PHILANOS Philanos Blog

CircleUp Chicago

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:36:45 GMT

Thank you to everyone who joined us at CircleUP Chicago, hosted by Philanos, Philanthropy Together,Grapevine, and the Chicago Foundation for Women!

We’re incredibly grateful to the 130+ attendees who showed up, engaged, and explored the power of giving circles. Your energy and commitment to collective philanthropy made the event truly special!

As Philanos Co-Chair Clare O'Brien said:

"Our CircleUp Chicago event on March 31 was a vibrant, inclusive and joyful celebration of women’s collective giving! It was a treat to spend the evening with treasured and new friends from across our philanthropic ecosystem. Together with our partners Philanthropy Together, Grapevine, Latino Community Foundation, Chicago Foundation for Women and Women's Philanthropy at Indiana University, we welcomed over 130 giving circle members, partners, collaborators and funders. I was delighted to see members of Philanos affiliates Impact Austin, Impact100 Metro Denver, Impact 100 Cincinnati, Impact 100 of Greater Indianapolis, 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, Impact100 South Jersey and Impact Grants Chicago, as well as our long-term funders, Fidelity Charitable®Catalyst Fund, Raikes Foundation and DAFgiving360. The atmosphere was welcoming and celebratory, with attendees bringing a colleague, sister, mother and significant other to learn about the joys of community-based giving.

This event also reminded me why Philanos provides support for giving circles through both programmatic offerings AND fostering relationships. For 17 years, we have helped to build the connective tissue in women’s collective giving, creating a supportive, inclusive and generous community where ideas and resources can flow freely. This gathering vividly demonstrated the power of Mark Granovetter’s sociological theory of “The Strength of Weak Ties” whereby some of the most valuable innovations, opportunities and financial support can originate from networks distant from your own. It was rewarding to see the many new personal connections forged that night, uniting individuals with shared goals and values from disparate networks - with the hope that these leaders can combine their resources and lived experiences to create opportunities that enable all to thrive. In that vein, we closed out our program by hearing from seven inspirational Chicago-based giving circles, several of which are rooted in under resourced communities."

Jenny Berg: 2026 Colleen Willoughby Award Recipient

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:01:45 GMT

By Ellen Ragone
Impact100 South Jersey
Philanos Comminications Committee

Honoring a visionary philanthropic leader who is using their collective giving experience in new and innovative ways!

Philanos is proud to recognize Jenny Berg of Impact 100 Cincinnati as the 2026 recipient of the Willoughby Award—its highest honor celebrating visionary leadership in women’s collective giving. Announced in conjunction with International Women’s Day, this milestone marks the fifth presentation of the award, continuing a tradition of honoring women who are reshaping philanthropy through collaboration, inclusion, and bold thinking.

For more than 20 years, Jenny Berg has been a driving force in expanding the reach and impact of collective giving. Since joining Impact 100 Cincinnati in 2004, she has helped redefine what it means to be a philanthropist—opening the door for women of all backgrounds to engage in meaningful, community-centered grantmaking. As Jenny shares, “I believe anyone can be a philanthropist – if one has the opportunity to be exposed to the positive effects of philanthropy. This may mean one has been on the receiving end of philanthropy, has witnessed someone involved in serving others, or has been fortunate enough to see firsthand a family member or friend whose financial donation, no matter how small or how large, has made an impact.”

Her leadership has strengthened membership, increased accessibility, and empowered more women to see their voices as essential to the philanthropic process. Jenny’s personal reflection captures the essence of her journey. What began as a new experience evolved into a deep sense of purpose and belonging within a diverse community united by shared impact. Today, she continues that legacy as the 2026 president-elect while mentoring future leaders, ensuring sustainability and growth for years to come.

Beyond Impact 100 Cincinnati, Jenny’s professional and national contributions are equally significant. As former Executive Director of the Leadership Council for Nonprofits, she expanded leadership development and fostered cross-sector collaboration across Greater Cincinnati. Her influence also extends through Philanos, where she served as Board Chair and remains actively engaged, helping strengthen the collective giving movement nationwide.

A connector, mentor, and changemaker, Jenny Berg exemplifies the spirit of the Willoughby Award—demonstrating how one leader’s vision can inspire a more inclusive and impactful philanthropic future.

It’s a Wrap! PowerUP! Texas is Officially in the Books

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:30:48 GMT

What an extraordinary few days in Austin!

PowerUP! Texas was more than a conference — it was a gathering of bold, generous, forward-thinking leaders who believe deeply in the power of women’s collective giving.

From the opening moments to our final conversations, attendees showed up with curiosity, courage, and commitment. They asked hard questions. Shared real challenges. Celebrated impact. And we were reminded — over and over — that when women give together, transformation follows.

Keynote That Moved Us Forward

We were honored to welcome Diane Yentel, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, as our Monday night keynote.

Diane challenged us to:

Stand firmly with and for nonprofits
Understand the policy landscape affecting our grantees
Use our collective voices as boldly as we use our collective dollars

Her message was clear: philanthropy must be courageous, informed, and unwavering in its commitment to community.

It was a powerful call to action — and a reminder that leadership is not optional in times like these.

And were inspired by all of our plenary speakers: Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell, Sara Lomelin, Julian Castro, Tony Bowen, Michelle Gayles, Mike Nellis and Lynne Twist.

2026 Spotlight Award Honorees

We were proud to celebrate these outstanding circles whose impact exemplifies the strength of collective giving:

Impact100 Sonoma - Recognized for its long-standing partnership with Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance.

Impact San Antonio - Recognized for a transformational investment for cultural preservation in Esperanza Peace and Justice Center – Museo del Westside

100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation - Celebrated for its powerful investment in Women on the Rise.

Through Breakouts and Affinity Groups, We…

Explored what it means to Meet the Moment
Strengthened our circles through strategy, governance, and storytelling
Amplified BIPOC voices and nonprofit partnerships
Celebrated impact stories that reflect our shared values
Connected across states, models, and experiences
Laughed, learned, and built relationships that will carry forward long after Austin

We are deeply grateful to our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, Opportunity Advocates, and every participant who contributed their voice and energy.

Conferences like this don’t just happen — they are built by a community that believes in something bigger than itself.

The ripple effect continues.

With gratitude,
Ann Marie McGee
On behalf of the Philanos Board of Directors

Announcing PowerUP! Texas Philanos Spotlight Award Recipients ✨

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:17:56 GMT

At PowerUP! Texas, we had the privilege of honoring three extraordinary Philanos Affiliates whose grantmaking reflects deep trust, responsiveness to community voice, and measurable impact.

Our Spotlight Awards recognize giving circles that listen closely, lead with values, and remain committed over time. These are circles that understand philanthropy is not just about funding — it is about partnership.

We are proud to celebrate our 2026 Spotlight Award recipients and their nonprofit partners:

Impact100 Sonoma

Nonprofit Partner: Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance

Impact100 Sonoma was recognized for its extraordinary, long-term partnership with the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. Since 2011, the circle has awarded eight grants — responding to evolving needs by funding mentoring centers, supporting program expansion, and helping build wraparound services that now serve 2,400 youth.

The results speak volumes: every participating 12th grader has graduated from high school. This is sustained, community-centered philanthropy in action — and a powerful example of what trust-based partnership makes possible.

Impact San Antonio

Nonprofit Partner: Esperanza Peace and Justice Center – Museo del Westside

Impact San Antonio was honored for values-driven philanthropy that affirms history, culture, and community voice. Their high-impact grant to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s Museo del Westside helped bring to life the first museum dedicated to honoring the stories, art, and culture of San Antonio’s historically Mexican-American Westside community.

As the first funder to step forward, Impact San Antonio inspired additional support — demonstrating how collective giving can catalyze momentum and protect cultural heritage. This is philanthropy that says: your story matters, and your future matters.

100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation

Nonprofit Partner: Women on the Rise

100 Women Strong was recognized for trust-based, responsive giving in action. Through a $70,000 grant, the circle supported Women on the Rise and their Career Development Program as it adapted based on what participants said they truly needed — addressing economic barriers, including the benefits cliff, and investing in mentorship, education, and technology access.

The result is a program centered on dignity, lived experience, and leadership development — empowering women to stabilize financially, grow professionally, and step confidently into their futures.

As Susan Benford shared in closing the celebration: “Your leadership, trust, and commitment remind us what’s possible when women come together to give with intention and heart.”

Please join us in congratulating these remarkable giving circles and the nonprofit leaders who stand beside them.

Together, we continue to amplify the power of women’s collective giving.

With appreciation,

Ann Marie McGee
On behalf of the Philanos Board of Directors

Why Attend Philanos 101

Nancy Clark — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:18:37 GMT

New to Your Circle's Leadership?
Just Joined Philanos? Start With Philanos 101!

Our next session is Mar 3, 2026- 12 PM ET

Stepping into leadership within a giving circle is both exciting and meaningful—and it often comes with questions.

How do you make the most of your Philanos affiliation?
What resources are available to support your role?
And how can you connect with peers across the country who are navigating similar opportunities and challenges?

Philanos 101 is designed to answer those questions and more.

Why Attend Philanos 101?

Philanos 101 is a virtual onboarding and orientation session created specifically for new and emerging leaders within Philanos Affiliates. The session covers a broad range of topics and provides opportunities to ask lots of questions.

Whether you’re new to your leadership role, new to Philanos, or simply looking to better understand what’s available to you and your members, this session provides a clear and welcoming starting point.

Participants leave Philanos 101 with a stronger understanding of the network—and ideas on how to engage with it.

What You’ll Learn

During this interactive session, you’ll explore:

The mission and purpose of Philanos and how it supports collective giving
Ways Affiliates engage nationally, including shared learning, collaboration, and peer connection
Philanos programs and offerings, such as webinars, affinity groups, CircleUps, and leadership resources
How to get involved and strengthen your circle’s local impact

You’ll also hear how Philanos Affiliates across the country are using Philanos resources to support governance, membership growth, communications, grantmaking, and leadership development,

Who Should Attend?

Philanos 101 is ideal for:

Affiliate groups that are new to the Philanos network
New leaders at current affiliates (plus committee chairs and emerging leaders)
Staff supporting Philanos Affiliates
Anyone seeking a refresher on how to engage more fully with Philanos

Event Details

Philanos 101
Date: March 3, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Format: Virtual (Zoom)

Register here to save your spot and receive the Zoom link.

We hope you’ll join us!
Michelle Cottrell & Demetria Caston
Affiliate Engagement Co-Chairs

Questions - email Philanos Administrator

It Takes a Village: Thank You to Our PowerUP! Texas Supporters

Nancy Clark — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:47:15 GMT

It Takes a Village: Thank You to Our PowerUP! Texas Supporters

Bringing the Philanos community together for PowerUP! Texas is a powerful reminder that meaningful impact is never created alone.

A conference of this scope—designed to inspire, connect, and strengthen women’s collective giving across the country—truly takes a village. It takes thoughtful planning, dedicated volunteers, engaged leaders, and partners who believe deeply in the power of collective philanthropy and local community impact.

We are profoundly grateful to our conference sponsors, whose generosity and partnership have made PowerUP! Texas possible. There are so many supporters to thank individually. The support is truly inspirational. Thank you! We also want to lift up sponsors such as Bank of America and The Raikes Foundation as examples of the values-driven partners who helped bring this gathering to life—investing in leadership, learning, and the long-term strength of communities.

All of our supporters help us create space for:

Honest, forward-looking conversations
Learning to strengthen our giving circles and nonprofit partners
Connections that will ripple outward and across the country
Reflection on how to steward resources with purpose, intention and integrity

Their support has also impacted our plenary sessions, learning experiences, and moments of reflection to challenge us to think more boldly about leadership, philanthropy, and impact.

We are also deeply grateful to the many attendees who chose to PowerUP! their registration by making a small additional donation. These individual acts of generosity reflect the very heart of Philanos—women stepping forward together to strengthen the network and ensure access, learning, and connection for leaders across our community. Each contribution, no matter the size, has made a meaningful difference.

To all of our sponsors—and to every individual who supported PowerUP! Texas in ways large and small—thank you. Your partnership strengthens not only this conference, but the broader Philanos network of women leaders and giving circles working every day to create change in their local communities.

As We Head to Austin: Gratitude for Our PowerUP! Texas Sponsors

Nancy Clark — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:14:56 GMT

As we head to Austin in just over two weeks for the 2026 Philanos National Conference, PowerUP! Texas, we want to take a moment to recognize and express our deep appreciation for the sponsors who make this gathering possible.

Our sponsors are more than supporters—they are partners in advancing women’s collective giving. Their investment helps ensure that Philanos can convene leaders from across our network, deliver meaningful learning experiences, and create space for connection, collaboration, and shared leadership that strengthens impact in local communities nationwide.

Because of their generosity, PowerUP! Texas will bring together women philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and partners committed to learning from one another and amplifying what works—together. Sponsorship support helps us deliver a conference experience that is accessible, thoughtful, and grounded in the values that define Philanos: collective leadership, shared learning, and community-centered impact.

We are grateful to our sponsors for their confidence in Philanos and their commitment to the power of collective giving. We look forward to recognizing them throughout the conference and celebrating the important role they play in strengthening our network.

Thank you to our sponsors—and to our entire Philanos community—for being part of this shared work and collective momentum.

With appreciation,
Philanos and our Philanthropic Community

Philanos by the Numbers — Impact in Action

Nancy Clark — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:25:32 GMT

Philanos by the Numbers — Impact in Action

As we begin 2026, we are thrilled to recognize our growing, global Philanos Affiliate Network of 110 women-led giving circles, each a women’s giving circle deeply rooted in its local community. Together, these Philanos Affiliates represent more than 22,000 members who are mobilizing collective philanthropy to drive meaningful change. Since their inception, Philanos Affiliates have awarded $271 million in grants to nonprofits serving communities across the United States and beyond—demonstrating the extraordinary power of women-led collective giving to create sustained, local impact at scale.

In 2025, the Philanos Network also expanded enterprise-wide through our Philanthropic Network Partners—engaging organizations that included the Arizona Community Foundation and the Idaho Community Foundation. These partners now represent 30 of Philanos’ 110 giving circles, bringing new perspectives, increased diversity, and expanded pathways to collective giving—while remaining firmly focused on strengthening the local communities each Philanos Affiliate serves.

“As our network grows, so does Philanos’ commitment to ensuring every Philanos Affiliate has access to useful resources, peer connection, and learning opportunities. In 2026, our robust schedule of Affinity Groups and Webinars will continue to support the leadership of our Affiliates to grow and connect their membership, run impactful grantmaking and education programs, and run more efficiently - all with the goal of amplifying the power of collective giving in local communities and increasing the number of philanthropists.” — Michelle Cottrell, Philanos Board Member and Co-Chair, Affiliate Engagement

Building the Next Generation of Givers: Impact100 Greater Milwaukee’s Young Philanthropists

Nancy Clark — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:12:13 GMT

By Ellie Vernick
Philanos Student Intern and Member of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County’s Young Women’s Giving Circle

At Philanos, we know that the future of philanthropy depends on engaging and empowering the next generation of givers. That’s why we are excited to shine a spotlight on affiliate giving circles that have created Young Philanthropist programs to nurture youth and young adult involvement in collective giving.

Through these programs, young people learn about philanthropy, community needs, and the power of working together to make a difference. Each of the giving circles we’ll feature in this series has developed a unique approach to bringing younger voices to the table — helping to ensure that collective giving remains vibrant, inclusive, and impactful for years to come.

Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is an organization of women who collectively award transformative grants that make a lasting impact on the surrounding community. Founded in 2015 by Anne Trunzo, Mary Therese Breger, Cynthia Harris, Sue Connor, and Jamy Malatesta, it became the 28th Impact100 organization in the nation, following the model first established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2001. Today, the organization consists of 350 members and has awarded over $3M in grants to 40 unique nonprofit organizations. Focusing on areas including arts & culture, education, environment & revitalization, health & wellness, and family, this giving circle plans to award up to $350,000 in grants in 2025.

In 2023, Impact100 Greater Milwaukee began their Young Philanthropist Program, aiming to introduce as many young women to their organization as possible, with the goal of showcasing the power of collective giving. In doing so, they wanted to expand the age range that contributed to large-scale charitable grantmaking within their organization. Thus, the program was opened to women under 40, allowing them a chance to get to know the organization without having to commit to a full membership. In the 2025–2026 year, the program will host 30 members, two away from their initial goal, with 10 of these members being renewed members from the year prior. And with the increase in youth members each year, the organization hopes to strengthen its pipeline of future leaders, donors, and community advocates.

These Young Philanthropists partake in a special two year half-membership-model, donating $550 per year, half the cost of a normal membership. This discounted rate is supported by members who choose to invest in the next generation of women philanthropists, through restricted donations directly to the program. During this period, they are able to fully engage in and learn about the grantmaking process through committee participation, and voting. Thus, they are still full members and follow the organization's leading principle, “One Woman. One Vote.” Additionally, youth members are encouraged to take an active role with the grant review process, engaging with the local nonprofits through site visits, committee work, and Connect & Serve events.

Through this process, youth members gain an understanding of how their grants, along with the power of collective giving, generate tangible and visible impact for the next generation. This opportunity also allows the youth members to grow as philanthropists, regardless of their age, and helps the organization further its mission of strengthening, uplifting, and enriching lives within their community. YP Ambassador Stacy Scheffer claims, “I often hear YP members say, ‘I didn’t know something like this was out there!’ Philanthropy is so often seen as something you do later in life, but it’s powerful to see young women realize that their voice… can make a real impact.”

During the 2025–2026 year, Impact100 Greater Milwaukee has implemented key improvements to grow and strengthen its YP Program, following the Philanos YP Cohort sessions. These include increasing YP leadership on the organization’s board, hosting more networking events, and appointing an official Young Philanthropist ambassador role within the organization. This position is dedicated to planning YP events, directing communications, and encouraging membership renewals. As a result, membership has nearly doubled. However, the program still faces many challenges including, leadership recruitment timing and ensuring sustainable funding. Currently the difference in membership dues is provided by private donors or current members that sponsor young philanthropists. The group is working to address these barriers by increasing event offerings and program visibility.

The Young Philanthropists of Impact100 Greater Milwaukee are a powerful example of how giving circles can engage and inspire the next generation of changemakers. By offering opportunities to learn, give, and lead, these programs ensure that collective giving continues to grow and thrive.

At Philanos, we are proud to highlight the innovative ways our affiliate members are building a strong future for philanthropy. To learn more about Philanos and our network of women’s giving circles, visit www.philanos.org. Additionally, to learn more about upcoming opportunities, including the October 30th Young Philanthropist Affinity Group virtual meeting, visit https://philanos.org/Young-Philanthropist.

Looking Ahead in 2026: A Year of Connection, Learning, and Collective Impact

Nancy Clark — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:09:14 GMT

Looking Ahead in 2026: A Year of Connection, Learning, and Collective Impact

As we look to the year ahead, Philanos is energized by the growing momentum of the collective giving movement and the many ways we’ll continue to connect, support, and elevate our Affiliates and partners.

A major highlight on the horizon is our Philanos National Conference, February 8–10 in Austin, Texas. This gathering will bring together circle leaders from across the country for learning, inspiration, and connection - offering space to share ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen relationships that fuel our work year-round.

Beyond the conference, Philanos will continue to convene our community through nine active Affinity Groups and four webinars throughout the year, creating regular opportunities for peer learning, leadership development, and shared problem-solving. These spaces allow Affiliates to connect around specific roles, interests, and topics - deepening collaboration and strengthening the network.

We’ll also continue to grow and refresh the Philanos website and member portal, which serves as a hub for tools, resources, case studies, and practical guidance to support giving circles at every stage of development.

Strong, consistent communication remains central to our work. Affiliates are encouraged to share Philanos updates throughout their giving circles, including:

Our website with curated resources and timely updates
The monthly Philanos eNewsletter, featuring stories, insights, and opportunities
The bi-weekly Philanos Events email, highlighting upcoming convenings and learning opportunities
Our active and growing social media presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky, where we amplify the voices, impact, and leadership of the collective giving movement

Together, these touchpoints help keep our community informed, engaged, and connected.

The year ahead is full of opportunity - to learn from one another, to strengthen our circles, and to continue advancing a more inclusive, collaborative, and powerful philanthropic future. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you and look forward to all we’ll accomplish together.

Kyle Ruffin, past President of Impact100 South Jersey, received the first-ever Willoughby Award in 2021

Nancy Clark — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:50:49 GMT

Kyle Ruffin, past President of Impact100 South Jersey, received the first-ever Willoughby Award in 2021.

As a founding member and past-president of Impact100 South Jersey, Kyle led efforts to raise a collective contribution of $1.4 million to non-profits throughout the South Jersey community. She also led the initiative to implement the Community Heroes Grant, which has expanded the number of organizations supported annually and provided funding options for smaller organizations. It sprang from the desire to incorporate trust-based philanthropy into Impact100 South Jersey's mission to level the playing field for smaller, often minority-led organizations.

Being one of the founding members of Impact100 South Jersey, Kyle realized that the power of women's philanthropic efforts was a "best-kept secret." She realized that women-centric giving circles and women-focused organizations play an impactful role in their communities. Kyle figured if these programs were so successful, why not get everyone together to help further the efforts and get visibility by sharing the secrets and creating partnerships.

In addition to her work with Impact, Kyle participated in the Blacks In Philanthropy conference, where she served on the "Strengthening the Results of Black Philanthropists & Misconceptions of Giving in the Black Community: Where We Give & Why We Give" panel. In 2024, she served on the Conference's Steering Committee. The Conference is put on annually by the Smith Family Foundation in Trenton, NJ.To this day, Kyle sits on several community boards. In 2021, Kyle published her book "In's Stroke's Shadow: My Caregiver Story" and has been focused on offering resources that encourage self-care for family caregivers.

Ready to Make a Difference? We Need You!

Nancy Clark — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:20:15 GMT

Ready to Make a Difference? We Need You!

Across the Philanos Affiliate Network, women are transforming their communities through the power of collective giving. Your local Circle is stronger and more successful because of YOU—your membership, your generosity, and your leadership. The same is true of Philanos.

Like your own circle, Philanos is powered by volunteers: board members and committee leaders who believe that when our network thrives, every affiliate is better equipped to create change at home. As we head into an exciting year for collective giving, we are inviting you to consider stepping into national leadership with Philanos.

Why Your Leadership Matters

When you lend your time and talent to Philanos, you:

Strengthen your own affiliate. The skills, connections, and insight you gain at the national level come home with you to benefit your circle.
Shape the future of women’s collective giving. Philanos volunteers help set strategy, design programs, and build partnerships that support affiliates across the country.
Expand your network. Serving on the Board or a committee connects you with peers and leaders nationwide who are navigating the same opportunities and challenges.
Amplify diverse voices. Philanos is at its best when our leadership reflects the full diversity of our affiliates—across geography, size, race, age, professional background, and experience.

