Giving Circles: Recent Comments

Comment on Inspiring Giving, Leaders & Members

GCN BLOG Manager — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:32:25 GMT

Thank you for this comment as many Giving Circles are facing this same issue. For some innovative approaches, we recommend that you see the October 2008 Giving Circles Conference summary. Several topics touched on membership recruitment and retention. A few ideas for individuals who are unable to participate are to give whatever they can or even have someone "sponsor" their membership, volunteer their time through service projects (instead of donate money), support the Giving Circle in the grant process, come to a community issue "Discovery Day" where people can learn about community issues (participate in the learning process), or participate in a Giving Circle supported book club or other social activity -- just to keep them involved, engaged and interested in the Giving Circle mission.

Comment on Inspiring Giving, Leaders & Members

Jennifer Natale — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:06:39 GMT

In this challenging economy, I'm wondering how other circles are managing the loss of members. I'm particularly interested in innovative ways to retain members even if they are financially unable to participate in the circle at this point in time.

Comment on Go to the Giving Circles Network

jack — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:16:40 GMT

Did you know that voluntary giving has been shown to stir activity in the brain centers that process feelings of reward? The “warm glow” view of altruism holds that people give because helping others and our community makes us feel good. The giving circle experience is a win-win! Our contributions serve to help those in need and we feel good about having a positive impact on others. A circle stimulates giving and philanthropic activity of all kinds and gives members a focused, deliberate, hands-on experience.

Some facts about Giving Circles around the country:

1. There are more than 220 known circles throughout the United States, likely hundreds more.
2. Giving circles involve people of all races and ethnicities.
3. Over half are all or mostly female.
4. Age varies – youngest 5, oldest 90.
5. Amount donated varies—$1 a day to $20,000 per year
6. People participate to connect with others, give back to community
7. Most circles offer educational opportunities for their members.
8. Top issues include:
a. Youth development
b. Women and girls
c. Human services
d. Mental health/intervention
e. Other topics include: animals, environment, health, crime, food/agriculture/nutrition, medical research, recreation/sports/leisure, the arts, education, literacy, global issues, etc

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jack

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Comment on Community Needs Discovery

GCN BLOG Manager — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:35:07 GMT

Thanks, Brendan, for updating us. Hopefully our past comments on attracting interest will help. You might also want to Contact Global Sojourns in Arlington, VA about their approach to generating interest in their Sub-Saharan Africa projects. See the link at:

http://www.givingcircles.org/About_Advisory%20Panel.htm#Global_Sojourns_Giving_Circles_(GSGC)

Please keep us posted on your Giving Circle's progress in South Africa!

Comment on Community Needs Discovery

Brendan Lillis — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:00:07 GMT

I read with great interest of the work in sub Saharan Africa that the Clarence Foundation does. I will contact them directly as I believe there could be a fit with our activities in South Africa

We have just launched our giving circle at www.brendanlilliswords.com/givingcircle.html and would welcome suggestions on how best to attract interested people to participate. Thanks

Brendan Lillis

Comment on Community Needs Discovery

Brendan Lillis — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:41:42 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions

Let's call it Brendan Lillis Words Giving Circle

Appreciate you adding it to your list

We are actioning your other suggestions

Thanks again

Comment on Community Needs Discovery

GCN BLOG Manager — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:51:20 GMT

Brendan,

Thanks for the entry on the Giving Circle supporting children in south Africa. While we are not experienced in "fund raiser drawings" of this type, we can recommend some approaches to increase membership in your Giving Circle (i.e., attract supporters), as follow:

1) Grow the Circle: Invite friends and colleagues - The core of any Giving Circle is normally and first your friends and colleagues. See if others in your professional and personal social circles would like to join you. You could even go so far as list it as a Meetup on www.meetup.com or go to http://givingcircle.meetup.com/ and actually see if you can stimulate interest that way.

2) Market the Circle More: You seem to be doing a good job marketing your Circle already via the www.worldgolf.com newswire article since you already have a presence in the world golf community. We might also recommend radio and local media (where you live and work). We would be happy to add the Circle to our list (http://www.givingcircles.org/GCN%20Giving%20Circles%20List.htm) if you provide the name of your circle (not on the Foundation's website).

3) Contact other Foundations who sponsor "institution-initiated" Circles such as community and public foundations near you, to see if you can stimulate interest and/or learn how they promote their circles within their foundations. We recommend you visit the Council on Foundations at http://www.cof.org/ and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers website (www.givingforum.org) and to their Knowledge Center on Giving Circles, which may offer some additional ideas.

4) Contact the Clarence Foundation, which hosts Global Giving Circles at: http://www.theclarencefoundation.org/programs.html They form temporary "book club" type circles that focus on different issues/causes and countries. You can see on their website how they market their global giving circles.

We hope the above helps. Let us know about your progress and impact.

Thanks again!

Comment on Community Needs Discovery

Brendan Lillis — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:25:47 GMT

This Foundation is starting a Giving Circle, aiming to raise funds for "580 of the neediest kids on earth", the shanty town slum dwellers of Joe Slovo, Gamalatjie and Thabo Mbeki "informal settlements", just outside Johannesburg, South Africa. The objective is to bring the internet to these kids schools, Blair Atholl Schools, so that they have a window to the outside world, other than their parlous dailiy living conditions. Full details are available on our web site

How do we best attract supporters to our Giving Circle. Appreciate advice

Comment on Join us!

Carmen Stevens — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:08:59 GMT

Hi Donna -

The giving circles that I have participated with have had a wide variety of board structures, but I have found that the most successful circles have a system that is inclusive.

For instance, committees have been formed and exist as long as is needed. The whole group is invited to join in a committee in which they have an interest. Within the group structure of each committee itself, a leader and/or leaders emerges.

We have successfully staffed the committees with a chair/co-chair structure so that when a term ends (usually 2 years) the co-chair can assume the leadership role. That helps with continuity and with new leadership at the same time.

It all depends on how large your circle is and how many committees that the group feels are needed. Let me know a little more about your group and I will be happy to refer you to groups that may be similar.

Thanks,

Carmen Stevens

Carmen Stevens

Comment on Join us!

Donna Oklak — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:33:48 GMT

Looking for successful board structures of giving circles between ages of 3-10 years old. Am specifically interested in models that offer sustainability of organization and continuity of leadership. Very interested in how your process of nominating new board members to the board. Do you ask board members to serve for more than one year? For example is there an expectation that in the second year they would then lead that committee position. Is the committee appointed? Does the commitee work year round? Do you have shared roles on the board, i.e. secretary performs bylaws updates? Thanks.