages of forming a giving circle in the Southeast San Diego community.
More Resources
Upcoming
SDG Programs
Child Welfare Funders-Listening to Foster Youth
July 18, 2007
12:00-2:00pm
Location: Casey Family Programs, 3878 Old Town Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110
Third Thursdays Breakfast Series (Nosh, Network, Knowledge)
July 19, Aug 16, Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15
8:30-10:30am
Locations:
United Way of San Diego County (June, July)
4699 Murphy Canyon Rd
The San Diego Foundation (August-November)
July 19 topic: Accountability in Action: A Self-Assessment Workshop. Click here for more information about the breakfast series.
Guiding Principles Project Task Force Meeting II
July 23, 2007
9:00-11:00am
Location: AMN Healthcare Inc., 12400 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130
Corporate Giving that Matters: Achieving Strategic Impact
July 31, 2007
8:30-10:30am
Location: Time Warner Cable, 10450 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121
Capacity Building Workshop
August 3, 2007
10:00am-1:00pm
Location: The California Endowment, 600 West Broadway, Suite 1250, San Diego, CA 92101
Education Funders
August 8, 2007
8:30-10:30am
Location: The San Diego Foundation, 2508 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego, CA 92106
Nonprofit Leadership Transitions: How Funders Can Help
August 29, 2007
2:00-4:00pm
Location: TBA
Family Foundation Exchange (FFE)
September 11, 2007
10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Northern Trust, San Diego, CA 92122
Topic: Community Foundations and Donor-Advised Funds: Overhead and Administrative Expenses. Facilitators: Murray Galinson, Tim McCarthy, and Kit-Victoria Wells.
The Family Foundation Exchange serves as a vehicle to explore new avenues of grantmaking, gain skills and knowledge, and find support and encouragement among peers.
Adventures in Family Foundation Succession
October 1, 2007
10:00am -12:00pm
Location: NTC Promenade, San Diego, CA
Moderator: Peg Eddy, CFP(r), President, Creative Capital Management Inc.
Panel: To be Announced
Sponsors: McCarthy Family Foundation, Patricia and Christopher Weil Family Foundation, and Toby Wells Foundation
SDG 2007 Annual Conference
November 8, 2007
Location: NTC Promenade
Save the date! Among our expert speakers are Peter Hero, Senior Advisor and former President of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Albert Ruesga, Vice President of The Meyer Foundation and chair of Hispanics in Philanthropy. Click here for more information and click here (pdf) to download a sponsorship form.
Click here for more information about all of these SDG programs. All programs are free for SDG members except where indicated.
To RSVP, please call (619) 744-2180 or email programs@sdgrantmakers.org.
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