If you are passionate about collaborative philanthropy and ready to grow as a leader, we hope you’ll consider applying.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking women with experience, interest, or curiosity in one or more of these areas (you don’t need to check every box!):

Finance – Reporting, budgeting, nonprofit tax, investments; experience with tools like QuickBooks Online is a plus.
Technology – Data analysis, cybersecurity, web development, cloud tools; platforms such as Wild Apricot, Airtable, Softr, AI tools, and Google Analytics.
Development – Storytelling, relationship building, sponsorships, and making the case for supporting women’s collective giving
Communications - Writing, storytelling, website, social media, graphics, presentations, eNewsletter, managing digital assets; experience with apps such as Canva, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp, Wild Apricot, Google Analytics, Google Docs, website CMS platforms, Blog platforms
Events – Organizing conferences or programs; vendor/venue management, budgeting, and creative problem-solving.
Education – Content planning, curriculum design, and project management for learning programs.
Affiliate Engagement – Building relationships with smaller and emerging affiliates, deepening relationships with longtime affiliates and helping us serve a more diverse membership.
Governance – Board service, nonprofit law, or policy experience.
Strategic Partnerships – Grant writing, reporting, and stewarding institutional funders.

Whether you are a seasoned leader or emerging voice, there is a place for you on our Board or one of our committees.

Ways to Serve: Board and Committees

You can apply to serve on the Philanos Board of Directors or on one of our committees. Committees are an excellent entry point if you’re newer to national Philanos work or prefer a focused role.

Board & Committee Applications

Application deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026

What Our Committees Do

Philanos committees are where strategy becomes action. Here’s a snapshot of each one:

Affiliate Engagement Committee
Welcomes prospective and new member organizations, supports registration and orientation, and manages ongoing stewardship for current affiliates.
Communications Committee
Develops and implements communication and public relations strategies to share Philanos’ impact and support the mission of the network.
Development Committee
Builds external connections with the broader philanthropic community, including prospective funders and potential new affiliates.
Education Committee
Designs educational themes and content, weaving them through conferences, webinars, and customized programs.
Finance Committee
Reviews and oversees the creation of accurate, timely, and meaningful financial statements and reports for the Board.
Strategic Partnership Committee
Develops and manages strategic partnerships, monitors progress toward goals, measures impact, and reports to both the Philanos Board and funders on grant-related work.
Technology Committee
Ensures that Philanos’ technology platforms support our business objectives, affiliates, and strategic priorities, and that we maintain appropriate data security and privacy practices.

You can find more detail in our role descriptions:

Philanos Board Officer, Leadership, and Committee Job Descriptions, here.

Nominate a Fellow Leader

Do you know someone in your affiliate who would make a terrific Philanos leader?

If you wish to refer a candidate for the Board of Directors, Governance Committee, or any of our committees, please send her name, giving circle, phone number, and email address to Maureen Romito, Board Member and Governance Committee Chair. A member of our Nominating Committee will follow up personally with your referral.

Have Questions or Want to Talk It Through?

We understand that stepping into a new leadership role is a thoughtful decision. If you’d like to talk with someone before applying, we’re happy to connect.

Please email your questions or a request for a conversation to Maureen Romito, Board Member and Governance Committee Chair.

Thank you for all you already do—for your circle, for Philanos, and for the communities we serve together. We hope you’ll consider taking the next step in your leadership journey with us.

Impact100 South Jersey Member Receives The Mary Philbrook Award

Nancy Clark — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:45:30 GMT

Impact100 South Jersey's Leadership Council member, Patty Legge, recently received The Mary Philbrook Award, presented annually by the Rutgers Law School - Camden (NJ) Women’s Law Caucus and the Association for Public Interest Law, for her work as Executive Director of the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic. The award recognizes alums who exemplify a lifelong commitment to social justice and public service.

Since launching the clinic in her kitchen in 2018, Patty has made extraordinary strides toward expanding access to justice in South Jersey. "We congratulate Patty on this well-deserved recognition and thank Rutgers Law for honoring her outstanding leadership, service, and unwavering advocacy for justice," said Kate Williamson, President, Impact100 South Jersey.

Patty has transformed a grassroots idea into a thriving nonprofit with five staff members, over 200 volunteer attorneys, and a half-million-dollar budget—all dedicated to providing high-quality, pro bono legal services across South Jersey. “Access to justice should not depend on your income, your background, or your past,” Patty shared, reflecting her belief that every person deserves fair and compassionate legal representation.

Before joining Volunteer UP, she served as a career law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, dedicating over 22 years to federal service. Alongside her legal career, Patty taught law for 15 years, primarily as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Rutgers Camden Law, and as a founding faculty member at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

Congratulations, Patty, on this well-deserved recognition for your leadership, compassion, and lifelong dedication to public service!

Announcing the Philanos PowerUP! Texas Opportunity Advocate Cohort

Nancy Clark — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:23:29 GMT

Philanos is excited to announce the Opportunity Advocate Cohort for PowerUP! Texas, our 2026 National Conference taking place February 8–10 in Austin.

The Philanos PowerUP! Texas Opportunity Advocate program was created to encourage individuals with a wide range of experiences and perspectives to participate in philanthropy at the national level — and to share their voices.

Opportunity Advocates were selected from Philanos Affiliate members who are:

Passionate about creating opportunities for all to thrive and succeed
Proximate to the communities served by their circles’ grant funding
Ready to share their insights and strengthen collective giving through connection and collaboration

The goal of the program is to make it possible for these leaders to attend, learn, develop relationships, and bring their new knowledge back to their circles and communities.

Congratulations to our 2026 Opportunity Advocates:

Alissa Mahadeo, 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation

Amanda Klein, The Philanthropy Connection

Ami Kane, Impact Austin

Andi Saylor, Impact 100 Cincinnati

Camisha Lashbrook, The Women's Foundation of Colorado

Carola Sanchez, Los Angeles Latino Giving Circle

Elizabeth (Beth) Owens, Women Inspiring Philanthropy

Jerrica Deloney Witte, Impact Austin

Leticia de la Vara, Arizona Community Foundation

Maia Jujnovsky, Philanthropy Together

Mary Zhu, Develop for Good

Stephanie Zadora, Native Ways Federation

Tiarra Owens, Impact 100 Cincinnati

Van Pham, ninety-nine girlfriends

Selection criteria considered the following:

Active, engaged member of a Philanos Affiliate or Partner Network
Demonstrated interest in learning and sharing from the full conference experience
Interest in serving in a leadership role now or in the future
Awareness of challenges faced by nonprofits and communities in need
Ability to establish or deepen relationships with communities served by collective giving

We are proud to celebrate this remarkable group of women who embody the values of inclusion, leadership, and shared learning that define the Philanos Network.

Join us in Austin!

Meet the PowerUP! Texas Opportunity Advocate Cohort and be inspired by hundreds of women changemakers at PowerUP! Texas, February 8–10.

We want to See You in Austin!

Speaker Highlights: Meeting the Moment at PowerUP! Texas

Nancy Clark — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:04:44 GMT

Speaker Highlights: Meeting the Moment at PowerUP! Texas

PowerUP! Texas, the 2026 Philanos National Conference, brings us together in Austin to celebrate — with courage, creativity, and conviction. Our keynote and plenary speakers embody that spirit, translating values into action and inspiring us to lead with purpose.

Keynote: Diane Yentel

Diane Yentel, President and CEO, National Council of Nonprofits, is a nationally renowned nonprofit leader with over 30 years of experience. Prior to joining NCN, she led the National Low Income Housing Coalition as President and CEO for nine years, guiding the organization through exponential growth and financial stability while championing bold, visionary campaigns to historic success. Her earlier roles include senior leadership positions at Enterprise Community Partners, HUD, Oxfam America, and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, as well as Peace Corps service in Zambia.

Monday Breakfast Plenary: “Meeting the Moment—Resilience to Resistance”

Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation and former U.S. Secretary of HUD, joins Sara Lomelin, Founding CEO of Philanthropy Together, to explore how giving circles sustain communities and challenge inequities—transforming resilience into purposeful resistance.

Featured Voices Powering Collective Impact

We’ll also hear from Mike Nellis, President & CEO of the Austin Community Foundation; Michelle Gayles, Chief Impact Officer of the Arizona Community Foundation; Lynne Twist, Founder of The Soul of Money Institute; and Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell, the author of “The Happiness Formula”, entrepreneur, and ordained chaplain whose work bridges leadership, happiness, and service.

Join us in Austin February 8-10, 2026 and we’ll power up together with these leaders to inspire us. PowerUP! Texas—where ideas meet action to power lasting change.

Early bird registration rate ends November 15. Register today.

Brave, Bold, Collaborative Leadership for Today’s Nonprofit World

Nancy Clark — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:44:53 GMT

By Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Board Co-Chair and Member, Impact 100 Redwood Circle

Brave, Bold, Collaborative Leadership for Today’s Nonprofit World

In times of great challenge, the most powerful leadership doesn’t come from one voice at the top — it rises from many voices working together.

Across the nonprofit and philanthropic landscape, we’re seeing a call for brave, bold, and collaborative leadership — the kind that asks not, “What can I do alone?” but rather, “What can we achieve together if we lead with courage and trust?”

Brave Leadership

To lead bravely today means standing firm in values, even when the path forward isn’t clear. Brave leaders speak truth to power, center equity in every decision, and hold steady when their choices disrupt the status quo.

As Diane Yentel, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits and the PowerUP! Texas opening keynote speaker, reminds us, "Courageous nonprofit leadership is about showing up when it's uncomfortable - when it matters most. At this moment, our voices are more important than ever, and we all share a responsibility to tell the story of nonprofits serving families and neighbors in communities across the country."

Bravery in the nonprofit sector has many looks. Nonprofit boards addressing systemic inequities within their own structures. Funders acknowledging when their models need to evolve. Communities working together to collaboratively create real and sustainable partnerships. Leaders humbly listening - deeply.

Bold Leadership

Boldness is about action and imagination. The problems we face — housing insecurity, climate justice, racial and gender inequity — are too complex for incremental change. Nonprofit leaders who boldly push beyond fear of failure to test new models and pilot fresh approaches are the catalysts driving meaningful, scalable change in their communities.

At Philanos, we see boldness every day in our Philanos Affiliates — women pooling resources to fund community change, launching new circles in underrepresented regions, and re-imagining philanthropy as something everyone can participate in. Bold leadership asks us to move from thinking “we can’t” to “we must.”

That same spirit is at the heart of Tracey Greene-Washington’s work with coThinkk, a collaborative giving and systems-change model rooted in racial equity and shared power. As a Tuesday-morning breakout speaker at PowerUP! Texas, Tracey will share what it means to lead collectively, disrupt inequitable systems, and build trust at every level. Her work reminds us that bold leadership requires both conviction and curiosity — the courage to act and the humility to learn and dream big.

Collaborative Leadership

If bravery grounds us and boldness propels us, collaboration sustains us. Collaboration is the heartbeat of today’s philanthropic world. It is where learning, experimentation, and shared power take root.

Collaborative leaders understand that the best ideas often come in unexpected moments, emerging when lived experience meets shared purpose. True collaboration means shifting from command to connection — from being experts to being partners in change.

The Call Ahead

Nonprofit leadership in 2025 demands all three: the bravery to speak truth, the boldness to act decisively, and the collaboration to lead collectively. Together, these qualities build trust, foster innovation, and create the conditions for lasting impact.

At Philanos, we’re celebrating this kind of leadership every day — through our Philanos Affiliates, our board members, and the countless women leading nonprofits with courage in their communities. As we gather in Austin for PowerUP! Texas, we’ll hear from leaders like Diane Yentel and Tracey Greene-Washington, and we’ll amplify the many voices shaping the future of philanthropy.

Because the future of our sector won’t be led by the loudest or the largest — it will be built by those brave enough to lead together.

Open Call: Philanos Board & Committee Volunteers

Nancy Clark — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:13:29 GMT

Open Call: Philanos Board & Committee Volunteers

Ready to lead at a national level? Philanos is seeking volunteer leaders for the Board of Directors and multiple committees. Volunteering with Philanos offers meaningful networking, a chance to apply your leadership at scale, and a direct impact on collective giving nationwide. When Philanos succeeds, Philanos Affiliates thrive.

Skills we need:

Finance: reporting, budgeting, nonprofit tax, investments; QuickBooks Online
Technology: data analysis, cybersecurity, web development, cloud; Wild Apricot, Airtable, Softr, AI, Google Analytics
Development: storytelling, relationship building, sponsorships, persuasion
Events: organization, vendor/venue management, budgeting, problem-solving

Committees: Affiliate Engagement, Communications, Development, Education, Finance, Strategic Partnership, Technology.

All applications due Monday, February 2, 2026:

Learn more: Philanos Board Officer, Leadership, and Committee Job Descriptions, here.

Refer a candidate: Send name, Affiliate, phone, and email to Maureen Romito, Governance Committee Chair. A Governance Committee member will follow up.

Questions? Email Maureen Romito, Governance Committee Chair.

Join the virtual team at Philanos—lend your voice, your skills, and your leadership to advance women’s collective giving.

Nominations Now Open for the 2026 Willoughby Award

Nancy Clark — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:54:54 GMT

Nominations Now Open for the 2026 Willoughby Award

The Willoughby Award honors a visionary philanthropic leader who uses her collective giving experience in new and innovative ways to strengthen local communities—particularly those that serve underserved or marginalized populations. This changemaker demonstrates extraordinary leadership through her work in the collective giving movement at the local or national level.

Each year, the Willoughby Award is announced and presented in conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8, celebrating women whose philanthropy creates lasting impact.

“We were so proud to nominate Crickett Woloson, our 2025 Philanos Willoughby Award winner,” said Renee Gordon, Co-Chair of the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle. “The nomination process offered a wonderful opportunity to reflect on Crickett’s extraordinary leadership and the impact she’s made through collaborative giving. We’re thrilled that she has received this well-deserved recognition for her vision and dedication to community.”

Who Should Be Nominated?

Do you know a member of your giving circle who:

Has been inspired by collective giving to go beyond the philanthropic efforts of your circle’s grantmaking?
Is a role model or mentor for others because of her philanthropic giving?
Has identified new ways to meet community needs?
Is inspiring more women to elevate, engage, and amplify their philanthropic voices?

Eligibility

Nominees may include:

Members or staff of a Philanos Affiliate in good standing.
Individual members of a Philanos Affiliate.
Anyone previously nominated but not selected.
(Current Philanos Board members are not eligible.)

Who May Submit a Nomination?

Nominations may be submitted by:

A Philanos Affiliate Executive Director, Board Chair, or President, or
A self-nominating member who identifies an endorser in their submission.

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership

In honor of Colleen Willoughby, this award recognizes one woman in the Philanos network who has taken her philanthropic experience beyond her circle—leading with purpose, challenging the status quo, and representing historically underrepresented populations.

“Each of our Willoughby Award recipients exemplifies the ripple effect of women’s collective giving,” said Ann Marie McGee, Philanos Co-Chair. “Their leadership shows how one circle—and one woman’s vision—can spark waves of change that extend far beyond their own communities.”

Learn more about the history of the Willoughby Award and past honorees here.

Nominations close February 1, 2026.

Submit your nomination here!

Empowering Young Changemakers: Inside Anne Arundel Women Giving Together’s Youth Philanthropists Program

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:34:22 GMT

By Ellie Vernick

Philanos Student Intern and Member of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County’s Young Women’s Giving Circle

At Philanos, we know that the future of philanthropy depends on engaging and empowering the next generation of givers. That’s why we are excited to shine a spotlight on Affiliate giving circles that have created Young Philanthropist programs to nurture youth and young adult involvement in collective giving.

Through these programs, young people learn about philanthropy, community needs, and the power of working together to make a difference. Each of the giving circles we’ll feature in this new series participated in the 2024 Philanos Young Philanthropist Cohort and has developed a unique approach to bringing younger voices to the table — helping to ensure that collective giving remains vibrant, inclusive, and impactful for years to come

Founded in 2006, Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) works to enhance the quality of life for women and families in Anne Arundel County by awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations. The organization has dedicated its efforts to supporting and empowering women whose lives have been affected by poverty, limited opportunities, violence, and systemic or structural inequities. With over 350 members, AAWGT has provided $2.1 million in grants to 60 nonprofits over the past 19 years.

Beyond just distributing funds, AAWGT continues its impact by deepening involvement in the community. Members engage in the granting process by participating in site visits, evaluating proposals, and following up on outcomes. AAWGT has also prioritized educating women donors around issues affecting women and families in our community. In 2025, the grants committee reviewed a record number of proposals and awarded a total of $226,316, the largest annual amount in the program's history. This level of involvement in the community allows members to understand how the organization is improving the lives of women and families throughout Anne Arundel County as well as where the funds are going. By dedicating time in the community and confirming impact, AAWGT is creating informed philanthropists who are invested in the process and outcomes of their giving, furthering the power of collective philanthropy in Anne Arundel County.

In 2025, AAWGT launched its Young Philanthropists program for women in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are passionate about making a difference—not just in their careers, but in the communities where they live and work. This program aims to bring more young women into the world of philanthropy, especially since 85% of AAWGT’s member base is aged 50 years old and above. To appeal to younger women with varying economic status, the organization has started a tiered membership program that allows women to pay what they can, ranging from $175 per year for a Friend membership to $1,075 per year for a Sustainer membership. Each tier of membership has full benefits and voting privileges. However, the organization is facing challenges encouraging youth members to upgrade their membership level, as they are able to contribute more.

In the next two years AAWGT plans on expanding membership in the 20-40 age range in order to build a larger foundation of youth givers. Since AAWGT has started its youth program, they’ve focused heavily on marketing and branding towards the younger demographic, as they want to raise awareness and credibility. This has posed a challenge for the organization, as they've previously relied on word of mouth. However, AAWT plans to implement social media marketing and reaching out to young professional groups as a key approach in appealing to younger audiences. During this two year timeframe, youth members will participate in events that cultivate connection socially, professionally, and philanthropically, while also having the ability to take leadership roles in planning YP events and programs. In the future, they hope to shift their focus to the 18 to 21 age range in order to include an even younger generation of women.

The Young Philanthropists of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together are a powerful example of how giving circles can engage and inspire the next generation of changemakers. By offering opportunities to learn, give, and lead, these programs ensure that collective giving continues to grow and thrive.

When "Helping" Hurts Trust: GoFundMe's Uninvited Nonprofit Pages

Nancy Clark — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:22:31 GMT

When “Helping” Hurts Trust: GoFundMe’s Uninvited Nonprofit Pages

Recently, GoFundMe automatically created “nonprofit pages” for approximately 1.4 million 501(c)(3) organizations using publicly available IRS data and information from partners like the PayPal Giving Fund.

None of these nonprofits consented to this, nor were they even notified about this.

According to GoFundMe, this move “allows individuals across GoFundMe’s 200 million-strong global community to easily discover and donate to nonprofit organizations, helping them support causes and charitable missions they care about—even if the organization hasn’t actively created a GoFundMe campaign.”

GoFundMe receives a transaction fee of 2.2% plus 30 cents per donation to a nonprofit fundraising page in addition to a so-called tip of 16%. While the so-called tip is characterized as optional, a donor must manually reduce this to zero in order to remove the so-called tip. GoFundMe recently indicated they will remove the “tip” until a page is claimed.

At a time when philanthropy is most critical, actions that are not fully transparent undermine the integrity of charitable giving.

At Philanos, we believe trust and consent are the foundation of philanthropy. GoFundMe’s actions in creating fundraising pages for nonprofits that provide financial benefits to GoFundMe, all without a nonprofit’s knowledge or permission, smack of deception. This can only lead to an atmosphere of mistrust in the philanthropic community.

According to the company, this new feature “allows individuals across GoFundMe’s 200 million-strong global community to easily discover and donate to nonprofit organizations, helping them support causes they care about—even if the organization hasn’t actively created a GoFundMe campaign.”

Why This Matters

GoFundMe’s move was unilateral. Organizations were not asked for permission, invited to verify details, or given a clear opt-in process before their “pages” went live. Using publicly available IRS data may make this legal — but it does not make it ethical.

These pages can potentially:

Confuse members of your own circle or donors to a grantee partner, as they may assume active fundraising on GoFundMe is supported.
Misrepresent or duplicate existing fundraising efforts.
Divert funds, especially since GoFundMe may impose a 14–17% “tip” in donors during the giving process that goes to GoFundMe.

Independent coverage from Nonprofit Newsfeed highlights the frustration many in the sector feel about this unexpected “representation.”

Philanos Comment:

“When fundraising happens without transparency or permission—and when an automatic 14–17% ‘tip’ that goes to GoFundMe, not the nonprofit—it erodes donor trust. Transparency should never be optional.”

What Philanos Affiliates Can Do

We encourage all Philanos Affiliates to take the following steps:

Search your organization on GoFundMe.com. See if a page exists for your circle or grantee partners.
Verify the information. Check that your EIN, name, and mission are correct.
Contact GoFundMe if needed. You can claim, update, or request removal of your page through their help center.
Alert your grantees. Many may not realize their organizations now appear on GoFundMe. Share this blog or your own note to help them take action.
Educate your donors. Reinforce that the safest and most effective way to give is directly — through your verified website or trusted donor channels.

Why This Flies in the Face of Collective Giving

Collective Giving is built on relationship, transparency, and consent.

Giving circles rely on mutual trust between members, grantees, and local communities — the very trust that mass-created pages like these put at risk.

Philanos believes in a model of philanthropy where nonprofits and donors choose each other intentionally, with full clarity about where funds go and how they’re used.

When that choice is taken away — even under the banner of “helping” — it’s time to speak up.

Together, we can ensure that generosity remains rooted in integrity.

Collective Leadership and the Ripple Effect

Nancy Clark — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:40:59 GMT

By Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Board Co-Chair and Member, Impact 100 Redwood Circle

Collective Leadership and the Ripple Effect

In collective giving, leadership often takes a different form, from what may have been a traditional view for many of us. Collective leadership when most effective is shared. It is woven from the strengths of many and is at the heart of every giving circle. Decisions are not made by one voice, but by many.

Each member has the opportunity to bring her experience, her insight, and her passion for change. This leadership model doesn’t just shift where the money goes; it shifts the power of philanthropy itself. Collective leadership is not about hierarchy, but about collaboration.

With collaboration, the impact is amplified. Like a stone dropped into water, it sends ripples outward—touching people, communities, and systems in ways that go far beyond the initial act of giving.

