Collective giving benefits not only the nonprofits that receive grants from giving circles, but it also directly improves the wellbeing of giving circle members. A recent report examining the thriving collective giving movement in the US says 55 percent of its survey respondents said their participation in collective giving positively impacts their ability to live a healthy life -- physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. 

Among the hundreds of Philanos members who took part in the study, 50 percent said their participation in a collective giving group has had a positive impact on their ability to lead a healthy life. And an impressive 75 percent of Philanos members said their participation allowed them to live life with purpose - closely corresponding to the 77 percent of overall survey respondents who said the same. 

A majority of Philanos respondents also said being involved in a collective giving group gave them more confidence in speaking up and trying to make positive changes in their communities.

The report, In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S, was issued in April of 2024, and examined many aspects of the collective giving movement. 

Please rate the impact that participation in any of the collective giving groups of which you are/have been a member has had on your:

Many of the more than 2,000 respondents nationwide said they find mutual support for navigating life’s challenges through their giving circles. The In Abundance report quotes Jackie Griffin of COLA Gives of South Carolina, who says she has become good friends with her fellow giving circle members. 

“We have learned to support each other,” Jackie says. “Yes, it’s about helping others. However, if we don't take care of ourselves, we’re not in any shape or condition to help others. This keeps us mentally grounded and sane, so as a giving circle, we can help each other as well as others.”

More than 80 percent of the survey respondents said they initially joined a giving circle to amplify their philanthropic impact by pooling resources with others. Many Philanos respondents also said they wanted to build relationships with others who shared similar values or identities and to form connections within their communities. 

Please rate the following statements around why you decided to join the first collective giving group of which you were/are a member:

Giving circle participants say they found a profound sense of purpose and belonging once they began their engagement with the giving circles. It enriches their personal and professional lives -- with 56 percent of Philanos respondents saying they have been able to expand or strengthen their personal and professional networks. 

Select up to four benefits you have experienced as a result of participating in any of the collective giving groups of which you are/have been a member:

One survey participant summed up her feelings by saying people are changed by being part of a giving circle. 

Masha V. Chernyak, former Senior Vice President at the Latino Community Foundation, San Francisco, California, says, “The most important is a sense of hope that things can get better when you participate. People are so nervous to begin or start something or join something new. When they do they feel connected to something greater than themselves that changes them, that changes everybody involved.”

In February’s eNewsletter, we’ll look at the diversifying make-up of philanthropists, thanks to the growing trend of collective giving.