The ripple effect sparks something larger: circles, networks, and entire communities dream big and see what’s possible. A grant to a small nonprofit doesn’t just keep the lights on; it allows new programs to take root, leaders to emerge, and futures to be reshaped.

Take, for example, a Philanos Affiliate that funds a literacy program in a neighborhood library. The immediate impact is clear—more children with books in their hands. But the ripple is far wider. Parents gather for story time and connect with one another. Teachers see stronger readers in the classroom. A generation grows up with greater opportunities.

And the members of the affiliate? They too are transformed, volunteering and serving as ambassadors for collective giving and spotlighting the community impact.

Collective leadership is powerful because it does not stop where decisions are made. It continues outward, creating waves of generosity and empowerment that extend farther than any one of us could reach alone.

When we embrace the ripple effect, we recognize that collaborative and collective leadership is never just about today’s grant or this year’s project. It is about building momentum for tomorrow, inspiring others to add their own drops to the water.

Together, we don’t just create ripples. We create a tide. A tide of generosity, leadership, and community power that is reshaping philanthropy and redefining what is possible when we lead together.

Philanos is Powered by Volunteers—Join Us!

Nancy Clark — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:23:46 GMT

Philanos is Powered by Our Volunteers—Join Us!

Every day, our volunteer board and committee members prove that they are the secret to Philanos’ success. This is the season when we actively seek a few more talented members to join our team as board or committee leaders. If the skills below sound like you, we’d love to hear from you!

Where Your Skills Can Shine

Communications & Marketing

Graphic design, social media, website updates, blogs, e-newsletters, presentations, branding
Tools: Canva, ChatGPT, Google Docs, Wild Apricot, Hootsuite, Mailchimp, Constant Contact

Development & Partnerships

Clear communication and compelling storytelling
Sales, relationship building, persuasion, networking, active listening
Sponsorship strategy, promotions, and long-term stewardship

Events

Creativity, organization, attention to detail, problem-solving
Vendor/venue management and budget oversight

Finance & Operations

Financial reporting, nonprofit tax filing, budgeting, accounting/bookkeeping, investments
Software: QuickBooks Online

Leadership

Strategic planning and implementation
Creative programming for growth and engagement
Relationship building to expand the Philanos network

Technology & Data

Data analysis, cybersecurity, web development, cloud computing
Platforms: Wild Apricot, Airtable, Softr, AI tools

Why Volunteer with Philanos?

By sharing your talent with the leading women’s giving circle network, you’ll play a vital role in shaping our future. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your leadership skills, grow your professional experience, and expand your network nationwide—all while advancing the power of collective giving.

Take the Next Step

Explore Committees: Visit our Committees Page to see where your skills fit best.

Let’s Talk First: Not sure where to plug in? Our Governance Committee Chair, Maureen Romito, would love to connect. Email Maureen.

Ready to raise your hand? Explore this opportunity and email today!

Philanos Joined CircleUp Houston!

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:52:40 GMT

Collective giving is revolutionizing philanthropy in Houston!

In a giving circle, where people come together and collectively decide where to make a collective gift, members are amplifying their community impact while connecting with like-minded givers.

We were excited to be a part of CircleUp Houston on Thursday, August 21 at 5:30 PM for a one-of-a-kind, engaging event where we discussed how we all can amplify our community footprint by giving together with others.

This wasn't just another networking event—it was a chance to experience amplified giving in action. Fellow changemakers came together in a live giving circle experience where we made real grant decisions and award funding to a local, community-based organization in Houston addressing critical needs.

Whether participants were a young professional discovering their philanthropic voice, an established donor ready to multiply your impact, or someone who’s always wondered “how can I make a REAL difference in my community?”—this evening showed the transformative power of amplified giving.

CircleUp Houston was a free event that welcomed everyone passionate about community impact and was collboratively hosted by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Philanthropy Together, Philanos, and The Love Endowment.

Thanks to all who joined us!

Behind Every Great PowerUP! Conference is a Powerful Team of Philanos Affiliates

Nancy Clark — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:27:35 GMT

By Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Board Co-Chair and Member, Impact 100 Redwood Circle

PowerUP! Texas is truly a collective effort - and we are grateful for the vision, dedication, and hospitality of our Texas Philanos Affiliates and volunteer leaders.

Our Host & Co-Hosts

These circles are shaping the conference in countless ways:

Plenary Inspiration: Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell of Impact San Antonio as the plenary speaker for Sunday evening’s “Super Welcome Party”.
Breakout Excellence: Judi McCarthy and Audra Morris of Impact Austin, Jennifer Bligh of Impact San Antonio and Zoe Lawhorn of the Women’s Fund of Smith County are sharing their expertise as breakout speakers.
On-the-Ground Support: Host and Co-Hosts are providing volunteers for registration, room hosting, decorations, and our conference app.

Thank You to Our Steering Committee

Judi McCarthy, Alyssa Reyna, Nicole Genovese, Kali Rourke (Impact Austin), Anne Aaron (Impact100 Wichita Falls), Linda Dipert (Women Inspiring Philanthropy), Zoe Lawhorn (Women’s Fund of Smith County), and Yvonne Grothues (Impact San Antonio).

A special thank you for their leadership, generosity, and creativity in making PowerUP! Texas unforgettable - we can’t wait for everyone to experience their Texas welcome, February 8–10, 2026!

PowerUP! Texas: A Philanos National Conference

Join us in Austin, February 8-10, 2026 for three powerful days of connection, learning, and inspiration with over 400 collective giving leaders.
In addition to nationally recognized speakers, the conference will feature breakout sessions and affinity groups highlighting best practices from more than 50 Philanos Affiliates.

Registration & Cost

Early Bird Registration is now open through November 15.
$650 for members of Philanos Affiliates
$850 for members of Philanos Affiliates after November 15
$950 for non-members
Register today at Philanos.org

Location & Lodging

All sessions will be held at the Hilton Austin Downtown
A discounted room block is available for $279/night (plus tax)

Hotel booking links will be sent upon registration confirmation.

What’s Next?

Watch for additional speaker announcements and program highlights.

The Future of Philanthropy Starts Here: The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County’s Young Philanthropists

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:28:24 GMT

By Ellie Vernick
Philanos Student Intern and Member of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County’s Young Women’s Giving Circle

At Philanos, we know that the future of philanthropy depends on engaging and empowering the next generation of givers. That’s why we are excited to shine a spotlight on Philanos Affiliates that have created Young Philanthropist programs to nurture youth and young adult involvement in collective giving.

Through these programs, young people learn about philanthropy, community needs, and the power of working together to make a difference. Each of the giving circles we’ll feature in this new series participated in the 2024-2025 Philanos Young Philanthropist Cohort and has developed a unique approach to bringing younger voices to the table — helping to ensure that collective giving remains vibrant, inclusive, and impactful for years to come.

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is dedicated to building a community of philanthropists to address the needs of women and girls in their community. Founded in 2002, they've distributed over $1.2 million in grants, built an endowment exceeding $1.1 million from 1,700+ donors, and continue to fund important work year after year. Focusing on areas including diversity, economic advancement, education, and safety, this giving circle plans to award up to $100,000 in grants in 2025.

In the 2024-2025 year, the WGC relaunched their Break the Cycle student intern program, highlighting period poverty–an often overlooked need. Consisting of seven Howard County high school juniors and seniors, WGC’s interns worked to eliminate period poverty through fundraising, product donations, and partnerships. These interns participated in monthly educational meetings, learning how the lack of products across the country impacts women and what it means to be a philanthropist. The program has no cost to participate and all members receive a $500 stipend at the end of their nine months of service.

Specifically, the WGC interns host their WGC Break the Cycle: Period Product Drive, collecting products for their partners at the Columbia Association, library system, community college, and other local businesses. The drive has amassed hundreds of pounds of products and raised over $8,500 to purchase more. Period poverty is a profound issue for young women, especially women of color and those with limited incomes. 1 in 4 teens struggle to afford period products and teens often will miss school, extra curricular activities, and sports as a result. One especially impactful product drive was at the local community college, which was able to double the amount of products provided to each young woman – allowing them to attend college with dignity. Paula Seabright, the product drive chair, declared that, "it's time to break the cycle of period poverty.”

These young philanthropists also participated in WGC’s 2025 Annual Big Give, in which 57 women collectively gave a total of $32,000 to 14 nonprofit partners. In this fun, meaningful, fast-paced giving experience the interns learned about the grantmaking process, how to review grant proposals, and the power of collective giving. WGC Big Give Chair, Melissa Curtin, exclaims that, “The Big Give is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future.” Through this giving experience, the interns learned about significant issues confronting women and girls, including homelessness and housing insecurity, access to youth sports, foster care services, and employment for immigrant women. This event also featured the interns’ own Mini Give, in which they gave $5,000 to Voices for Children, a nonprofit of their choosing. Voices for Children will provide feminine hygiene products to girls in the foster care system.

In the 2025-2026 year, the intern program became the WGC Young Women’s Giving Circle, expanding to ten Howard County high school juniors and seniors, each individually representing their schools. The WGC was excited to "circle back" to hosting a Young Women's Giving Circle again, which they have hosted in the past. Members of the YWGC will learn about fundraising, grantmaking, volunteering and women's health/breaking the cycle of period poverty. In anticipation of this upcoming year, second year intern Sakshi Tirodkar stated, “I have truly loved being an intern for the Young Women’s Giving Circle this past year. It has been amazing being able to actively give back to women in our community to ensure they have the menstrual resources they deserve!”

The Young Philanthropists of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County are a powerful example of how giving circles can engage and inspire the next generation of changemakers. By offering opportunities to learn, give, and lead, these programs ensure that collective giving continues to grow and thrive.

Philanos Young Philanthropist Affinity Group

Philanos is excited to have kicked-off our new Young Philanthropist Affinity Group on September 2! Catalyzed by the great experience many Philanos Affiliates had as part of our recent Young Philanthropist Cohort, this new Affinity Group will bring giving circle leaders together on a regular basis to learn, share, network, and connect about young philanthropist efforts among Philanos Affiliate giving circles. The next Affinity Group will be on October 30 - you can learn more and register here.

At Philanos, we are proud to highlight the innovative ways our Affiliate members are building a strong future for philanthropy.

To learn more about Philanos and our network of women’s giving circles, visit www.philanos.org.

________________________________

"The Future of Philanthropy" is the first in a four-part series highlighting Philanos Affiliate Young Philanthropist programs

Collective Leadership as the Foundation for Community Resiliency

Nancy Clark — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:58:57 GMT

By Ann Marie McGee

Philanos Board Co-Chair and Member, Impact 100 Redwood Circle

At a time when nonprofits are under immense financial pressure while facing rising demand for services, Philanos Affiliates are finding themselves with unique opportunities to support their local communities. Leaning heavily on collective leadership, they are pushing the strength of collective giving beyond the grants awarded. Circles are seeking new, collaborative ways to combine financial resources with time, talent, and networks to build the resiliency that nonprofits need to thrive—especially in tough times.

Community Resiliency is not Built Alone

Resiliency is a community endeavor. It grows out of partnership, reciprocity, and trust. By stepping forward together, giving circles amplify more than grant dollars—they amplify community strength. Whether that means showing up with volunteer support, sourcing urgently needed goods, or connecting nonprofits to new partners, circles are helping create the conditions where organizations can withstand challenges and continue their essential missions.

At CircleUp New Mexico: Partnering for Community Resiliency earlier this summer, local nonprofits and giving circles gathered to demonstrate what this looks like in practice. The event paired storytelling, shared learning, and pop-up grantmaking to shine a spotlight on the ways collective leadership and shared responsibility strengthen the entire ecosystem. It was a vivid reminder that resiliency isn’t theoretical—it’s happening now, powered by collaboration.

Community Resiliency in Action

Philanos is carrying this momentum forward by highlighting three Philanos Affiliates who have put collective leadership into practice. On Tuesday, September 9 at 12 PM ET, Philanos will present the September webinar, Beyond the Check: Supporting Grantee Resilience in Tough Times.

Women’s Impact Fund (NC) – sourcing donated goods and meeting urgent program needs.
Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle (MD) – providing volunteer and leadership support to strengthen grantee capacity.
Impact100 Sonoma (CA) – leveraging networks and connections to amplify community solutions.

“Community resiliency is what happens when we lead together for sustainable, long-term support.” — Renee Gordon, Co-Chair, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle

Community Resiliency Has a Ripple Effect

Looking ahead, the Philanos National Conference, PowerUP! Texas (Austin, February 8–10, 2026) will feature the Breakout Session Standing With and For Nonprofits: Creative Grantmaking Responses to Economic Turmoil. This conversation will build directly on what Affiliates are already demonstrating: resiliency grows when we innovate together.

Collective leadership means sharing responsibility, voice, and vision across many hands.

The ripple effect is powerful—when members lean into their skills, relationships, and creativity, they help grantees stretch limited resources, weather challenges, and stay focused on mission. Over time, this builds stronger nonprofits, stronger partnerships, and stronger communities.

Resiliency is not simply about bouncing back. It is about thriving forward—with equity, sustainability, and connection at the center. Philanos Affiliates are showing that when we pool not just our dollars but also our voices, talents, and trust, we create a lasting force for community resilience.

5 Reasons to Attend PowerUP! Texas

Nancy Clark — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:46:56 GMT

PowerUP! Texas isn’t just another conference—it’s the spark that ignites collective giving, leadership growth, and meaningful connections. From February 8–10, 2026, Philanos Affiliates and Philanos Network Partners from across the country will gather in Austin to learn, share, and celebrate the power of women’s philanthropy. Here are the 5 Reasons you don’t want to miss it:

1. Big Ideas & Practical Strategies

Over three days, you’ll hear from nationally recognized speakers who bring bold ideas and proven approaches. Sessions will cover grantmaking, communications, membership engagement, advocacy, and leadership development. You’ll leave with fresh insights and tangible tools you can put to work in your circle right away.

2. A Powerful Network of Peers

The conversations in hallways, over meals, and during breakout sessions are often the most transformative. PowerUP! Texas brings together passionate changemakers who have faced the same challenges you have. The result? A living network of mentors, allies, and collaborators who will inspire you long after the conference ends.

3. Multiply Your Circle’s Impact

When more than just the “usual suspects” attend, your circle reaps greater rewards. Encourage board members, new and emerging leaders, and even emerging members to join. The diversity of perspectives and energy they bring back will strengthen your circle and multiply your investment.

4. Belong to Something Bigger

Philanthropy is about more than giving—it’s about belonging. PowerUP! Texas is a celebration of our national movement: women sharing voices, resources, and leadership to transform communities. In Austin, you’ll feel that sense of belonging on a scale like never before.

5. Experience Austin & Be Inspired

Beyond the sessions, Austin’s vibrant culture offers a backdrop of creativity, music, and energy that matches the spirit of our work. It’s the perfect setting to recharge, reconnect, and reimagine what’s possible for your giving circle.

PowerUP! Texas Details

PowerUP! Texas: The Future is Now: How AI Tools Can Amplify Your Giving Circle

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:30:58 GMT

Philanos Affiliates and Friends,

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we live and work - so how can it amplify the impact of your giving circle?

We’re excited to announce a featured Breakout Session at PowerUP! Texas:

The Future is Now: How AI Tools Can Amplify Your Giving Circle
Monday, February 9 | 2:15 – 3:30 PM | Austin, Texas

Join us for a dynamic conversation with experts and Affiliate leaders who are already putting AI to work:

Mike Mitchell, NonProphet Advisors – The Future Is Now: How AI Can Amplify Your Giving Circle
Mary Kwak, Philanos and Many Hands – How Philanos is Thinking About AI
Michelle Cottrell, Women’s Impact Fund – How AI Tools Are Being Utilized by Affiliates

“AI isn’t about replacing human wisdom - it’s about amplifying it. Giving circles already harness the power of collective insight; by blending that with AI, we can free up energy for what matters most: building community and scaling impact.” — Mike Mitchell, NonProphet Advisors

AI offers powerful opportunities for giving circles. Imagine:

Automating administrative tasks like grant management, reporting, and communications.
Analyzing funding patterns to identify and reduce bias.
Facilitating deeper connections among members with shared interests.
Providing real-time impact analysis to support more informed decisions.

Giving circles and the broader nonprofit sector recognize that AI’s potential benefits may have ethical, legal, and practical challenges. This panel will include discussion on how we can begin to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Don’t miss this chance to explore both the big-picture potential of AI and the practical tools you can bring home to strengthen your circle. We want to “See You in Austin!”

PowerUP! Texas: A Philanos National Conference

Join us in Austin for three powerful days of connection, learning, and inspiration with over 400 collective giving leaders.
In addition to nationally recognized speakers, the conference will feature breakout sessions and affinity groups highlighting best practices from more than 50 Philanos Affiliates.

Registration & Cost

Early Bird Registration opens September 1, 2025
$650 for members of Philanos Affiliates

Watch your inbox for the registration link!

Location & Lodging

All sessions will be held at the Hilton Austin Downtown
A discounted room block is available for $279/night (plus tax)

Hotel booking link and instructions will be sent upon registration confirmation.

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for additional speaker announcements and program highlights.
Be ready to register early starting September 1 to secure your spot!

August 2025 Philanos eNews

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:21:02 GMT

Summer Momentum, Fall Vision

Summer is in full swing, and we know many of our Affiliates are already planning for the fall. Thank you for your leadership—guiding your members and championing the nonprofits that strengthen your communities.

The Philanos Leadership Team is not only looking ahead to the coming year, but also hard at work preparing for PowerUP! Texas. Take a moment to read about what’s ahead—we’d love to See You in Austin on February 8–10, 2026! We’re energized by the overwhelming interest in learning and sharing about collective giving, and inspired by the support we’ve received to help make this conference a success.

Most of all, we’re inspired by you and what you are doing everyday.

Philanos Affiliates represent the future of philanthropy—bold, inclusive, and purpose-driven. Giving circles are transforming how we give, proving that anyone can be a philanthropist through collective action.

Why is this transformation working?

Rooted in Community: Our giving begins where it matters most—with local knowledge, trusted relationships, and a deep commitment to place.
Driven by Women: Women lead with clarity, vision, and determination. We collaborate, we mobilize, and we get things done.
Designed for Impact: Collective giving amplifies every voice, every dollar, and every decision to drive real, lasting change.

The energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment of our Affiliates are transforming communities—and philanthropy itself.

Together, we’re not just envisioning a better future. We’re building it.

Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org
Renuka Sastri, rsastri@philanos.org

PHILANOS EVENTS

August 7 - (Affinity Group) Tech Talk - Grant Decisions and Award Events
August 16 - (CircleUp) Soul of the Carolinas
August 19 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers - Continuing the Conversation
August 21 - (CircleUp) Houston
September 2 - (Affinity Group) Young Philanthropist - YP Programs in Affiliate Giving Circles
September 9 - (Webinar) Beyond the Check: Supporting Grantee Resilience in Tough Times
September 16 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Adapting for Inclusion
September 18 - (Affinity Group) Staff Chat - DEI & Grantmaking
September 23 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club - Targeted Communications

PHILANOS POWERUP! TEXAS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Philanos PowerUP! 2026 Conference - Plan to Join Us! PowerUP! Texas National Conference in Austin will be held February 8-10, 2026. Early Bird Registration opens September 1! Learn more about the conference and why we are excited to go to Austin! Are you and/or is your circle interested in being a sponsor? Take a Look
Philanos Announces PowerUP! Texas Plenary Speaker Kassandra Vitacca Mitchell - Is it possible to live a life that is truly healthy, wealthy, happy and free? Kasandra is a dynamic voice in the world of purpose-driven living and giving. As a Stanford-educated entrepreneur, ordained chaplain, and author of The Happiness Formula: Three Foundational Principles to Multiply Happiness, she blends research, real-life experience, and soul-deep wisdom to deliver a message that resonates. Read more
Philanos Spotlight Awards - Nominate Now! What does transformational change look like in action? Discover how the Philanos Spotlight Awards shine a light on the power of collective giving—and meet the changemakers setting new standards for what meaningful impact can be. Nominate here

PHILANOS RESOURCES

Philanos Applauds Brave Philanthropic Leadership - New Series! Collective giving is powered by a collective leadership model that our Philanos Affiliates embody every day. Rooted in collaboration, shared decision-making, and the belief that every member has a voice, collective leadership shapes not only our outcomes but our values. It remains a cornerstone for the kind of leadership our local communities need most - resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking. Take a look

September 9, 2025 Webinar - Beyond the Check: Supporting Grantee Resilience in Tough Times Join us! Nonprofits are facing increased needs and reduced resources—how can giving circles help beyond grantmaking? In this session, leaders from three Philanos Affiliates share how they’re supporting grantee partners through in-kind contributions, volunteer engagement, and the power of social capital. From product donations to board service and networking support, discover creative ways to strengthen relationships with grantees and increase collective impact within your community. Register here

Philanos U - Finish Your Summer Learning with Philanos U! Looking for fresh inspiration and practical tools to elevate your giving circle? As summer winds down, finish strong by exploring Philanos U for webinars and resources designed to inform, engage, and energize. Whether you're new to collective giving or a seasoned leader, there's something here for everyone to discover and explore in these final weeks. Explore here

CircleUps - Lots going on! CircleUp Carolinas – 8/16/25 - Soul of Philanthropy 12-4 PM in Charlotte and Houston on August 21, 2025. Get the full story

PHILANOS AFFILIATE HIGHLIGHTS

Women's Giving Alliance of Jacksonville - Reaches $10 million grantmaking milestone, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union, July 8, 2025.

Impact 100 Garden State - Held a great pop up lunch on July 16, 2025 to kick back and connect with members.

Impact Austin - The Girls Giving Grants (g3) is a model of collective giving designed by Impact Austin to educate and engage young women in grades 8-12 on the importance of thoughtful giving. Enrollment for the 2025-2026 class closes September 21, 2025.

Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD Hosts Black Philanthropy Month Happy Hour - August 5, 2025.

Discover the Formula for a Meaningful Life — Featuring Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell at PowerUP! Texas

Nancy Clark — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:29:09 GMT

Is it possible to live a life that is truly healthy, wealthy, happy and free?

We’re thrilled to announce Kasandra Vitacca Mitchell as our Welcome Plenary speaker for PowerUP! Texas on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Kasandra is a dynamic voice in the world of purpose-driven living and giving. As a Stanford-educated entrepreneur, ordained chaplain, and author of The Happiness Formula: Three Foundational Principles to Multiply Happiness, she blends research, real-life experience, and soul-deep wisdom to deliver a message that resonates.

Her journey has taken her from executive suites to the front lines of community service, from launching startups to launching healthier futures through her social-impact vending venture, Healthy Treats 4U. Now, as Vice President of Membership for Impact San Antonio, she channels her passion into collective giving—helping others discover the joy of service and the power of aligned purpose.

In this uplifting keynote, Kasandra will share:

How living on purpose leads to deeper fulfillment
The science behind The Happiness Formula—and how to apply it in everyday life
Why generosity and service are powerful tools for personal transformation
How giving circles can be catalysts for joy, connection, and meaningful impact

“As long as you’re breathing, you still have purpose—and it’s never too late to live it,” says Kasandra.

Prepare to be inspired, energized, and reminded of the joy that comes when we align our giving with what matters most.

Don’t miss this powerful kickoff to PowerUP! Texas.

PowerUP! Texas: A Philanos National Conference

Join us in Austin for three powerful days of connection, learning, and inspiration with over 400 collective giving leaders. In addition to nationally recognized speakers, the conference will feature breakout sessions and affinity groups highlighting best practices from more than 50 Philanos Affiliates.

Registration & Cost

Early Bird Registration opens September 1, 2025
$650 for members of Philanos Affiliates
Watch your inbox for the registration link!

Location & Lodging

All sessions will be held at the Hilton Austin Downtown
A discounted room block is available for $279/night (plus tax)
Hotel booking links will be sent upon registration confirmation.

Philanos and CircleUp New Mexico: Partnering for Community Resiliency!

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:00:05 GMT

Giving circles are changing communities around the world. Imagine the power and impact of teaming up with others in this growing movement — in regional areas — with shared values and a commitment to making the world a better place.

That's why Philanos is proud to be partnering with Philanthropy Together, Grapevine and Community Investment Network to host CircleUp gatherings around the country as part of our Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant.

In close collaboration with foundations, giving circles, and networks, CircleUps bring together giving circles and those interested in participating in collective giving in the area for networking, learning and fun!

That vision is why Philanos recently partnered with The Albuquerque Community Foundation, Philanthropy Together, and United Way of North Central New Mexico to bring the first CircleUp event to New Mexico on July 24 in Albuquerque.

During CircleUp New Mexico: Partnering for Community Resiliency, participants learned about the fastest growing form of philanthropy and heard what other collective giving groups in the area are up to. They also learned how their work is fueling a growing local movement firsthand through a pop-up giving circle.

"We were proud to collaborate with our philanthropy partners and local nonprofits to elevate awareness of collective giving, and to drive more funding to New Mexico’s dedicated and resilient community-based organizations." said Clare O'Brien, Philanos Co-Chair. "We were excited for the learning, relationship-building and live grant making that happened at our CircleUp in Albuquerque!"

What's next? CircleUP Houston on 8/21! Learn more about CircleUps here

The Power of Philanos Affiliates: Collective Leadership for Community Change

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:56:16 GMT

June 2025
By Ann Marie McGee, Philanos Co-Chair

Collective giving is powered by a collective leadership model that our Philanos Affiliates embody every day. Rooted in collaboration, shared decision-making, and the belief that every member has a voice, collective leadership shapes not only our outcomes but our values. It remains a cornerstone for the kind of leadership our local communities need most—resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking.

What does collective leadership look like in “real life” for Philanos Affiliates?

Collective Power for Meaningful Change

Beginning with alignment around a common vision, affiliates harness the collective power of their “why” to drive and support meaningful and lasting changes in their communities. It’s this unified sense of purpose that shapes how affiliates lead—together, intentionally, and with deep accountability to the communities they invest in.

"It’s all about what unites us,” said Deb Brackney, Board Chair of Impact100 Metro Denver. “In the face of economic and social uncertainty, our Mission, Vision, and Values keep us grounded. They remind us that our strength lies in our shared purpose—and that together, our collective power can drive meaningful change.”

Collective Accountability and Adaptability

Results matter. Giving circles are guided by shared responsibilities, with each member playing an active role in advancing the collective mission. Holding members accountable for both progress and integrity ensures that actions align with values. By valuing multiple voices—including diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and lived experiences— both decision-making and impact are deepened. Continuous learning and both a readiness and willingness to adapt to changing needs are essential to sustaining meaningful and responsive leadership.

Collective Action: Moving Forward Together

In a world facing increasingly complex challenges, collective action is not just an ideal—it’s a necessity. It means bringing people together with different experiences, talents, and ideas, and working toward a common purpose. At Philanos, we see this in action every day through our affiliates: members coming together to make decisions, support one another, and drive impact in their communities. Collective action is rooted in trust, shared leadership, and the belief that when we move together, we move further. This is how we not only respond to the moment—but shape the future.

“In times of uncertainty and shifting policies, collective action matters more than ever. At Impact 100 Redwood Circle, we stand with our nonprofit grantees—not just in funding, but in partnership. We support their missions, amplify their voices, and volunteer our time to help drive lasting impact.” — Linda Drew, President, Impact 100 Redwood Circle

We are Stronger Together

Together, Philanos Affiliates prove that collective leadership creates real, lasting change. Rooted in shared purpose and united in action, we are building stronger communities—one voice, one decision, one impact at a time.

Philanos Affiliates Proud to Sponsor PowerUP! Texas

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:52:01 GMT

It takes a special individual, business, or organization to understand the value of investing in the national women's collective giving movement by sponsoring the Philanos PowerUP! Texas 2026 National Conference.

Taking place February 8-10, 2026 at The Austin Hilton, “PowerUP! Texas: The Spark Igniting Collaboration” is Philanos’ national Conference for visionaries who believe in the power of women’s collective giving to create impact in local communities.

We are honored that businesses, individuals, and in particular, our own Affiliate giving circles have made a commitment to not only attend PowerUP! Texas, but to be proud, visible sponsors. Philanos Affiliates gain the most from our network, so it makes sense that they are choosing to invest in this important conference.

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland is one of them.

“I am thrilled that the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is sponsoring our Philanos PowerUP! Conference again!” said Barb Van Winkle, Immediate Past Chair of the WGC, and Treasurer of Philanos. “We were a sponsor of PowerUP! Baltimore as well because Philanos is very important to us and the learning, sharing, networking, and connecting is extremely valuable.”

Philanos hosts the national Conference to advance collective giving and the impact of women’s philanthropy. In Austin, 30 education sessions and keynote speakers will:

Explore new ways of approaching collective giving to increase effective responses to community needs and fostering systemic change
Share best practices in operations, marketing, governance and leadership
Discuss trends that affect philanthropy, and
Provide information about establishing, running, and scaling a giving circle

Sessions and content will be shared on social media and Philanos’ website with the 20,000+ women in Philanos’ networkand400+ leaders in women’s collective giving groups and other women philanthropists, philanthropic organizations, foundations, and local nonprofits will meet in-person.

“We are honored to have our giving circle sponsor this important gathering of leaders in collective giving!” said Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director and co-Chair of the Philanos Communications Committee. “WGC leadership has chosen to visibly support and invest in PowerUP! Texas in addition to having our leaders attend because it is such an important time in the growth of our circle, and the movement.”

Interested in having your giving circle sponsor the conference? Learn more here and contact Philanos Development Committee Chair Heather Jauregui: hjauregui@philanos.org.

Join us in being the spark that ignites collaboration and supports women’s collective giving!

Meet the Philanos 2025-2026 Board of Directors and Governance Committee

Nancy Clark — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:57:30 GMT

Meet the Philanos 2025-2026 Board of Directors and Governance Committee

View Board Bios Here

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz - Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Susan Benford - The Philanthropy Connection, MA; Impact100 Philadelphia
Demetria George Caston - Community Investment Network, TX
Nina Cohen - Impact100 South Jersey
Sandy Cook - Impact100 Metro Denver; Women's Giving Alliance of Northeast FL
Stephanie Cook - San Diego Women's Foundation
Michelle Cottrell - Women's Impact Fund, NC
Alisa Evans Debnam - Women's Giving Circle of Cumberland County, NC
Maggie Glasgow - Greenville Women Giving, SC
Renee Gordon - Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle
Michelle Hynes - ninety-nine girlfriends, OR
Heather Jauregui - Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation
Mary Kwak - Many Hands, DC
Ann Marie McGee - Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA
Clare O'Brien - Impact 100 Cincinnati & Asian Women Giving Circle
Maureen Romito - Impact Las Vegas
Kalí Rourke - Impact Austin
Renuka Sastri - 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Fdn
Kirsten Stanley - Impact 100 Palm Beach County, FL
Barb Van Winkle - Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Tyeshia "Ty" Wilson - HERitage Giving Fund, TX
Sarah Wimberley - Board Member-At-Large, PA

Philanos Executive Committee
Co-Chairs:

Clare O'Brien - Impact 100 Cincinnati & Asian Women Giving Circle
Ann Marie McGee - Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA
Renuka Sastri - 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Fdn

Secretary:

Renee Gordon - Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle

Treasurer:

Barb Van Winkle - Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD

Immediate Past Co-Chair:

Sandy Cook - Impact100 Metro Denver; Women's Giving Alliance of Northeast FL

Philanos Governance Committee:

Maureen Romito - Impact Las Vegas, NV
Celeste Campos - Impact100 Garden State, NJ
Nikki Emanuel-Jarrell – Women’s Impact Fund, NC
Debra Brackney – Impact100 Metro Denver, CO
Becky MacDonald – Nevada Women’s Philanthropy, NV
Suzanne Thoeni – Impact 100 Garden State, NJ
Leanne Wagner – Impact100 Philadelphia, PA

Greenville Women Giving Awards $508,250 to 7 Nonprofits

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:42:07 GMT

At the Annual Meeting on May 13 of Greenville Women Giving they awarded $508,250 to seven local non-profits in Greenville County.

Congratulations to these outstanding organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Conestee Nature Preserve, Greenville Theatre, New Morning, Project Host, Rebuild Upstate, and Triune Mercy Center.

Over the last 19 years, GWG has grown to over 500 members and has awarded over $9 million in 159 grants to 92 organizations.

GWG invites all women to join us in continuing to make an impact on our community: Giving Collectively | Granting Strategically | Growing a Greater Greenville. greenvillewomengiving.org

CircleUp New Mexico to Promote Collective Giving!

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:51:12 GMT

That vision is why Albuquerque Community Foundation is partnering with Philanos, Philanthropy Together, and United Way of North Central New Mexico to bring the first CircleUp event to New Mexico on July 24 in Albuquerque.

During CircleUp New Mexico: Partnering for Community Resiliency, participants will learn about the fastest growing form of philanthropy and hear what other collective giving groups in the area are up to. They will also learn how their work is fueling a growing local movement firsthand through a pop-up giving circle.

"We are proud to collaborate with our philanthropy partners and local nonprofits to elevate awareness of collective giving, and to drive more funding to New Mexico’s dedicated and resilient community-based organizations." said Clare O'Brien, Philanos Co-Chair. "We are excited for the learning, relationship-building and live grant making that will happen at our CircleUp in Albuquerque and we hope many people will join us!"

The New Mexico CircleUp event is free and open to all giving circle members, community leaders, nonprofit professionals, funders, and anyone looking to learn more about or join the movement. The event will take place Thursday, July 24 from 6-8 p.m. at FBT Architects, 500 Marquette Avenue NW, 15th Floor, Albuquerque. Participants should register at philanthropytogether.org/circleup-newmexico/

WGA Reaches More Than $10M in Grants!

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 01:09:48 GMT

WGA Reaches More Than $10M in Grants!

In a historic moment that was announced at May’s Member Forum, WGA has reached (and exceeded) $10 million in grantmaking. With the addition of the $612,500 awarded to 10 regional nonprofits this year, the cumulative grant amount from the last 24 years is $10.2 million, awarded to nearly 80 area nonprofits. This exemplary number demonstrates the enormous impact of WGA’s strategic philanthropy and the amazing contributions of its members. Currently, WGA has 408 members and an endowment of more than $6.1 million. Thank you to every single member for selflessly giving of time, talent, and treasure. Read more

Philanos Upcoming Events - June 2025

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:41:37 GMT

Philanos hosts a variety of virtual events throughout the year for you - our affiliates.

Our monthly Webinars, Affinity Group gatherings, and CircleUps provide opportunities to bring together women from Philanos Affiliates across the country to network, learn, share, and connect about topics that support your important work. Your Philanos membership includes these ongoing opportunities for you AND all members of your giving circle and we encourage you to forward this information regularly to your members so you can take full advantage of your Philanos membership.

Thank you for being a part of our growing women's collective giving network - we truly are stronger together. Register today for an upcoming meeting and we'll see you soon!

June 17 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers - Grant Decisions and Award Events
July 15 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Young Philanthropists
July 22 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club - Thinking About Communications Committee
July 29 - (Affinity Group) Philanos 101 - Who is Philanos & What Resources are available

Recently Recorded Events

Comms Club - Organizing Circle Communications
Membership Roundtable - Metrics Continued
Grantmakers - Local Funding Challenges
Tech Talk - Tackling the Necessary but Small Stuff

Webinar Recordings:

5/13/25 - Philanos and Collective Giving
4/8/25 - Grantmaking for Environmental Resilience
3/11/25 - Investing in Women and Girls: Innovative Grantmaking Approaches
2/11/2025 - Courageous Conversations with Rosetta Lee
11/12/2024 - New Directions in Community-Centric Grantmaking
10/8/2024 - Creating and Communicating a Strategic Plan
9/10/2024 - Evolving Membership Models

All Past Webinar Recordings

June 2025 Philanos eNewsletter

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:52:21 GMT

As the Philanos year comes to a close at the end of this month, we want to recognize and say thank you to our Board of Directors and our committees. It has been a year to remember - one of collaboration, growth and resilience. It truly takes a village to serve and support the Philanos Network of more than 105 giving circle affiliates.

With the year end, we also specifically want to acknowledge those leaders who will be leaving the Philanos Board and Governance Committee, in addition to some changing leadership roles.

Amy Conard will be stepping off the Philanos Board, after 3 years of leading our Technology Committee and our popular “Tech Talk” Affinity Group. We will miss her quiet leadership and her willingness to so generously share her time and talent.

Maggie Glasgow will be leaving her role as Immediate Past Board Co-Chair where we have all benefited from her careful listening and vast knowledge of women’s giving circles. Maggie will remain on the Philanos board for 2025-2026 and we are even more grateful that she is serving as Program Co-Chair for our national conference, PowerUP! Texas to be held in Austin, February 8-10, 2026.

Sandy Cook will be stepping into Maggie’s role as Immediate Past Board Co-Chair and will also be serving with her as Program Co-Chair for PowerUP! Texas. Sandy’s decades of collective giving experience and her collaborative nature ensure that the year ahead will be one of exceptional promise.

Our elected Governance Committee will be saying goodbye to Margo Greenfield and Kimberley Kirn. In addition, Renuka Sastri will be stepping down as Governance Vice Chair and moving to a new role as Philanos Board Co-Chair. The Governance Committee ensures effective governance of the Philanos Network, by serving as an advisor to the Philanos Board and making recommendations throughout the year as necessary, for various due diligence functions.

These women inspire us all through their personal passion for collective giving, their unselfish leadership and their compassion for those served by the impact of the Philanos Network of giving circles.

Thank you, Amy, Maggie, Sandy, Margo, Kim and Renuka.

We Are Stronger Together!

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org

PHILANOS EVENTS

June 17 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers - Grant Decisions and Award Events
July 15 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Young Philanthropists

July 22 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club - Thinking About Communications Committee

July 29 - (Affinity Group) Philanos 101 - Learn About All Things Philanos

PHILANOS NEWS & RESOURCES

Spotlight Awards - Nominate Now! What does transformational change look like in action? Discover how the Philanos Spotlight Awards shine a light on the power of collective giving—and meet the changemakers setting new standards for what meaningful impact can be. Learn more here

Philanos Adds Young Philanthropist Affinity Group - This Fall! Starting in the Fall, Philanos will add the Young Philanthropist Affinity Group to its roster of Affinity Groups. Many Affiliates are looking to increase the number of younger members in their organizations but are not quite sure how to start. Learn more here

A Table For Chairs - Apply Now! For the fourth year, Philanos will be offering this valuable program to support board chairs! Interest is high, space is limited, so don't miss out. Submit your application here

CircleUps - Latest News! Philanos is proud to continue to partner with Philanthropy Together, Grapevine and Community Investment Network to host CircleUp gatherings around the country as part of our Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant. Learn more here

Philanos U - Summer is a great time to catch up on recent Philanos programs covering a variety of topics such as collective giving, women in philanthropy, communications, and grants. Check out Philanos U and consider it your summering viewing and reading list!

Philanos PowerUP! 2026 Conference - Plan to Join Us! PowerUP! Texas National Conference in Austin will be held February 8-10, 2026. Early Bird Registration opens September 1! Learn more about the conference and why we are excited to go to Austin! Are you and/or is your circle interested in being a sponsor? Learn more

PHILANOS AFFILIATES IN THE NEWS

Philanos Affiliates in the News - Learn how Philanos Affiliates are driving change through local grants, impactful partnerships and women's empowerment - collective giving that's having an impact on local communities throughout the country. Read more
- Take a Look: Renee Gordon/BWGC Speaker on AFP Maryland EmpowerHER Panel, May 28, 2025

Philanos Can Highlight Your Efforts - 5 Ways! Have you made a new round of grants? Did you host an event recently? Are you partnering with others on a project? Are you celebrating an anniversary? Were you highlighted in the media? Let us know at media@philanos.org and we'll help to spread the word! Learn more
- Find Out More: Barb Van Winkle/WGC Keynotes at BWGC Donor Forum, May 5, 2025

Celebrating Transformational Change: Philanos Spotlight Awards

Nancy Clark — Fri, 30 May 2025 13:44:34 GMT

Celebrating Transformational Change: Philanos Spotlight Awards
The deadline for submissions is November 3, 2025. The application and additional information can be found here.

Across the country and beyond, Philanos affiliates are demonstrating the powerful impact of high-stakes, transformational grantmaking. These changemakers are not only supporting vital community nonprofits; they are also reshaping the way communities thrive through strategic investment. To honor this outstanding work, Philanos proudly presents the Spotlight Awards.

The Spotlight Awards will be presented at Philanos’ PowerUP! Texas National Conference, being held in Austin, TX, February 8 - 10, 2026. The awards recognize grants that go beyond financial support to drive deep, lasting transformation and significantly alter the trajectory of a grantee organization, significantly enhance the impact of a grantmaking affiliate, or create measurable positive change in a community.

Each Philanos affiliate is invited to nominate one standout grant that exemplifies this spirit. The goal is to showcase the ripple effect of powerful, intentional philanthropy. Whether it be a program that expands access to critical services, empowers underserved populations, or reimagines systems to be more inclusive and effective.

Awardees receive more than a moment of recognition; they are featured in Philanos media channels, providing a national platform to share their stories, amplify their missions, and inspire others in the collective giving space.

The deadline for submissions is November 3, 2025. The application and additional information can be found here.

Philanos Adds Young Philanthropist Affinity Group

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:20:32 GMT

Starting in the Fall, Philanos will add the Young Philanthropist Affinity Group to its roster of affinity groups. Many affiliates are looking to increase the number of younger members in their organizations but are not quite sure how to start.

Philanos offered the Young Philanthropist Cohort in September 2024.

Through the Cohort, affiliates interested in starting or restarting a younger philanthropist cohort heard from those affiliates with established younger philanthropist programs and learned how best to recruit and retain younger members.

In response to the overwhelming interest in the YP Cohort, Philanos will begin a Young Philanthropist Affinity Group. As in other Philanos Affinity Groups, the Young Philanthropist Affinity Group will be interactive. Attendees will be able to connect, learn and share tips, stories and even data on growing a young philanthropist program.

Apply Now to Join A Table For Chairs Cohort #4

Nancy Clark — Fri, 23 May 2025 19:17:17 GMT

For the fourth year, Philanos will be offering this valuable program to support board leaders!

Interest is high, space is limited, so don't miss out. Submit your application now!

8 monthly meetings: Second Thursday of the month, beginning September 11, 2025 3:00-4:30 PM ET (skipping December) through May 14, 2026.

Leading a board is often challenging and even sometimes lonely work, but now it doesn’t have to be. Two former Philanos board chairs, Laura Midgley and Virginia Mills, have designed and will again co-lead “A Table For Chairs” or "ATFC", a trusted circle of peer-to-peer mentors. Through the facilitation of Laura and Virginia, this program develops a cohort of board chairs who can rely on one another tackling the issues participants want to address.

Open to Board chairs only – or “presidents”, if that’s the title used in your organization – “A Table For Chairs” will be limited to 15 Board chairs who apply (If you are a co-chair leader, please select only one person from your affiliate to apply). All Philanos Affiliates are eligible, including organizations which have had a prior chair participate

Unlike other Philanos Webinars and Affinity Groups, which are drop-in, “A Table For Chairs” uses a pre-selected cohort and depends on regular monthly attendance by each participant. This cohort model is the key for establishing a trusted circle of peer-to-peer mentors to help fellow leaders reimagine, re-energize and replenish. The curriculum dives into leader challenges by looking at membership, communications, leadership development and more with a critical lens and especially an eye on identifying the elephant in the room. Your presence and participation is what makes it work. This is your chance to focus on you and what you need to be the best leader for these times!

Potential participants are asked to submit 1-2 paragraphs about why this concept appeals to you and what you hope to get out of it. Submissions are due by June 15th and should be uploaded here. Please do evaluate your ability to participate monthly before submitting. Sickness and other issues we cannot foresee happen to us all, but we ask that this be a priority for you.

Together, Virginia and Laura have more than 50 years of collective giving experience. They co-founded this network alongside Colleen Willoughby. Each chaired Philanos in its early years, as well as numerous roles leading their local collective giving organizations and other nonprofit boards.

As co-leaders, they will offer support for confidential leadership issues. Much of Philanos’ learning is centered on ideas and problem solving; however, “A Table for Chairs” will help identify areas for personal growth and provide resources for troubleshooting leadership and organizational problem solving in addition to enhancing your skills and critical thinking as a leader. You will experience all this as well as a “table” with joy and positive energy!

Here’s what some of this year’s participants liked most about ATFC:

"The ideas and input from all of the brilliant, thoughtful, committed leaders. I'm amazed by everyone in the group"
"Learning what other organizations have done and what has made those initiatives successful or not. It's been most helpful to learn the why, how and results, rather than simply about an effort or change. It's difficult to assess whether it's something to consider for our organization without additional background."
"Having a group of women who understand my challenges as a giving circle leader and can offer help for specific challenges."
"It broadens my set of tools, resources, and ever, at least sometimes, my thinking."

We welcome current or incoming Philanos Affiliate Chairs (or Presidents) to apply now to join us!

As always, feel free to contact either Laura or Virginia with questions and ideas.

Register Now for Upcoming Philanos Events! May-June 2025

Thu, 15 May 2025 14:35:51 GMT

Philanos hosts a variety of virtual events throughout the year for you - our affiliates.

Thank you for being a part of our growing women's collective giving network - we truly are stronger together. Register today for an upcoming meeting and we'll see you soon!

May 15 - (Affinity Group) Staff Chat - Bequests and Endowments
May 20 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Metrics Continued
May 27 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club - Organizing and Maintaining Photos and Files
June 17 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers - Grant Decisions and Award Events

Recently Recorded Events

Grantmakers - Local Funding Challenges
Tech Talk - Tackling the Necessary but Small Stuff
Comms Club - Developing Video Content
Membership Roundtable - Membership Retention Metrics

Webinar Recordings:

4/8/25 - Grantmaking for Environmental Resilience
3/11/25 - Investing in Women and Girls: Innovative Grantmaking Approaches
2/11/2025 - Courageous Conversations with Rosetta Lee
11/12/2024 - New Directions in Community-Centric Grantmaking
10/8/2024 - Creating and Communicating a Strategic Plan
9/10/2024 - Evolving Membership Models

All Past Webinar Recordings

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to be linked to your circle's membership and gain access to all Philanos Affiliate benefits.

Philanos 2025 Affiliate Survey Results

Nancy Clark — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:56:53 GMT

Philanos 2025 Survey Results

You Spoke! We Listened!

Philanos recently conducted our first affiliate survey since 2018, and we’d like to share with you some of what we’ve learned.

Our goal for the survey was to learn more about the groups who make up our network and how we can best serve you: Where are you succeeding? What challenges do you face? What types of resources do you find valuable in your work? How well is Philanos meeting your needs? And, what would you like to see from Philanos in the future?

We received responses from more than two-thirds of affiliates, ranging in size from 30-40 members to over 1,000. Seventy-seven percent of respondents identified as current or past giving circle leaders–presidents or chairs, board members, or committee leaders; 14% identified as committee members; 4% as members; and 5% as staff.

Successes and Challenges

Philanos affiliates devote enormous thought and energy to grantmaking, and it shows. More than 90% of respondents identified impactful grantmaking and support for local initiatives as a major strength, and slightly more than 70% cited positive reputation and community recognition. In addition, 60% expressed confidence in their organization’s strong financial management and transparency.

The top challenges facing affiliates lie on the membership side. Two-thirds of the sample identified attracting, engaging, and retaining committee members and organizational leaders as a major challenge. Attracting, retaining, and engaging members followed closely behind, and nearly half of respondents noted that advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organization remains a challenge.

Collective Giving Resources

When it comes to finding support and inspiration for their work, respondents were most likely to rate as “very valuable”:

webinars, podcasts, or workshops on philanthropy or community issues (52%);
conferences and other in-person gatherings (45%); and
materials created by other giving circles (39%).

Eighty-five percent reported that they use resources provided by Philanos. Other popular sources of support were:

community foundation or other host organizations (60%),
other giving circles (57%), and
research or advocacy organizations, such as BoardSource, the Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, or the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (41%).

Philanos Resources

We’re delighted that 96% of respondents reported that they find Philanos resources very or somewhat valuable. Of the handful who did not, “I don’t know what resources are available,” was by far the most common reason. Among Philanos resources, webinars, conferences, and affinity groups were most likely to be rated “very valuable,” with A Table for Chairs, in particular, winning rave reviews. However, for almost every resource, a significant number of respondents reported that they were unfamiliar with it, suggesting that we have work to do.

Adding Value

Finally, we asked: “As we look to the future, how do you think Philanos can best add value to your giving circle?” From the menu of options, respondents could pick up to five.

The overwhelming response was that affiliates want access to learning opportunities that directly support their work. The top choices were:

sharing best practices from across the network that can strengthen or enhance our programs and operations (88%);
providing expert content on collective giving and philanthropy (65%); and
facilitating informal peer learning and networking (52%).

Significantly fewer numbers opted for broader roles, such as advocating for women’s collective giving and philanthropy in general.

Next Steps

We are still studying the survey data, as well as the many pages of thoughtful open-ended responses we received, but a few early directions have emerged.

First, we remain committed to providing top-notch content that helps leaders and emerging leaders with the heavy lift of running a giving circle. While we continue to welcome all members to participate in Philanos programs, we see our role primarily in terms of leadership development and support.

Second, we will continue to invest in building awareness and enhancing the impact of our programs. Over the coming months, we will be considering possible changes to our website and how we present and package content to make it more user-friendly and action-oriented.

Third, we will explore interest in content that meets varied needs. As the Philanos network has grown, we have welcomed groups with a wide range of missions, membership models, grantmaking strategies, and more. We believe the diversity of our affiliates is one of our greatest strengths, and we welcome the opportunity to deepen learning across the Philanos network.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the affiliate survey and help us strengthen our work. If you have questions or feedback on this project, please reach out to us or to any member of the Philanos board.

Philanos: Empowering Women’s Collective Giving to Strengthen Communities

Nancy Clark — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:45:26 GMT

Philanos: Empowering Women’s Collective Giving to Strengthen Communities

Philanos champions the idea that when women pool their resources, knowledge and networks, they create a profound and lasting impact. Each giving circle operates independently, but together they form a powerful alliance that enables women to amplify their voices and investments in the causes that matter most to them.

To support the affiliates, Philanos offers a robust slate of programs designed to educate, connect and inspire. These include a seasonal webinar series hosted every second Tuesday at noon ET, as well as various affinity groups tailored to specific roles and interests, such as communications, grantmaking, membership, technology, leadership, and young professionals. These forums foster dynamic conversations, spark collaboration and promote shared learning.

The organization’s national conferences are a highlight, drawing hundreds of giving circle members and philanthropic thought leaders from across the country for three days of rich dialogue, networking and strategic learning. The next one, PowerUP! Texas is scheduled for February 8-12, 2026 in Austin, promising new opportunities to build membership, community and grantmaking.

Philanos also facilitates one-on-one connections between members, encouraging meaningful exchange of challenges, solutions and lessons learned. Through its Affiliate Portal, members can easily access these resources and stay informed about the latest tools and updates.

Each giving circle should have a designated Philanos liaison, or bundle administrator, who serves as the bridge between their circle and the national network. These liaisons ensure timely communication regarding affiliation renewals, board voting and profile updates, while also guiding members through the array of available Philanos offerings.

With its steadfast commitment to equity, education, and community engagement, Philanos is redefining philanthropy by centering women’s leadership and collaboration. As more women come together to give, they are not only addressing local needs—they are shaping a more inclusive and empowered future for all.

To learn more or get involved, visit philanos.org.

Philanos Announces 2026 National Conference: PowerUP! Texas

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:20:23 GMT

Our Board has selected Austin, Texas for the next national convening of Philanos affiliates, friends and partners - PowerUP! Texas. Our reasons were many, but they fit into two broad categories – one that is anchored in our values (heart), and another based on logic (head).

These are our heartfelt reasons:

We are a national network that advances and empowers women’s collective giving to strengthen communities, especially underserved ones.
Our Philanos values are: Inclusion, Learning, Trust and Collaboration. The order in which they are listed is important because our work does not happen in isolation. We need to create the right culture and bonds.
It starts with building individual relationships based in empathy and trust, which blossom into organizational partnerships – which can lead to collaboration and change.

We are inviting our Philanos members and conference attendees to:

Lean into Allyship – each of us has freedoms and privileges, and we are going to stand with our Texas colleagues as they support vulnerable groups – women and children who have a right to essential health care, and a diverse population statewide which is 60% people of color and has the 10^th highest poverty rate in the country.
Engage in Courageous Conversations – to learn from each other and find areas of consensus where we can collaborate for progress.
Support and Lift up Each Other – we need everyone to pull together to achieve our collective goals.

We have been preparing for this – re-examining our mission and values, developing new competencies and building coalitions. Now is the time to exercise our courage and live our values.

There are also logical and financial reasons:

We move our conference to different regions of the country every other year –the last two have been in Seattle (West coast), Baltimore (East coast), and it is time to hold one in a central location, like Austin.
We look for a region with multiple engaged, willing and sizable circles for our collaborative hosting model, which will increase attendance and sponsorships, and where the national conference will have an enduring impact.
We select a host city which is accessible, welcoming and offers many cultural attractions.
Texas is one of the 16 under-resourced states in the South Central and Mountain West regions for which we received a generous, multi-year Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant to bring more philanthropic attention and funds.

We can think of no greater attention we can bestow than to bring our national conference right here.

We hope you will join us for our PowerUP! Texas National Conference in Austin from Feb 8-10, 2026!

The Philanos Board of Directors

"The Big We"

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:56:34 GMT

Recommended Reading:

The Big We by Hali Lee. How Giving Circles Unlock Generosity, Strengthen Community and Make Change. In 2021, Hali Lee was named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50:

Impact, in recognition of her work as a cofounder of the Donors of Color Network, the first-ever national network of wealthy folks of color, a co-creator of Philanthropy Together, a national collective giving support organization, and as founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle.

Recently published, this book draws on Hali’s deep knowledge of giving circles and collective giving and challenges traditional charitable giving. This book succinctly makes the case that philanthropy is accessible for everyone.

We highly recommended for anyone who wants to be inspired!

Crickett Woloson: 2025 Colleen Willoughby Award Recipient

Nancy Clark — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:22:58 GMT

Crickett Woloson: 2025 Colleen Willoughby Award Recipient

A Visionary in Trust-Based Philanthropy

Crickett Woloson, an avid runner, recently participated in a marathon where a participant’s tee shirt read “hard but difficult,” which resonated with her. Still, as she added, things can be challenging, rewarding, and not executed perfectly, all at the same time. These words describe how she navigated and ultimately became an impactful force in the philanthropic landscape of Baltimore through pioneering initiatives that integrate social justice, racial equity, and trust-based philanthropy (TBP) into the city’s funding ecosystem. As a leading visionary in the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC), she has co-chaired a team that has played a pivotal role in reshaping its values, streamlining grantmaking processes, and elevating its reputation within the greater Baltimore community.

Challenging the Status Quo in Philanthropy

Beyond her work with BWGC, Crickett and her husband founded the Elbow Fund, a donor-advised fund dedicated to supporting Baltimore’s Black-led nonprofits through trust-based principles. The Elbow Fund focuses on leadership development, mentoring, and strategic planning for social change organizations. The fund fosters grassroots leadership and increases investment in historically underfunded initiatives by prioritizing direct community engagement.

Her early advocacy for TBP placed her ahead of many in the philanthropic sector, positioning the BWGC and the Elbow Fund as trailblazers in equity-driven grantmaking. Her contributions were nationally recognized when she presented on TBP at the 2023 Philanos annual conference in Baltimore.

Extending Impact Beyond the Giving Circle

Since joining BWGC in 2009, Crickett has served in multiple leadership roles, including founding co-chair of the Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Committee, established in response to the 2020 racial justice movement. She also co-chaired the Nominating and Leadership Committee and served on the Steering Committee, guiding the organization through challenging yet necessary conversations about equity in philanthropy.

Through her dedication, Crickett helped implement key initiatives such as revising the BWGC’s mission and values, developing equity-centered programming, and launching a Grants Learning Laboratory. These efforts reshaped BWGC’s approach to funding, increasing engagement with community-led organizations and adopting more equitable grantmaking practices.

Addressing Critical Needs in Baltimore

Baltimore’s Black-led nonprofits receive disproportionately low funding from traditional philanthropic sources. Recognizing this gap, Crickett has made it her mission to bridge the divide by fostering partnerships between funders and community leaders. As Director of the Elbow Fund, she identifies and uplifts emerging Black leaders, mentors them, and removes systemic barriers to funding and resources.

Her dedication extends beyond financial support. Crickett has facilitated educational programs and collaborative opportunities between grassroots organizations and institutional funders by leveraging relationships built over years of deep community engagement. This has strengthened the infrastructure of Black-led nonprofits and empowered them to drive sustainable change in their communities.

Philanthropic Collaboration and Leadership

Crickett’s commitment to collective giving is exemplified through her support of CLLCTIVLY, a Black-led organization that fosters collaboration and resource mobilization for social impact groups in Baltimore. Through the Elbow Fund, she has co-developed groundbreaking funding initiatives, including:

Hand-in-Hand & Round of Applause Awards (2024) – Recognizing and funding ten organizations modeling deep collaboration and liberatory practices, with an additional $100,000 in community-directed grants distributed across 30 organizations.
Solidarity Awards (2023) – Partnering with CLLCTIVLY for the annual CLLCTIVGIVE event, providing unrestricted funding to 15 organizations committed to racial justice and community empowerment.

Personal Journey in Philanthropy

Crickett’s philanthropic philosophy evolved through personal reflection and education. Her exposure to Baltimore’s systemic inequities led her to embrace community-driven solutions. Her participation in B’more Invested further reinforced her commitment to participatory grantmaking, where community representatives, rather than institutional donors, determine funding allocations. This model has redefined how philanthropy operates in Baltimore, ensuring that those closest to the challenges have the power to implement solutions.

Legacy of Impact: Crickett Woloson’s Transformative Philanthropy

Crickett Woloson’s work is a testament to the power of intentional, trust-based philanthropy. Baltimore’s nonprofit sector has leaned toward equity, collaboration, and community-driven decision-making through her leadership, creating a more inclusive and effective philanthropic ecosystem.

At the heart of her approach is Collective Giving, a model that fosters diverse perspectives, encourages shared decision-making, and sparks creativity. For Crickett, collective giving isn’t just about funding—it’s about bringing people together, inspiring social connection, and deepening their understanding of their communities. Centering the perspectives of both grantees and members ensures that philanthropy is a continuous learning process that builds trust and creates lasting impact.

Crickett has been incredibly passionate about the potential for giving circles, to offer more than just financial contributions—they create educational opportunities, collaboration, and empowerment opportunities. Women in giving circles gain insight into their communities' realities, form meaningful connections, and work collectively toward sustainable change.

Receiving this award reflects the collective effort behind the Giving Circle. “The work we’ve done took time, trust, and a commitment to listening,” Crickett shares. “It wasn’t a straight line, but we built something meaningful together.” She emphasizes that philanthropy thrives when decision-making is shared, voices are heard, and adaptability is embraced. Her leadership continues to inspire funders and changemakers, proving that philanthropy led by trust becomes a catalyst for lasting social impact.

5 Reasons to Attend Philanos Affinity Groups - Join Us!

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:17:07 GMT

5 Reasons to Attend Philanos Affinity Groups - Join Us!

Philanos offers affiliates opportunities to connect with each other through its four Affinity Groups. A

Table for Chairs is a closed group and provides a forum for affiliate giving circle co-chairs to exchange ideas and expertise concerning leadership challenges.

All other Affinity Groups are open to affiliate members. Affinity Groups meet via Zoom for one hour from 12:00 Noon (ET) until 1:00 PM (ET). Registration is required and is available via email sent to affiliates and on the Philanos website. Click on the links below to learn more about these Affinity Groups.

Philanos encourages all affiliates to share information and registration details for upcoming Philanos Affinity Group meetings with their members.

5 Reasons to Attend Philanos Affinity Groups

Grow Your Leadership Pipeline - Encourage all your members to attend. Affinity Groups are not for current leaders only. New members, long-standing members, members of committees and members interested in the women’s collective giving movement - all benefit from learning about the challenges and successes of other circles.
Your Circle is not Alone - Learn how other circles face the challenges you are confronting. Ask your questions in an informal setting. Curious how other circles recruit and retain members? Interested in the software other circles use for grants? Maybe you have a question about the best ways to communicate with your members. Affinity Groups are the perfect forum for these topics and more.
Stop Reinventing The Wheel - Save your energy and borrow from what other circles have already done successfully. Maybe it’s a strategic plan. Or, maybe it’s an anniversary celebration. Ask your questions! Affinity Groups allow you to learn how other circles have done it and even give you a roadmap to get there.
Expand Your Reach - Hear what other circles are doing to engage their members, connect with their local communities and celebrate their successes. Learn about website design. Hear how circles find support from local businesses. Find out how circles are going beyond the check.
Make Priceless Connections - Meet other philanthropic women making impacts in their local communities. Then, keep the connection alive by staying in touch after the session. And, meet in person at the next Philanos Conference!

Affinity Groups for Philanos Affiliates

Philanos Affiliate Comms Club - Comms Club meets the 4th Tuesday of every other month. Join the conversation when we discuss issues and ideas for strengthening communications in your giving circle.
Philanos Affiliate Tech Talk - Tech Talk meets the 3rd Thursday of every other month. Come share your questions and ideas about software and tech platforms for your giving circle.
Philanos Affiliate Membership Roundtable - Membership Roundtable meets the 3rd Tuesday of every other month. Participate in this forum to discuss issues concerning membership in your giving circle.
Philanos Affiliate A Table for Chairs - a confidential forum for affiliate giving circle chairs to share ideas and expertise with leadership challenges
Philanos Affiliate Young Philanthropist Cohort - of 12-15 Philanos Affiliates will participate in 3 sessions.
Philanos Affiliate Staff Chat - a confidential forum for affiliate giving circle paid staff only to share ideas, challenges and expertise.
Philanos Affiliate Grantmakers - Grantmakers will meet bi-monthly to discuss grantmaking in your giving circle.

Crickett Woloson - 2025 Willoughby Award Recipient

Nancy Clark — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:02:57 GMT

Philanos is pleased to announce Crickett Woloson, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, as the 2025 recipient of The Willoughby Award. This is awarded on International Women’s Day in honor of Colleen Willoughby to recognize a member of a Philanos Affiliate who has used her collective giving experience to take philanthropy and leadership in new directions in her local community.

Colleen Willoughby challenged the status quo of traditional philanthropy 25 years ago when she found it deeply troubling that women did not have an organized vehicle for using their own money to invest in their communities. Through collective giving, she inspired women to find and amplify their voices today, tomorrow and for the future.

Crickett Woloson has been a leading visionary in the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle for incorporating social justice and DEI Initiatives in the Circle’s values. She also led the Circle’s efforts to introduce Trust-Based Philanthropy into their grantmaking before many of its members had heard of the term. “Our Circle has benefited from her vision - working hard to streamline our grants process, educating members to the needs of smaller nonprofits, and overall enhancing our reputation in the greater Baltimore community,” shared her award nominators.

Crickett led her Circle through a series of workshops designed to rethink their mission, vision and values. She worked tirelessly to help other members understand the need to incorporate concepts of equity in the Circle’s approach to grantmaking. As an ardent believer in honest dialogue, Crickett frequently quotes the adage, “If you want to travel fast, travel alone; if you want to travel far, travel together.”

Thanks to Crickett, the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle has traveled far - modifying their grants process, engaging with more community-led organizations and altering the voting process - and even more importantly they have traveled together. The Membership has overwhelmingly accepted initiatives leading to more equitable outcomes.

In addition to being an active leader for her own circle, Crickett and her husband created the Elbow Fund, using the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy to support Black-led nonprofits in Baltimore and support an underfunded philanthropic group. Through this fund, she strives to create positive social change in Baltimore by partnering with proven and passionate community leaders of Black-led organizations. This work includes identifying leaders through primary research and diligence, listening to and mentoring their partners and creating strategies to remove barriers. The Elbow Fund has enhanced the efforts of the community groups doing this work and through partnerships, raised the awareness of and need for investments in this work.

Crickett also uses her time and financial resources to actively support CLLCTIVLY, a Black-led organization founded in 2019 with a mission to foster collaboration, increase social impact and amplify the voices of Black-led organizations in greater Baltimore.

Just as Colleen Willoughby challenged the status quo of traditional philanthropy, Crickett has challenged herself to apply collective giving principles to address the needs within her community. “I am now much more intentional and strategic about which organizations the Elbow Fund supports, and how those organizations are chosen,” she said. “I became a student of participatory grantmaking and was determined that future grantmaking would be collaborative and collectively driven by members of the communities impacted by the barriers imposed by the systems all around us.”

Congratulations Crickett on a well-deserved award!

The Willoughby Award is sponsored by Colleen S. Willoughby, and Past Philanos Board Member Dale Clifford, in honor of her mother Laura Egerton Lothrop.

View past recipients, here.

Celebrating Women’s History Month With a Look at Women’s Philanthropy

Nancy Clark — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:09:02 GMT

Celebrating Women’s History Month With a Look at Women’s Philanthropy

March is the celebration of Women’s History Month and the theme this year is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations". Doing this through philanthropy is one way to meet this goal. Women have long played a pivotal role in philanthropy, and collective giving groups exemplify this influence.

According to the Johnson Center Report entitled “In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.”, 84% of collective giving groups report that more than half of their membership consists of women, with 60% composed entirely of women.

As we are aware, for many women in collective giving circles, their participation goes beyond charitable giving—it is about sisterhood and shared values. According to the report, nearly half (43%) of collective giving group leaders identify their organization’s core identity as rooted in womanhood. Women in these groups contribute financially, serve on boards, volunteer, and advocate for the nonprofits they support. These spaces offer a platform for leadership development, enabling women to expand their roles in philanthropy while transforming the broader landscape of giving.

Collective giving was first recognized as a women’s philanthropy movement in the early 2000s, and its influence has only grown since then. Women’s foundations and funds have been described as “change agents” due to their community-oriented focus and emphasis on outcomes. Their giving extends beyond financial contributions; it fosters education, confidence, and deeper involvement in philanthropy.

As collective giving continues gaining momentum, its influence shapes the broader philanthropic landscape. Women-led groups are increasingly adopting trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing long-term relationships with nonprofit organizations and reducing barriers to funding. These groups provide critical financial support to communities and create networks of empowerment and solidarity among women. By fostering leadership skills and promoting shared philanthropic goals, collective giving groups are reshaping how philanthropy operates, ensuring that women’s voices remain at the forefront of impactful change.

Through collective giving, women are not just donors—they are leaders, advocates, and architects of a philanthropic movement that prioritizes community, inclusivity, and long-lasting impact.

We Are Stronger Together

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:57:12 GMT

We Are Stronger Together

The mission of Philanos is to support and strengthen women’s collective giving by offering our Philanos Affiliates unique educational and collaborative resources. Each of you as a Philanos Affiliate is committed to using these resources to make impactful grants to serve the most vulnerable within their local communities.

In spite of recent events, the Philanos Mission has not changed - nor will we waver from our mission. And we know that each of you remain deeply committed to the communities you serve.

What has changed in the past four weeks is the confusion, chaos and concern within the nonprofit sector, resulting from executive orders issued by the current administration. Philanos is horrified by the display of both cruelty and ignorance and the possibility of the long term negative impact for those we support.

We know how directly the past four weeks have affected all of you.

You are closest to those doing the work on the ground and understand both the significant impact of recent events, as well as the likelihood of additional policy changes that will create unprecedented upheaval for those you serve.

More than ever, we encourage you to support the needs you see in your communities and to support each other.

Philanos is following the current situation closely and will provide ongoing updates and resource suggestions as they evolve. None of us has the answers we want today - or the answers we would like to hear. However, by sharing and collaborating amongst ourselves, we can stand in solidarity to address the resulting inequities.

On Tuesday, Philanos joined other members of the Philanthropy Together Braintrust in issuing a collective statement and offering some suggestions for positive action. Details can be found here.

Things you can do as a Philanos Affiliate:

Use the member portal on the Philanos website. We will be updating and adding resources as they become available.
Reach out to other Philanos Affiliates for ideas.
Post a statement for your own organization.
Check in with your grant recipients.
Review your grantmaking process and consider unrestricted amounts and perhaps a range of grant sizes for broader community support.

Collective giving and our philanthropic impact are some of the most powerful tools we have. We are absolutely stronger together.

Philanos Co-Chairs
On behalf of the Philanos Board of Directors

A Movement, Not a Moment: The Power of Giving Circles in Times of Need

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

A Movement, Not a Moment: The Power of Giving Circles in Times of Need

Across the nation and around the world, giving circles unite people to pool their resources and invest in grassroots, community-based organizations. We are more than donors—we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers. And as a people-powered philanthropic ecosystem, we are always listening.

Right now, we hear our nonprofit partners sounding the alarm. They are navigating devastating wildfires, funding cuts, and policies that threaten the very communities they serve. They are showing up every day for people in crisis. The question is: Will we show up for them?

The answer is clear: We must.

Many of us may feel uncertain about what to do in moments like these. But collective giving was built for times of crisis. Giving circles remove barriers, move resources quickly, and stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines. Now is the time to take action.

What We Can Do—Together

1. Give Your Time & Talent → Show Up and Ask

Pick up the phone. Call a nonprofit leader. Ask, What do you need today?
Offer your skills. Are you a lawyer? Help navigate policy changes. A marketer? Spread their message. An organizer? Mobilize volunteers. Your time and expertise are just as valuable as dollars.

2. Give Your Treasure → Move Money, No Strings Attached

Send funds now, no red tape. Giving circles have the power to mobilize unrestricted dollars immediately.
Give bigger, stretch further. If you’ve ever considered increasing your giving, this is the moment to do it.

3. Give Your Testimony → Amplify Their Voices

Share their stories. Who is doing critical work in your community? Post about them. Introduce them to funders. Bring them into conversations they’re too often left out of.
Call your representatives. Advocate for policies that protect funding for grassroots organizations. Your voice carries weight. Use it.

4. Give Your Ties → Activate Your Network

Rally your circle. Bring your friends, family, and colleagues into this movement.
Leverage your influence. Whether you have ten followers or ten thousand, someone is listening to you. Make sure they hear this: Now is the time to give.

This is What We Do.

Giving circles exist for moments like this. We don’t wait, we don’t hesitate, and we don’t let grassroots leaders stand alone. Whether in times of quiet progress or urgent crisis, we show up.

And we will continue to do so. Stand with us. Share this message with your giving circle and confirm your commitment. Not part of a giving circle? Join us.

In action and solidarity,

Philanthropy Together’s Network Braintrust

In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:37:51 GMT

National Research Report from the Johnson Center, Colmena-Consulting, and Philanthropy Together

In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S. explores the transformative impact of collective giving on philanthropy. Practiced in cultures all around the world, collective giving brings people together to pool their resources, including time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties — often referred to as the 5Ts. Groups like giving circles, SVP chapters, giving projects, and nonprofit-led circles have long served as democratic and philanthropic learning hubs — bringing historically marginalized voices into philanthropic decision-making spaces, challenging preconceived notions of who is considered a philanthropist, and elevating members as integral actors in our sector’s efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in giving.

A partnership between the Johnson Center, Colmena-Consulting, and Philanthropy Together, this report underscores collective giving groups’ role in reshaping philanthropic practices, fostering social connections, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

Read the report

Save the Date! PowerUP! Texas Philanos National Conference in Austin, February 2026

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:25:03 GMT

We are looking forward to our upcoming 2026 Philanos National Conference - PowerUP! Texas in Austin

With more than 300 women attending, representing circles throughout the country - we'll be sharing best practices for advocacy, sponsorships, membership recruitment, member engagement, grant making and so much more.

We'll "See You in Austin"!

- Sandy Cook, Clare O'Brien, and Ann Marie McGee, PowerUP! Texas National Conference Co-Chairs

Conference Overview

“PowerUP! Texas: The Spark Igniting Collaboration” is Philanos’ 3-day national Conference for visionary leaders in women's collective giving who believe in the power of women’s collective giving to create impact in local communities.

As the largest network of women’s collective giving groups, Philanos represents over 105 giving circles whose 21,500+ members have cumulatively granted $253 million in their local communities.
Attendees will be a national audience of more than 300 giving circle leaders and members, philanthropic advisors, and practitioners of trust-based and intentional philanthropy.
Regional giving circles and networks of philanthropic organizations will join forces to host this event with the theme of “collaboration”.

Conference Sponsors

It takes a special individual, business, or organization to understand the value of investing in the national women's collective giving movement by sponsoring the Philanos PowerUP! Texas 2026 National Conference. Interested in sponsoring the conference? Contact us!

Conference Agenda

Breakout sessions will address best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving as well as trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.
Our speakers will address the power of collaborative grantmaking, best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving, and trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

February 2025 Philanos eNewsletter

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:15:21 GMT

February 6, 2025

Hi,

Philanos is committed to creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all of our Philanos Affiliates, their members and partners.

Our webinar on February 11th at 12 PM ET, "Courageous Conversations", will feature Rosetta Lee, a nationally-known educator on this topic. Rosetta previously presented at the Philanos 2020 National Conference in Seattle. She has also worked with our Philanos Board over the past year to improve our capacities to engage in dialogue with individuals who have different perspectives, life experiences and identities. Her insights and tools have enabled us to grow as individuals and leaders.

We hope our Philanos Affiliates will also benefit from Rosetta's wisdom, empathy and guidance as they support their own grantees and work to build stronger and more trusting relationships in their communities. Registration for this webinar closes February 9. Register now!

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org

Philanos Events

February 6 - (Affinity Group) Tech Talk - Member Engagement Platforms
February 11 - (Webinar) Rosetta Lee - Courageous Conversations
February 18 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers - Making Big Changes
February 20 - (Affinity Group) Staff Chat - Funding
March 11 - (Webinar) Investing in Women and Girls: Innovative Grantmaking Approaches
March 18 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Retention Strategies and Metrics
March 25 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club - Building Circle Awareness

Philanos News & Resources

Philanos PowerUP! 2026 Conference - As we begin the new year we are excited to announce our next PowerUP! Texas National Conference in Austin, February 8-10, 2026 - stay tuned for more details soon!
Philanos Affiliate Handbook - The new 2025 Philanos Affiliate Handbook is an easy-to-navigate guide to all things Philanos! Direct links to online resources make the Handbook an indispensable companion and roadmap to the Philanos website and Affiliate Portal. While the Handbook is designed to support giving circle leaders in successfully managing their Affiliate's Philanos relationship, members at large will also find it a valuable guide. Learn more
Philanos Affiliate Action Item - Please take a few minutes to help us better support you and your giving circle! Our first survey since 2018, will help us understand what issues are top of mind for you and what resources you find most valuable - or wish were available - in addressing major challenges and opportunities. Please share our input by completing our survey before February 9, 2025. Take the survey

Philanos Partner Events - Save the Date! We Give Summit 2025: May 13-15, 2025! Get ready for three days of inspiration, learning, and connection with members of collective giving groups, community leaders, philanthropy experts, and social impact newcomers from around the world. Philanos is proud to continue to partner with Philanthropy Together on this great event and have two Board members serving on the Steering Committee. Learn more
Philanos Affiliate Resource - How to practice high impact giving year-round? The Center for High Impact Philanthropy's annual giving toolkit provides individual donors and professional grantmakers with actionable guidance for high impact giving year-round. Learn more

Philanos Affiliates in the News

Philanos Affiliates in the News - Learn how Philanos Affiliates are driving change through local grants, impactful partnerships and women's empowerment - collective giving that's having an impact on local communities throughout the country. Read more

5 Ways Philanos Can Highlight Your Efforts! Have you made a new round of grants? Did you host an event recently? Are you Partnering with others on a project? Are you celebrating an anniversary? Were you highlighted in the media? Let us know at media@philanos.org and we'll help to spread the word! Learn more

We Give Summit 2025: A Celebration of Collective Giving

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:25:39 GMT

Save the Date: May 13-15, 2025!

Get ready for three days of inspiration, learning, and connection with members of collective giving groups, community leaders, philanthropy experts, and social impact newcomers from around the world, led by our partners at Philanthropy Together.

This year’s agenda will be centered around the the theme Thrive Together.

Philanos is proud to continue to partner with Philanthropy Together on this great event, and to have two Board Members serving on the Steering Committee.

Registration opens March 2025 - please plan to join us!

New! 2025 Philanos Affiliate Handbook

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:10:21 GMT

The new 2025 Philanos Affiliate Handbook is an easy-to-navigate guide to all things Philanos.

Key sections include:

Philanos programs and resources
Affiliate expectations and tips for getting the most out of your Philanos affiliation
Board, board committee, and staff directory
Branding and communications tools, including sample language for use in emails and social media
Illustrated instructions for accessing the Philanos Affiliate Portal
Detailed guide to managing member accounts
And more!

Download the 2025 Philanos Affiliate Handbook here

Direct links to online resources make the Handbook an indispensable companion and roadmap to the Philanos website and Affiliate Portal.

While the Handbook is designed to support giving circle leaders in successfully managing their Affiliate’s Philanos relationship, members at large will also find it a valuable guide.

The Affiliate Engagement Committee will update the Handbook annually. The Committee welcomes your feedback and suggestions at ae@philanos.org.

2025 High Impact Giving Toolkit

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:47:35 GMT

We are proud to provide resources for Philanos Affiliates from our partner organizations:

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s annual giving toolkit provides individual donors and professional grantmakers with actionable guidance for high impact giving year-round.

We include a practical guide on what high impact philanthropy really means and four high-level strategies to help you practice it, no matter what cause or geographic community you care about. To illustrate how high impact philanthropy can be practiced across issue areas, we profile twelve exemplars with potential to achieve high impact and share lessons learned that can be applied in your own community.

Philanos Affiliate Survey - We Want to Hear From YOU!

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:34:12 GMT

Please take a few minutes to help us better support you and your giving circle!

The brief survey linked below—our first since 2018—will help us understand what issues are top of mind for you and what resources you find most valuable—or wish were available—in addressing major challenges and opportunities.

Share your input by completing our survey before February 9, 2025.

Please encourage all members of your circle to complete our survey. This email can be forwarded to all of your members. Every opinion is important to us. If you have questions or feedback, please reach out to Affiliate Engagement Co-Chair Mary Kwak at mkwak@philanos.org.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Thank you for your assistance and for your commitment to the fastest growing form of philanthropy today–collective giving!

With thanks,

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org
Philanos Co-Chairs

Save the Date! PowerUP! Texas Philanos National Conference in Austin, February 2026

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 01:46:51 GMT

Save the Date for the PowerUP! Texas Philanos National Conference in Austin, February 8-10, 2026!

Philanos: Embracing New Beginnings in 2025

Nancy Clark — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:54:26 GMT

As 2025 begins, we are preparing to build upon the significant achievements of the past year. In 2024, Philanos deepened its impact through innovative programs and strategic growth, setting the stage for a transformative year ahead.

We will continue to build on collaboration through CircleUPs, our cross-regional initiatives, strengthening collective resources and amplifying community impact. Philanos will also continue to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion by expanding our presence in underserved areas and offer resources through our Affinity Groups that empower members to create more equitable grantmaking processes. Philanos is committed to strengthening the power of collective philanthropy to address systemic inequities.

Strategic planning continues to be a priority for us as we continue the work done by the Philanos board for the past year. Through newly focused initiatives and programs, we remain committed to amplifying the voices of women philanthropists and inspire innovative solutions to funding community challenges.

Our strategic planning efforts are preparing the way for a year of renewal and innovation in 2025. Key priorities include using technology to enhance collaboration among affiliates, launching initiatives to attract younger members, and expanding its advocacy for the women-led philanthropic movement. By fostering a culture of learning and change, Philanos aims to inspire Philanos Affiliates to dream bigger and act boldly.

Philanos is especially excited about beginning to plan our upcoming PowerUP! Texas conference February, 2026. We hope to See You in Austin!

With our legacy of collaboration and impact, Philanos is ready to transform 2025 into a year of meaningful action and growth. The power of collective giving creates a more equitable and empowered future for all.

2025 Trends in Philanthropy/Collective Giving

Nancy Clark — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:36:26 GMT

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.

Philanos 2024 Year in Review

Nancy Clark — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:03:48 GMT

Philanos’ mission is to support and strengthen women's collective giving organizations through education and collaboration designed to promote women's philanthropy and informed, impactful grantmaking in communities.

We’ve had a successful year catalyzing the women’s collective giving movement by connecting women's giving circles and providing support, resources, events, peer-to-peer sharing, and educational programming.

Here are 10 highlights of our collective efforts this year:

Philanos Affiliate Membership Growth – We’ve grown to 100+ affiliate members around the country and internationally collectively learning and sharing to strengthen our network.
Philanos Affiliate Collective Giving Growth – Our 100+ affiliates have collectively given over $232M in their local communities since their inception.
Philanos Leadership Growth – We have 3 new Board members and 11 new committee members helping to lead and grow our organization for the future.
Philanos Collective Learning – We hosted 8 webinars that focused on membership, communication, governance, and grantmaking and that had an overall attendance of 700+.
Philanos Collective Sharing – We have 5 Affinity groups that held over 12 gatherings throughout the year that encouraged interaction among over 500 affiliate peers.
Philanos Collective Celebrating – We continue to celebrate the groundbreaking work of Colleen S. Willoughby through our Willoughby Award. Nominations close by Feb. 1 - nominate a woman who is a changemaker in your community!
Philanos Partnership with the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund - We continue to expand our work through our Fidelity Catalyst Fund partnership, which has enhanced our efforts to engage new affiliates, enhance our organizational partnerships, and grow collective giving among BIPOC groups in under-funded areas across the country, which includes much of the work outlined below.
Philanos Communities of Practice – We had 16 Philanos Affiliates who participated in our Young Philanthropist Cohort that met 3 times to learn and share together, and will meet again in 2025.
Philanos CircleUps - We partnered with Philanthropy Together, Grapevine, the Community Investment Network, and many local organizations to host seven CircleUps around the country that brought over 380 funders, nonprofit leaders and donors together to encourage the growth of giving circles.
Philanos Network Collaboration Growth– We continue to partner with local, regional, and national networks and their members to support and grow collaborative giving, including new network partners: Latino Giving Circle Network®, Rose Community Foundation, and the Arizona Community Foundation.

We look forward to continued learning, sharing, collaborating, celebrating, partnership and growth as we focus on building and supporting the women’s collective giving movement in 2025.

Have something to add? Let us know! Email us with any other thoughts about Philanos in 2024.

Sandy Cook, Clare O’Brien, Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Co-Chairs

2024 CircleUps are a Wrap!

Nancy Clark — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:49:10 GMT

Philanos participated in seven CircleUps around the country for 2024 with more planned for 2025. Board members found themselves leading and presenting for CircleUps throughout the country and even more important - learning!

What is a CircleUp?

A CircleUp brings together those interested in collective giving for networking, sharing, learning and fun. Each attendee brings their passion and commitment to collective giving, regardless of whether they are a member of an existing circle, want to start one or simply want to learn more. Most importantly, is the recognition of the impact of collective giving on local communities.

2024 CircleUps came together in Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Boise, ID; Reno, NV; Jackson, MS; Phoenix, AZ; and Nashville, TN.

Our 2024 CircleUps reflected unique geographies and diverse memberships. Yet regardless of differences, the connector was the recognition of the power and impact of collective giving. The opportunity for every CircleUp attendee to learn and share with others combined with the celebration of collective giving impact provided indescribable energy and enthusiasm for each event.

Funded by a grant from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, CircleUps were a collective effort by Philanos and our partners: Philanthropy Together, Grapevine and Community Investment Network. Additional support by local community foundations and local giving circles pulled it all together. Learning opportunities included presentations on member engagement, grantmaking and community leadership, in addition to inspirational stories from individuals and local nonprofits.

As we plan for our 2025 CircleUps we are even more excited to be part of something bigger than all of us. We are truly stronger together - coming together to connect, learn and share for the future of collective giving.

Learn more here

Philanos 2024 Webinar Review

Nancy Clark — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:46:39 GMT

Monthly webinars are one of the ways Philanos brings information about new trends and best practices in philanthropy to our more than 100 affiliates and their members.

A LOOK BACK AT THIS YEAR

In 2024, Philanos hosted 8 webinars that looked at strategic planning, ways to recruit and retain a diverse membership, changing trends in membership models, personal philanthropy planning, and many more topics. Last month, webinar attendees heard from giving circles in Sonoma County, CA, and Washington, DC, about how they are adopting community-centric grantmaking practices.

Webinars often feature speakers from Philanos Affiliates, sharing how giving circles around the country are managing issues that your own group may be confronting. Sometimes Philanos Board members headline the event, sharing their experiences and insights into national trends.

WHAT’S NEXT IN 2025

After a holiday break, we’ll resume our regular webinar series on Tuesday, February 11th, with special guest speaker Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee, a Seattle-based educator, diversity speaker, and promoter of empowering women and girls.

The Philanos Board has had the pleasure of working with Rosetta on building our capacity for “Courageous Conversations,” and we look forward to sharing her practical wisdom with all our affiliates in February. Invite your members to join us! Register Here

HOW IT WORKS

Webinars are held via Zoom at noon ET on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, except December and months with a conference. During the session, attendees are invited to ask questions or share their group’s policies and practices on the topic at hand.

If you miss a webinar, you can catch the recorded program later in the Philanos Affiliate Portal > Past Webinars. In addition to the video presentation, webinar slides are available online so you can see the important data presented by the speakers. In the summer, when you may have more time on your hands, we highlight the previous year’s webinars to our affiliates through Philanos U.

BY THE NUMBERS

We’re so pleased that 434 Philanos affiliate members attended our live webinars in 2024, and more than 300 watched the recorded programs. We encourage everyone to look for our announcements about the webinars coming up in the New Year!

The Value of Philanos Affinity Groups

Nancy Clark — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:33:30 GMT

The Value of Philanos Affinity Groups:
Empowering Collective Giving Through Connection and Knowledge

Philanos Affinity Groups allow members to learn, collaborate, and share strategies for amplifying their impact. Each group focuses on a distinct aspect of a giving circle, from membership retention to communications and technology. These sessions provide insights and foster connections among affiliates, reinforcing the collective giving movement's strength and sustainability.

Our Affinity Groups address the unique challenges that collective giving organizations face. They serve as an incubator for innovation, offering tools and ideas that affiliates can immediately implement. For instance, a Membership Roundtable discussion might explore best practices for retaining members, while a Tech Talk session could introduce cutting-edge tools for grants management. These groups enhance the operational efficiency of giving circles and strengthen the bonds among members, creating a supportive community dedicated to social impact.

In 2024, Philanos’ 5 Affinity Groups demonstrated their broad reach and impact:

11 Meetings Scheduled across Membership Roundtable, Comms Club, Tech Talk, Grantmakers, and Staff Chat sessions.
Registrants: Averaged over 40 participants per session, with peaks of up to 63 registrants.
Attendees: Sessions consistently attracted 13-41 attendees.
Recorded Views: High engagement continued post-session, with recordings drawing up to 76 additional views.
There were many takeaways from this year’s programs.

Membership Roundtable:

Topics included onboarding, retention strategies, and listening to members through surveys and Zoom sessions.
Highlighted events like “Membertini” and “Meet & Mingle” bridged social engagement with grantee presentations.

Comms Club:

Explored blogging, photo management, and communication strategies for surveys and focus groups.
Emphasized integrating blogs into overall communication plans to enhance storytelling and visibility.

Tech Talk:

Provided guidance on tech tools for membership management, grant tracking, and artificial intelligence applications.
Topics like outgrowing website capabilities addressed critical operational pain points.

Grantmakers:

Getting the word out to nonprofits about grant opportunities
Assisting nonprofits with application
Streamlining the grant process for the nonprofits

Staff Chat:

Current trending issues that are engaging members
The importance of staff only time to the organization's overall health, how to set that time aside
Ensuring DEI permeates daily work and overall organizational culture through events, grants, speakers, and more

Philanos Affinity connects affiliates across the country through these sessions, enabling giving circles to grow, adapt, and make an even greater impact in their communities.

Philanos CircleUp Phoenix!

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 03:45:23 GMT

Remarks by Philanos Co-Chair Clare O'Brien at the CircleUp Phoenix event in October 2024:

Good evening. My name is Clare O’Brien and I am from Cincinnati, OH.

I am very excited to be back in Phoenix, which I consider my first true home. As a child, I lived a few miles away and have wonderful memories of the kindness and generosity of this community. I am delighted to come back and support that same spirit of giving tonight.

I, along with Ann Marie McGee, serve as Co-Chairs of Philanos, which is a national network of over 100 women-led giving circles encompassing 20,000 members. Over the past 15 years, we have built a trusted, supportive community which helps strengthen giving circles and empower members to be more confident philanthropists through education, peer sharing and relationship-building.

We do that through a variety of offerings including:

Monthly educational webinars – topics include the nuts and bolts of running a giving circle – such as member engagement or strategic planning, to emerging topics such as trust-based philanthropy or environmental justice.

Affinity groups – these are a newer offering which have proven to be quite popular – we bring together 30-40 people in similar roles, whether that is Marketing, Membership or Grantmaking for lively, interactive discussions where you can seek advice on an issue you are grappling with or share a new innovation that has been very powerful.

Our joyful, in-person conferences which are held every 18-24 months and bring together several hundred giving circle leaders. Our most recent one was in November 2023, held in Baltimore. It was a stimulating celebration of collective giving featuring a diverse lineup of inspiring plenary speakers, and actionable advice and dialogue in our breakout sessions. We were fortunate to have Tony Bowen and Amy Pirozzolo attend and present.

One week prior to the conference, we were thrilled to receive a Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant, and are focused on attracting more attention and funding to underserved communities including:

National BIPOC populations – including Black, Asian, Latino and Indigenous – does that sound like Arizona?!

Geographic focus on the 16 priority states which receive 1/3 philanthropic dollars per capita as the coasts, of which AZ is one

In tandem, we are working to move more dollars to smaller, grassroots organizations that are close to the communities served because these leaders know what their people need and equally important, trust and believe in them.

Tonight, we have a very special announcement which is that the Arizona Community Foundation’s women’s and co-ed giving circles will be joining Philanos!

Welcome! I can’t wait to see what we do together. We look forward to collaborating with and learning alongside you.

Register Now for Upcoming Philanos Events - November 2024

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:09:34 GMT

Philanos hosts a variety of virtual events throughout the year for you - our affiliates.

Thank you for being a part of our growing women's collective giving network - we truly are stronger together. Register today for an upcoming meeting and we'll see you soon!

Upcoming Philanos Events

November 12 - (Webinar) New Directions in Community-Centric Grantmaking
November 12 - (Regional In-person) CircleUp Nashville
November 19 - (Affinity Group) Membership Roundtable - Engagement Data & Your Circle
November 21 - (Affinity Group) Staff Chat - DEI
December 3 - (Affinity Group) Comms Club- Social Media Bots, Ads & Sponsors for Your Circle
December 4 - (Affinity Group) Grantmakers- Applying Equity to Your Process

In Case You Missed It

Recently Recorded Events:

Grantmakers - Grant Application Processes
October Webinar - Creating and Communicating a Strategic Plan
Tech Talk - Artificial Intelligence & Your Circle
Comms Club - Tools for Managing Photos for Your Circle
Membership Roundtable - Membership Data & Your Circle
September Webinar - Evolving Membership Models

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Ready to Make a Difference? We Need You!

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:49:50 GMT

This is an open call for Philanos Board and Committee volunteers!

Participating provides excellent opportunities for networking and utilizing your leadership skills.

Please consider joining the virtual team here at Philanos!

Your community is better because of your Affiliate. And your Affiliate is stronger and more successful because of YOU.
Your membership and volunteer leadership are why your organization has grown and improved. This is also true of Philanos.
Our volunteer leaders and committee members embody our mission and believe when we succeed, our affiliates thrive.
And, Philanos is at its best when it reflects the diverse voices of women committed to collaborating with others nationally to further the collective giving movement.

We need people with experience in each of these areas:

Communications
Development & Fundraising
Technology
Finance
Education
Governance
Membership Recruitment
Retention & Engagement
Strategic Planning

Apply to join the Philanos board or a committee here:

Application deadline: Monday, February 3, 2025

Philanos committees are a great way to get involved!

Do you have an interest and a passion for Education?
Or do you have some great ideas about fundraising and sponsorships?
Maybe you love to write?
We’d love to hear from you!

Philanos committees:

The Affiliate Engagement Committee is responsible for welcoming prospective new member organizations, registration and orientation of new affiliate organizations, and managing the stewardship of current affiliates.
The Communications Committee develops and implements public relations and communication plans to support the mission of the Network.
The Development Committee will focus on the external connections with the philanthropic community including prospective funders and potential new affiliates.
The Education Committee is responsible for determining educational themes, which are woven through conferences and customized programs.
The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing and overseeing the creation of accurate, complete, timely, and meaningful financial statements to be presented to the Board.
The Technology Committee ensures that the Philanos’ technology programs support the business objectives, affiliates, and strategies, and provide for appropriate data security and data privacy.

Need more information?

Check out this link: Philanos Board Officer, Leadership, and Committee Job Descriptions

Maybe you know someone in your organization who would be a great resource for us?

If you wish to refer a good candidate for the Board of Directors or Governance Committee, or any of our committees please send her name, giving circle affiliate, phone number, and email to Maureen Romito, Governance Committee Chair.
She will ensure that one of our Nominating Committee members connects personally with your referral.

Do you have questions about the application? Or, do you need to talk with someone before deciding if this is right for you?

We’re happy to visit with you to talk about Philanos and these opportunities. Email your request to Maureen Romito, Governance Committee.

Giving Tuesday – 5 Ways Philanos Affiliates Can Give Back

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:11:27 GMT

Giving Tuesday, happening this year on December 3, 2024, is a day dedicated to celebrating and encouraging generosity worldwide. While fundraising is a popular choice for the day, there are many ways to participate beyond financial donations. You can also strengthen relationships with members and support grantee partners. Here are some ways your circle can engage in Giving Tuesday.

1. Address Community Needs with a Holiday Food Drive

Consider organizing a holiday food drive to help fill a gap in services within your community. This initiative addresses an immediate need and encourages members to participate in a tangible act of kindness.

2. Host a Festival or Community Event

Bring people together with a Giving Tuesday event or open house, where people can learn about different nonprofit organizations and their missions. This kind of event can be a great way to engage the community in a fun, social atmosphere while also providing education about various causes.

3. Fundraise—For Your Giving Circle or a Grantee Partner

While many nonprofits fundraise for themselves on Giving Tuesday, there’s also an opportunity to turn the spotlight on others. Amplifying the voices of historically underfunded organizations or sharing your giving circle's platform to highlight a grantee partner can build stronger bonds.

4. Partner with Other Organizations

Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to work with other organizations to amplify your collective impact. This might mean co-hosting an event, sharing resources, or creating a joint fundraising campaign.

5. Celebrate and Thank Your Members and Supporters

Use Giving Tuesday to show gratitude for the people who support your mission. Whether it's members, donors, or partners, take a moment to recognize their contributions and celebrate their impact. A simple thank-you campaign or a celebratory event can go a long way in showing appreciation and deepening your connections.

Unlock More Ideas with the Generosity Toolbox

Looking for even more creative ways to engage your community? The Giving Tuesday’s Generosity Toolbox contains resources, tips, and ideas to help groups make the most of Giving Tuesday. We would love to hear what your affiliate did for Giving Tuesday!

Philanos is Working to Bring Attention and Resources to Underserved Communities

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:05:38 GMT

By Clare O'Brien, Philanos Co-Chair

Philanos is leveraging our position as a national network to bring greater attention and resources to underserved communities.

Supported by a grant from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, Philanos has prioritized national BIPOC populations, and a geographic focus on the 16 states in the South Central and Mountain West regions which receive one-third the philanthropic dollars per capita as the coasts.

To develop a deeper, firsthand understanding of these communities, the Board engaged in multiple convenings and educational experiences in Mississippi and Alabama over the course of several days:

Philanos was excited to collaborate with the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Philanthropy Together, Community Investment Network and Grapevine to support the emerging collective giving movement in Mississippi. This coalition hosted a CircleUp regional gathering which brought together community foundations, funders, nonprofits and giving circle advocates for a day of shared learning, relationship building and collaboration.

Philanos was an active sponsor and participant in CIN’s Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on 10/3-10/4, celebrating 20 years of BIPOC-led giving. Seven Board members attended the inaugural Alabama Nonprofit Film Festival which spotlighted the transformative impact of ten innovative nonprofits via short films. The following day, three Philanos Board members led an interactive panel discussion entitled “Building Stronger and More Diverse Partnerships in Collective Giving”. This generated lively dialogue and commitments to action with and among the attendees, which included leaders in philanthropy, nonprofits and collective giving.

Finally, the entire Philanos Board journeyed to Montgomery, Alabama on 10/4-10/6 for an immersive and riveting exploration of our nation’s past. Through visits to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, they learned how historical events in the South continue to impact individuals, communities, economic conditions and criminal justice systems today. Following these powerful and moving experiences, the Board established links between historical events and our current philanthropic goals in a reflection and Allyship training session led by Whitney Parnell. The group’s collective insights informed and sharpened the focus of the new strategic plan.

“The work we are doing requires us to be attuned to place-based philanthropy" said Maggie Glasgow, Immediate Past Co-Chair. "Since we are moving to create more circles and greater giving in underfunded regions such as the Deep South, it is imperative our board have a deeper understanding of the people who live here and their shared history. It was an incredible opportunity to meet with our collaborators, other funders and nonprofits in the collective giving space, as well as travel through civil rights sites across Mississippi and Alabama. The board retreat in Montgomery was a highlight for me, and a goal we have long held to bring our board to the Deep South.”

This trip provided an unprecedented opportunity for the Philanos Board to learn about the history and current conditions in the South, and how we can help elevate community-centric giving in the region. We look forward to strengthening relationships with our Southern nonprofit and philanthropic partners, and are inspired by their passion, resilience and generosity.

Philanos Invests in Young Philanthropists

Nancy Clark — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:53:33 GMT

Philanos launched a Young Philanthropist cohort on September 13. Scheduled to run for three consecutive Friday sessions, this cohort explored the how-tos for affiliates interested in starting a younger cohort and affiliates looking for ideas to maintain and expand their already existing younger cohorts.

Youth philanthropy is when young people give their time, talent, money, and connections to help create social change. Youth philanthropy programs typically provide money and mentorship to young people to learn about giving, issues, and fundraising for nonprofit organizations addressing those issues.

“We were excited to offer this new opportunity to our affiliates to engage young philanthropists across the country” said Ann Marie McGee, Philanos co-Chair.

The first session of the Philanos Young Philanthropist cohort focused on the experience of Impact 100 Cincinnati in establishing a younger cohort and keeping it alive for more than 10 years. Catherine O’Shea, the current YP Liaison for Impact 100 Cincinnati, described the program, which began in 2014, and presented a comprehensive slideshow that could easily serve as a tool box for Affiliates interested in starting a young cohort. It was inspiring to hear the many ways in which both the younger cohort and existing members of Impact 100 Cincinnati have benefited.

Catherine joined the second session of the YP Cohort on September 20 along with Kathy Thornton from Impact 100 Cincinnati. Together they presented the Elements for a Successful YP Program focusing on ways to create a welcoming environment and understanding the preferences and constraints of women under the age of 40. Catherine and Kathy also discussed the benefits that Impact 100 Cincinnati has experienced in starting a YP cohort, namely, the opportunity to diversify membership and the opportunity to build the next generation of philanthropists.

In the third and final session, Affiliates with existing YP programs discussed their programs. Attendees heard about membership subsidies, recruiting efforts, application models, number of YP members accepted in a single year and overall number of YP members. Most of the YP Programs include separate events for YP members and some require YP members to sit on a committee.

"The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is nurturing youth philanthropists through our Break the Cycle Period Product Drive and Mini Give effort", says Paula Seabright, WGC's Break the Cycle Chair. "Participating in the Philanos Young Philanthropist cohort has been invaluable for us because we had an opportunity to learn, share, connect, and network with other giving circles across the country who are investing in young philanthropists as well and I am walking away with many new resources, contacts, and ideas to grow our effort here in Maryland."

Attendees agreed to meet in late January to follow up with each other on their YP program planning.

Philanos CircleUps!

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:50:56 GMT

As part of our Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant, we are partnering with Philanthropy Together, Grapevine and Community Investment Network to offer regional events CircleUp Events across the country.

Giving circles are changing communities around the world. Imagine the power and impact of teaming up with others in this growing movement — in regional areas — with shared values and a commitment to making the world a better place.

That's why Philanos is proud to be partnering with Philanthropy Together to host CircleUp gatherings around the country.

CircleUps bring together giving circle members in the area for networking, learning and fun!

Discussion areas typically focus on all aspects of giving circle : Membership Engagement, Telling your Story, Grantmaking, Community Leadership and Preparing Future Giving Circle Leaders.

CircleUp Socials are a great way to connect with fellow members and supporters of collective giving groups in your local community.

Philanos and Philanthropy Together are also working in partnership with networks, foundations, and giving circles in each region to co-host CircleUps, including the Community Investment Network and Grapevine, and we are always looking for additional partners as each CircleUp develops.

"We are proud to collaborate with our philanthropy partners, the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund and local groups to elevate awareness of collective giving, and to drive more funding to community-based organizations." said Clare O'Brien, Philanos Co-Chair. "We are excited for the learning, sharing and relationship-building that will continue at CircleUp gatherings in the coming year and we hope many Philanos Affiliates will join us!"

Upcoming CircleUp Gatherings:

Follow us for updates on upcoming CircleUps held in the Mountain West and Central South regions. We're proud to work alongside these groups to elevate awareness on collective giving and move more dollars to community-based organizations across the US.

CircleUp Nashville, TN - 11/12

Recent CircleUp Gatherings:

CircleUp Denver - 4/11
CircleUp Las Vegas - 8/29
CircleUp Boise, ID - 9/12
CircleUp Jackson, MS - 10/2
CircleUp Missoula, MT - 10/21
CircleUp Phoenix, AZ - 10/29

Learn more here!

Get Involved in Give to Women and Girls Day 2024!

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 14:55:14 GMT

Help spread the word - it’s Give to Women & Girls Day!

Two years ago the Women & Girls Index launched Give to Women & Girls Day, a groundbreaking effort to increase funding for women’s and girls’ organizations.

Why do we need a day for giving to women’s and girls’ organizations?

While nearly 50,000 organizations are dedicated to women and girls across the United States, the WGI consistently shows that less than 2% of total charitable giving goes to these organizations.

The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) launched Give to Women and Girls Day, a national awareness campaign to increase funding for women’s and girls’ organizations. This groundbreaking collaborative effort brings together hundreds of women’s and girls’ nonprofit organizations and leading partners including Philanos, Giving Tuesday, Ms. Foundation, Philanthropy Together, Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Together Women Rise, United Nations Foundation, Vital Voices, and Women Moving Millions alongside WPI to raise awareness and galvanize philanthropic support for women and girls.

This year, on October 11th, 2024, coinciding with International Day of the Girl, the Women & Girls Index will be raising awareness and encouraging donations to organizations committed to improving the lives and opportunities for women and girls.

Why is Philanos involved?

“We believe it is critical that we increase funding for women’s and girls’ organizations if we’re going to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world” says Ann Marie McGee, Philanos co-Chair. “Collective giving creates a foundation for accelerating and ultimately sustaining women and girls philanthropy.”

How can you/your circle get involved?

Here are 5 ways Philanos Affiliates might participate in “Give to Women and Girls Day” 2024:

Participate in the conversation - like and comment on #GiveToWomenAndGirls posts to help make it trend online
Help spread the word - share other’s information on your circle’s website, on social media, and in your eNewsletters
Post about the importance of the day - write a blog post and share to and through your networks
Fundraise for a program of your circle - host a fundraiser on October 11 to support your circle
Give a gift to your circle - give a gift to your circle and promote it on October 11

All of our work deserves more investment. Let’s help continue the conversation that translates into more dollars going to women and girls organizations.

Together, we can grow philanthropy dedicated to women and girls!

Inspire, Connect, Lead: Upcoming Philanos Events - 9.12.24

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:31:17 GMT

September 12, 2024

Philanos hosts a variety of virtual events throughout the year for you - our affiliates. Our monthly Webinars and Affinity Group gatherings provide opportunities to bring together women from Philanos Affiliates across the country to network, learn, share, and connect about topics that support your important work. Your Philanos membership includes these ongoing opportunities for you AND all members of your giving circle and we encourage you to forward this information regularly to your members so you can take full advantage of your Philanos membership. Thank you for being a part of our growing women's collective giving network - we truly are stronger together.

September 17 - AFFINITY GROUP: Membership Roundtable - Membership Data & Your Circle
September 19 - AFFINITY GROUP: Staff Chat - Education Ideas
September 24 - AFFINITY GROUP: Comms Club - Social Media & Your Circle
October 8 - WEBINAR - Planning For Your Future: Creating and Communicating a Strategic Plan
October 17 - AFFINITY GROUP: Tech Talk - Artificial Intelligence & Giving Circles
October 23 - AFFINITY GROUP: Grantmakers - Grant Applications

ICYMI Recently Recorded Events

September Webinar - Evolving Membership Models
Tech Talk - Outgrowing Your Website Capabilities
Comms Club - Tools for Managing Photos for Your Circle
Membership Roundtable - Engaging New Members

Philanos September 2024 eNews - Lots Going On!

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:25:12 GMT

And all of a sudden, Fall is aroundthe corner!

An important Philanos commitment to all Philanos Affiliates is to seek out opportunities for innovation. This Fall, we are thrilled to begin our 2024-2025 Philanos Educational Webinar Series with some innovative membership ideas. Register today for our September 10 Webinar, "Evolving Membership Models: How Two Collective Giving Organizations are Moving Membership Forward" at 12 pm ET to learn from two Philanos Affiliates how they evolved their membership models to engage and expand their total membership.

Also during September, we are launching a 3-session Philanos Young Philanthropist Cohort. While applications for this cohort are now closed, we look forward to sharing highlights with each of you in October. Learn more here.

Our Philanos CircleUp Regional Events continue at an unbelievable pace. With successful events behind us for Denver and Las Vegas, we are eagerly looking ahead: Boise, ID (September 12), Reno, NV (September 26), Jackson, MS (October 2), Missoula, MT (October 21), Phoenix, AZ (October 29) and Nashville, TN (November 12). Details will be on the Philanos website as they become available and invitations are being sent out directly to local contacts. As part of our Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund Grant, we are very fortunate to be engaging through a collaborative partnership with Philanthropy Together, Community Investment Network and Grapevine. Learn more here.

Finally, our two newest Affinity Groups launch this Fall! The Philanos Staff Chat Affinity Group will meet on September 19, and the Philanos Grantmaking Affinity Group will meet on October 23. These Affinity Groups join our successful Comms Club, Membership Roundtable and Tech Talk Affinity Groups. All Philanos Affinity Groups provide a wonderful way to engage members of your circle’s leadership team and committees who want new and innovative ideas. Each offers an interactive opportunity to Connect, Learn and Share and are open to all individual members of our Philanos Affiliates. Learn more here.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events - we truly are stronger together!

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org
Philanos Co-Chairs

Upcoming Webinar: September 10, 2024 at 12 PM ET

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:35:09 GMT

August 2024 Wrap-Up!

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:28:20 GMT

Philanos August Wrap-up, Links to Last Month's Highlights

Tech Talk Affinity Group Meeting
Philoblog: Philanos Blog Posts
August 2024 eNews

Have you watched any past webinars or PowerUP! Baltimore sessions this summer?

Philanos Upcoming Events

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:25:30 GMT

Philanos to Promote Affiliates in Global Giving Circle Directory

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:19:46 GMT

Philanos to Promote Affiliates in Global Giving Circle Directory

Heads up to all Philanos Affiliate Leaders and Bundle Coordinators. Watch for an important email on July 8th.

Philanos and Grapevine are partnering to include all of our Philanos Affiliates in the Global Giving Circle Directory, a directory of 4000 giving circles. This Directory has a prominent placement on many popular philanthropy sites, including Grapevine, Philanthropy Together, Charity Navigator and Giving Compass.

Why is this important to you as a Philanos Affiliate?

Affiliates will enjoy greater visibility thereby increasing contacts with individuals who are interested in joining a giving circle. In addition, nonprofits seeking grants can find local giving circles.

Each affiliate’s listing will be consistent, and provide key information such as location, size, focus, website links and more. This data helps us accurately represent what Philanos Affiliates are doing!

Philanos will begin updating this information using data already collected from our annual update process, which will save Philanos Affiliates time and effort and most importantly, ensure full and accurate representation.

Thank you in advance for your support! Watch for the email. Questions? Email Mary Kwak

Philanos July 2024 eNews

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:17:15 GMT

Happy 4th of July!

We have so many new things to share within our Philanos Network:

Philanos Board: July 1st begins the terms for both our 2024-2025 Board of Directors and members of our Governance Committee. We are so grateful for the skills, perspectives and deep commitment to collective giving that each of these women brings to Philanos. Take a moment and read more about our board in the bios on our website. See the links below.
Philanos Programming: During the summer, the board is working hard on next year’s programming and resources for all members of Philanos Affiliates. Watch the August eNews for registration information for our first September webinar on September 12, 2024 at 12 PM ET.
Philanos Affinity Groups: A special thank you and appreciation to everyone who has participated in our past Affinity Groups: Comms Club, Membership Roundtable and Tech Talk. The interactive format has proven to be successful and supportive of members of all Philanos Affiliates. These will continue in full force for 2024-2025 with the addition of an Affinity Group focused on grantmaking and a cohort dedicated to increasing the representation of Young Philanthropists.
Philanos "A Table For Chairs": Applications are now being accepted for our third “A Table for Chairs” cohort. Past cohorts have found camaraderie, support, fresh ideas, a sounding board and friendship with other leaders from across the country. If you are a Philanos Affiliate leader serving as President, Co-President, Chair or Co-Chair, please consider joining this group. Space is limited and there is a commitment for monthly meetings. An application link is below.
Philanos Partnering on CircleUP Events: As part of our Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund grant, we are partnering with Philanthropy Together, Grapevine and Community Investment Network to offer a schedule of CircleUP! Events across the country. The next events will be in Las Vegas on August 29 and Boise on September 12. Additional opportunities to connect, learn and share.

We wish each of you a celebration today and for the coming year. We are stronger and bolder together!

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Clare O'Brien, cobrien@philanos.org
Ann Marie McGee, amcgee@philanos.org
Philanos Co-Chairs

Affiliates Celebrating Anniversaries!

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 01:27:01 GMT

Affiliates Celebrating Anniversaries

20 Years:

15 Years:

Giving Together, Inc. DC
Impact100 Philadelphia, PA
Impact100 Sonoma, CA
Impact Giving, CA
Women's Giving Circle of Cumberland County, NC

10 Years:

Allinbklyn, NY
Impact100 Westchester, NY

5 Years:

Project W

Email us and let us know if your circle is celebrating an anniversary!

Meet the Philanos 2024-2025 Board of Directors

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 01:18:41 GMT

Meet the Philanos 2024-2025 Board of Directors

View Bios Here

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Susan Benford, The Philanthropy Connection, MA
Nina Cohen, Impact100 South Jersey, NJ
Amy Conard, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, MO
Sandy Cook, Impact100 Metro Denver, CO & Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida
Stephanie Cook, San Diego Women’s Foundation, CA
Alisa Evans Debnam, Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County, NC
Maggie Glasgow, Greenville Women Giving, SC
Renee Gordon, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, MD
Michelle Hynes, ninety-nine girlfriends, OR
Heather Jauregui, Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, ID
Mary Kwak, Many Hands, DC
Ann Marie McGee, Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA
Clare O’Brien, Impact 100 Cincinnati, OH
Maureen Romito, Impact Las Vegas, NV
Renuka Sastri, 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, FL
Kirsten Stanley, Impact 100 Palm Beach County, FL
Barb Van Winkle, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Tyeshia “Ty” Wilson, HERitage Giving Fund, TX
Sarah F Wimberley, Impact100 Philadelphia, PA

Philanos Governance Committee:

Maureen Romito, Impact Las Vegas, NV
Renuka Sastri, 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, FL
Nina Cohen, Impact100 South Jersey, NJ
Celeste Campos, Impact100 Garden State, NJ
Margo Greenfield, Impact 100 Essex, NJ
Kimberly Kirn, Impact100 Philadelphia, PA

Philanos Summer Goodreads

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:27:48 GMT

Good Reads

Can Your Group Stay Neutral on Controversial Topics? 5 Things to Know - Tips for nonprofits considering whether to publicly take a stand on divisive issues
What Nonprofit Leaders Are Reading This Summer - From post-apocalyptic fiction to lessons on democracy, here are six books to add to your summer reading list

A Table For Chairs - Cohort #3 Applications Open!

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 01:21:12 GMT

"Learning what other organizations have done and what has made those initiatives successful or not. It's been most helpful to learn the why, how and results, rather than simply about an effort or change. It's difficult to assess whether it's something to consider for our organization without additional background."

Apply Now

Philanos June Wrap-up, Links to Highlights

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:22:47 GMT

Tech Talk Affinity Group Meeting
Philoblog: Thanking Philanos Volunteers!
June 2024 eNews

Welcome New Philanos Affiliates!

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:26:13 GMT

Welcome New Affiliates

Latino Giving Circle Network
Social Venture Partners Denver, CO
Chinook Fund, CO
Return to the Heart Foundation, CA
She Gave Women's Giving Circle, IL
Women Inspiring Philanthropy, TX
Women's IMPACT Network of New Hanover County, NC
Aspen Giving Network, CO
Santa Fe Hestia Fund, NM
Women's Giving Circle at York County Community Fnd, PA
GivHer Circle, MS
100+ Women Who Care East County, MS
100 Women of Central Mississippi
Impact100 DC

Philanos U - Summer 2024

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:23:53 GMT

May 2024 Webinar Wrap-up

Nancy Clark — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:02:30 GMT

We had a terrific Philanos Webinar on Tuesday, May 14 entitled “Philanos and Collective Giving: Women’s Leadership and Recent Trends” - thanks to all who joined us!

Philanos Co-Chair Sandy Cook mentioned that Philanos is the leading national women’s giving circle network and our focus is to catalyze – marshal, mobilize, and accelerate – the women’s collective giving movement through connecting, learning, and peer-to-peer sharing.

She provided a snapshot of who and what we represent:

Philanos is a network of 90+ giving circles across the US and Australia that have collectively invested over $232 million in their local communities
Through our giving circle network we have over 20,000 women philanthropists involved in Philanos, a force to be reckoned with!
Philanos members live in 22 of the 25 largest metro areas, and
Our network members have estimated household incomes, returns with charitable deductions, and average donations that are roughly twice the national averages.

In short, we have more to give so we give twice as much!

Sandy highlighted how what we do affects YOU, our affiliates.

With ongoing opportunities to network with national affiliate members through meetings, private issue-focused groups, and our PowerUp! Conference.
With learning from and sharing with other affiliates in monthly webinars and bi-monthly affinity groups including Comms Club, Tech Talk, Membership Roundtable and A Table For Chairs, solely for women leading a circle.
By providing access to resources in our Affiliate Forum about all aspects of growing and maintaining giving circles, grantmaking practices and issue areas such as including next gen philanthropists.
By encouraging organizations to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion because we know that inclusive organizations minimize bias and make decisions better able to tackle systemic inequities.

Philanos Co-Chair Maggie Glasgow then introduced our 2024-2025 Board of Directors and Governance Committee, and thanked our outgoing Board Members Ellan Bernstein and Deborah Majewski.

She mentioned that our Board of Directors is composed of women from diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, collective giving groups, and come from different parts of the country.

And, she noted that the faces of this team represent the very essence of our focus on new initiatives here at Philanos and that we have recently expanded our board to engage more women from across the country, welcoming more diverse faces, voices and experiences in our movement and at our growing philanthropic leadership table.

Incoming Philanos Co-Chair Clare O’Brien shared the excitement and success to date for our work funded by Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund - a three-year, $405,000 operating grant that has been awarded to Philanos. Clare mentioned that we are thrilled at the opportunities this will provide to us, our affiliates and members, and that our partner organizations have also received funding: Philanthropy Together, the Community Investment Network, and Grapevine.

She said that this phenomenal grant will strengthen Philanos and enable us to continue advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in collective giving, work collaboratively with BIPOC communities and engage more younger people in philanthropy. Clare mentioned that we are honored to partner with Fidelity Charitable to increase the flow of philanthropic dollars to underserved populations. This includes both BIPOC communities nationwide and a regional focus on the Mountain West and the South Central regions of the US. These 16 states receive only 1/3rd of the philanthropic dollars per capita compared to the coasts and we aspire to reduce this inequity by expanding collective giving in those regions - important work!

And, Ilyasah N Shabazz of Philanthropy Together, a global initiative to grow the collective giving movement, joined us to discuss trends in Philanthropy that directly relate to you as a Philanos Affiliate and giving circle member from “In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.”, the newly-released national research report from the Johnson Center, Colmena-Consulting, and Philanthropy Together.

All of our speakers elaborated on how all of this benefits YOU - our affiliates and individual members. We look forward to all that we will continue to do, together. Watch the recorded version.

Thanking Philanos Volunteers!

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:45:42 GMT

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our giving circles, our communities and because of that, the wider world.

The contributions of volunteers – the giving of time, treasure, talent, ties and testimony – is so valuable that the month of April is dedicated to honoring volunteers globally. Philanos decided to set aside June to honor our “local” Philanos volunteers - our board and committee members and the women of our Philanos Affiliates.

The work of each and every volunteer in your circle is priceless.

Whether it’s serving on the Board, heading or serving on a committee, planning events, or cheerfully greeting the members at functions. You have women who gladly give their treasure, women who give selflessly of their time and talents, women who will use their personal networks to find new members, or speakers, or sponsors; and women who will use their voice and their platforms to tell others about the work you are doing and the communities you are trying to serve.

Through meaningful engagement, many of these same women will find ways to give more – to help nonprofits you’ve funded with extra dollars, offer extra time and talent, serve up additional ties and expand networks, and perhaps even board service for a nonprofit organization they have bonded with through your giving circle.

Some affiliate leaders and members also go on to volunteer here on the Philanos board and in other ways.

So many women give their time, talent, and treasure to support Philanos. Whether serving on the Philanos Board or its committees, or helping the network host national conferences, offering educational and leadership resources, or foster connections and peer learning between and among our 90+ circles - the generosity and willingness to serve our organization is humbling.

Two such leaders are Ellan Bernstein and Deborah Majewski.

Ellan (Impact100 Philadelphia and Giving Circle of Women's Connection Philadelphia Chapter) and Deborah (Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte) are rolling off the Board at the end of this month, and we’d like to recognize their exceptional volunteer contributions to the network.

Both Ellan and Deborah have been engaged and early leaders of their organizations, and both have been involved with hosting a national conference in their hometown. Both have done their Philanos board work while holding down full-time jobs in demanding careers – Ellan as a practicing attorney, and Deborah as a finance officer and, more recently, as Senior Program Officer at The Leon Levine Foundation. Ellan has served on our Executive Committee as Board Secretary, and she and Deborah have co-chaired the Education Committee. Their wisdom, counsel, grace and good humor are treasures that will be missed.

And, we want to thank Maggie Glasgow, who has served as our co-Chair the last two years. We are so grateful Maggie will continue to share her wisdom on our Board of Directors!

Perhaps our ultimate volunteer role model in this network is Colleen S. Willoughby.

Colleen is one of the five founders of the Washington Women’s Foundation, as well as a founding member of the 8 giving circle leaders who formed the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmaking Network (WCGN), now Philanos. Our signature award for a visionary woman leader in philanthropy is named The Willoughby Award in her honor. Colleen believed in and brought women to the table to make decisions and a difference in the male-dominated world of philanthropy. This month Colleen will turn 90 on June 28th, and all of us at Philanos wish her a very happy birthday! We are indebted to her hard work and belief in women’s leadership in philanthropy.

Enjoy the summer days – and thank your lucky stars for volunteering!

25 Summer Member Engagement Ideas

Tue, 28 May 2024 22:35:20 GMT

May 28, 2024

By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and Ann Marie McGee, Philanos Communications Committee Co-Chairs

We had a terrific Philanos Comms Club Affinity Group meeting today, where we discussed fun and meaningful opportunities to engage circle members throughout the summer.

Participants connected, learned, and shared ideas and efforts today, and together, we were able to identify 25 Summer Member Engagement Ideas.

Take a look - what are YOU hoping to do this summer to engage members? Let us know and we'll compile and share the enhanced list!

25 Summer Member Engagement Ideas

Summer Reading List Question - "What is Your Philanthropic Beach Read This Summer?"
Summer Book Club - Ongoing List of “Must Reads" Based on Answers
Summer Social Events - Non-Business Meet Up at Local Concerts, Museums, Restaurants
Summer Athletic Activities - Group Hike, Pickleball Team, Walk
Summer Group Volunteer Activity - General in the Community with Members
Summer Group Project - Group Project for a Grantee Partner
Summer Tours - Ongoing Tours to Grantee Partners
Summer Family Project - Effort Geared for Families to Engage Children
Summer Wish List Project - Highlight and Fulfill Grantee Partner Wish Lists
Summer Coffees - Hosted by Circle Leadership to Engage/Educate Current Members
Summer Happy Hours - Hosted by Circle Leadership to Engage/Educate Current and New Members
Summer Group Fundraisers - Group Fundraiser for a Specific Circle Project
Summer Product Drive - Circle Effort to Collect Can Goods, Books, Feminine Hygiene Products
Summer Individual Fundraisers - Individual Facebook Fundraiser on Behalf of Birthday, Special Milestone, etc.
Summer History Series - "Did You Know" Series of Posts/Weekly Social Graphic to Provide Circle History and Stats
Summer Grantee Partner Series - Weekly Social Graphic Update on Latest Grantee Partners
Summer Education Series - Virtual or In-Person Speakers on Issues the Circle is Funding
Summer Leadership Series - Weekly Social Graphic/Video Clip Highlighting Circle Leaders
Summer Calendar Series - Ongoing Calendar Updates for Summer and Fall Events
Summer Film Series - Regular Postings of the Past Year's Webinars/Virtual Events
Summer Guest Blogs - Series of Guest Blog Posts by Circle Members
Summer New Member Spotlight - Weekly Circle Member Spotlight
Summer End of Year Round Up - Publish End of Year Summary and Highlight Sections Weekly on Social Media
Summer Raffle - eNewsletter Sign Up to Win Raffle Item
Summer Photo Contest - Summer Trip Photo w/Circle Shirt, Logo, etc.

Everyone noted that all member engagement ideas have a communications component and opportunity, and that many of the ideas below aren't just for Summer! We also discussed using the downtime this summer to better organize social media pages, community outreach marketing items, and experiment with posting and other forms of communication.

Enjoy your summer and your fun and meaningful communication and engagement efforts to your members - we'll look forward to hearing how your efforts are doing.

The next Philanos Comms Club will meet on July 23, 2024 at 12 pm ET - see you then!

Philanos Affiliate Many Hands Celebrates 20 Years

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:32:30 GMT

Many Hands was thrilled to celebrate their 20th anniversary on April 12, 2024 at Hogan Lovells with members, friends, and grantees. In this short video, released at the event, founding board members share what they set out to achieve and grantees talk about the difference Many Hands has made for their work.

View the video here

Philanos Affiliate Allinbklyn Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 02:54:55 GMT

We are pleased to announce the 10^th year anniversary of Philanos Affiliate Allinbklyn.org, a women’s philanthropic initiative supporting nonprofits in Brooklyn.

In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 02:51:02 GMT

New National Research Report from the Johnson Center, Colmena-Consulting, and Philanthropy Together

Read the report

Philanos Leadership Attends Denver CircleUp!

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 02:44:59 GMT

Last week, Philanos leadership attended CircleUp Denver, where we joined philanthropists living in or around the Denver area who engaged in rich discussions around collective giving and how groups in Denver are supporting local, community-based organizations.

Many thanks to American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming for hosting us, and to The Community Chest, Denver Women in Business for Good, Impact100 Metro Denver , LatinasGive!, SpinDenver , and Social Venture Partners Denver for leading the conversation. And, a special shoutout to The Women's Foundation of Colorado for helping make this event happen!

CircleUp Denver is the first of many events held in partnership with Philanthropy Together, The Community Investment Network, and Grapevine, and thanks to support from Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund! Follow each of us for updates on upcoming CircleUps held in the Mountain West and Central South regions. We're proud to work alongside these groups to elevate awareness on collective giving and move more dollars to community-based organizations across the U.S.

Philanos Announces 2024-2025 Election Results

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:01:41 GMT

Philanos is proud to announce the following 2024-2025 Board of Directors and Governance Committee, composed of women who are members of Philanos Affiliate organizations.

Our Board and Governance members represent 22 Affiliates.

Philanos 2024-2025 Board of Directors:

View bios here

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Susan Benford, The Philanthropy Connection, MA
Demetria George Caston, former ED Impact Austin, TX
Nina Cohen, Impact100 South Jersey, NJ
Amy Conard, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, MO
Sandy Cook, Impact100 Metro Denver, CO & Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida
Stephanie Cook, San Diego Women’s Foundation, CA
Alisa Evans Debnam, Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County, NC
Maggie Glasgow, Greenville Women Giving, SC
Renee Gordon, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, MD
Michelle Hynes, ninety-nine girlfriends, OR
Heather Jauregui, Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, ID
Mary Kwak, Many Hands, DC
Ann Marie McGee, Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA
Clare O’Brien, Impact 100 Cincinnati, OH
Maureen Romito, Impact Las Vegas, NV
Renuka Sastri, 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, FL
Kirsten Stanley, Impact 100 Palm Beach County, FL
Barb Van Winkle, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Tyeshia “Ty” Wilson, HERitage Giving Fund, TX
Sarah F Wimberley, Impact100 Philadelphia, PA

Philanos Executive Committee:

Sandy Cook, Co-Chair, Impact100 Metro Denver, CO & Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida
Ann Marie McGee, Co-Chair, Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA
Clare O'Brien, Co-Chair, Impact 100 Cincinnati, OH
Barb Van Winkle, Treasurer, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD
Renee Gordon, Secretary, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, MD
Maggie Glasgow, Immediate Past Chair, Greenville Women Giving, SC

Philanos Governance Committee:

Maureen Romito – Impact Las Vegas, NV
Renuka Sastri – 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, FL
Nina Cohen – Impact100 South Jersey, NJ
Celeste Campos – Impact 100 Garden State, NJ
Margo Greenfield – Impact 100 Essex, NJ
Kimberly Kirn – Impact100 Philadelphia, PA

Philanos April 2024 eNewsletter

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:16:59 GMT

Happy Spring!

And with Spring comes so many new and innovative ideas and resources from Philanos.

Read the full eNewsletter here

For our April 9 Webinar, in honor of April being Earth Month, we are so pleased to feature Shreya Durvasula from Rachel’s Network presenting: How Women’s Leadership is Saving the Planet. We hope you will join and learn more about ways your own circle can make an impact.

Tuesday’s presentation of In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the United States by Philanthropy Together was more evidence of the impact each Philanos Affiliate is making. We have strength in numbers! We are grateful for the participation of so many of our circles. Our May 14 webinar will include a presentation specifically tailored to Philanos Affiliates.

Our May webinar will also feature our new board and leaders for 2024-2025 and some important growth Philanos is working on in the South Central and Mountain West regions of the United States. Be sure and register using the link below.

All Philanos affiliates are encouraged to invite your full memberships to join us at our upcoming webinars and affinity group meetings - every giving circle member is able to join in the learning, sharing, and connecting that Philanos offers.

And, Philanos is about to begin building a new strategic plan, reflecting the diversity and needs of our circles and the future of collective giving. We cannot wait to share it with you in a few months.

We are Stronger and Bolder Together!

Maggie Glasgow, mglasgow@philanos.org

Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org

Philanos Co-Chairs

Philanos PowerUP! Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:54:22 GMT

By Heather Juaregui, Past President

Our Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation delegation made the most of three days of networking, learning, and best practice sharing at the Philanos PowerUP! Conference the first weekend of November in Baltimore. Nicole Patterson, Susan Smith, Suzanne Groff Lierz, and Heather Jauregui were among the 325 conference participants from 60 giving circles and networks, including several of our friends from the Wood River Women’s Foundation. Four tracks offered 20 breakout sessions focused on Collective Power + Leadership; Communications + Technology; Governance + Finance; and Membership + Grantmaking. Sessions were presented by members of women’s giving circles and philanthropic leaders from across the country. Peer-to-peer discussions illuminated IWCF as a mature giving circle on solid footing, and we’re addressing common challenges, such as supporting a large vibrant membership, enhancing relationships with our grant partners, and adopting trust-based philanthropy principles. Checkout the PowerUp! Conference Wrap.

Every IWCF member is a member of Philanos–just use the same email account associated with your IWCF membership to access all the benefits for Philanos membership. You have access to the discussion groups, webinars, and resources Philanos offers to support women’s giving circles and their individual members to become educated philanthropists and thoughtful grantmakers in their communities. Make the most of your IWCF membership by participating in one of the free Philanos webinars this year and meet other women as excited about collective giving as you are!

Landscape of Collective Giving Research

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:55:46 GMT

2023 Landscape of Collective Giving Research

Philanos was proud to partner with the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Colmena-Consulting, and Philanthropy Together to encourage participation in this research study. Using surveys, focus groups, and interviews, the new report, 'In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.' will reveal the growth, diversity, and impact of collective giving in the United States since 2016.

Be among the first to get a look at the research findings by registering for the official report release webinar on Tuesday, April 2 at Noon ET / 9AM PT.

Register for the We Give Summit 2024!

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:33:16 GMT

Registration for We Give Summit is now live! Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual event by our amazing #Philanos Partner Philanthropy Together! From May 7-9, 2024 join in and explore ways to give with meaning and intentionality. This year’s theme Activate Together will challenge us to consider ways we can ignite change using our time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties (also known as the 5T’s of Philanthropy.

Check out session recordings from previous year’s events. #wegivesummit #philanthropytogether #5Tsofphilanthropy

Women’s Impact Fund - Charlotte Celebrates 20 Years!

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:24:33 GMT

Happy 20th Anniversary to Philanos Affiliate, Women’s Impact Fund, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in November of 2003 and awarding their first grants in the spring of 2004, with the 2024 Annual Meeting their 490 members will surpass $8 million in grants given to their community. The power of women's collective giving!

#philanos#philanosaffiliates#collectivegiving

5 Reasons to Attend Philanos Affiliate Groups

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:37:21 GMT

Philanos Affiliates have a wide range of resources available to them including our Philanos Affinity Groups. These groups offer opportunities to connect with other Philanos Affiliates - connect, learn and share. Open to all affiliate members, our Affinity Groups meet via Zoom for one hour from 12:00 Noon (ET) until 1:00 PM (ET). Advance registration is required. Registration links are available in the monthly eNewsletter, on the Philanos website or in our email invitations. Philanos Affiliate members are encouraged to share information and registration details within your circles! Next up is our Tech Talk Affinity Group on February 15. Register at https://philanos.org/event-5490959

#philanos #philanoswomen #collectivegiving #philanosaffinitygroups

March 2024 Philanos eNewsletter

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:52:44 GMT

March is Women’s History Month, a month to pause and reflect on the vital roles that women have played in our history, culture and society. The National Women’s History Alliance has chosen the 2024 theme to celebrate “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” This theme recognizes women who understand the need to eliminate bias and discrimination from individuals’ lives and institutions.

Philanos believes that organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) create environments that respect and value individual differences. Inclusive organizations foster cultures that minimize bias and make decisions better able to address systemic inequities. We are committed to equity, diversity, collaboration, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.

As part of our commitment to these values, Philanos continues our work funded by a Fidelity Charitable Catalyst grant to help lift up BIPOC-led nonprofits and the work of giving circle leaders in the Mountain West and mid-South. We will be co-hosting an event in Denver on April 11, with our partner, Philanthropy Together, to bring together Denver area circle leaders, funders, foundation staff, DAF holders, and BIPOC nonprofit leaders for networking and collaborative learning.

In keeping with the theme of celebrating women who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, our 2023 Willoughby Award recipient, Malynda Hawes Madzel, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland is a wonderful example. This award honors a visionary philanthropic leader who is using their collective giving experience in new and innovative ways to support their local community. “Receiving the 2023 Willoughby Award, as recognition of my lifelong commitment to a collective giving goal to include as many women of color as possible, was the thrill of a lifetime. I look forward to carrying forth this important mission and foundation of impactful women’s philanthropy.”

2023 Landscape of Collective Giving Research

Be among the first to get a look at the research findings by registering for the official report release webinar on Tuesday, April 2 at Noon ET / 9AM PT.

May 7-9 - We Give Summit

Mark your calendar for May 7-9, 2024. Philanos Affiliates are encouraged to register for this exploration of ways to give with meaning and intentionality. The 2024 theme Activate Together will challenge us to explore ways that we can ignite change using our Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony, and Ties (also known as the 5T’s of Philanthropy. Register today at WeGiveSummit.org.

We are grateful for our affiliates, partner networks, sponsors and friends of Philanos. Together we not only celebrate women’s history – we continue to make it!

Stronger Together,

Maggie Glasgow, mglasgow@philanos.org
Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org
Philanos Co-Chairs

Happy Women's History Month!

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 14:26:45 GMT

March is Women's History month, a month to pause and reflect on the vital roles that women have played in our history, culture and society.

#philanos#philanoswomen#womenshistorymonth

Impact San Antonio Celebrates 20 Years!

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:28:32 GMT

Congratulations Impact San Antonio on 20 years! Cheering for you to reach 500 members in 2024! #philanoswomen#collectivegiving

March 26 Philanos Comms Club - Join Us!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:35:54 GMT

March 19 Philanos Membership Roundtable - Join Us!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:23:23 GMT

March 12 Philanos Webinar: Investing in Leadership Wellbeing - Join Us!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:19:34 GMT

Recent Philanos Wrap Up!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:17:36 GMT

Personal Philanthropy Planning webinar
Membership Roundtable affinity group
Comms Club affinity group

February 2024 Philanos eNews

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:12:15 GMT

February is a good month to share love and we love Philanos Affiliates and their members! Our Philanos theme for February is “Membership” beginning with our February Educational Webinar on February 13th at 12 PM ET – Building a Culture of Belonging: Recruiting AND Retaining a Diverse Membership.

Membership and membership structures are the foundation of our circles. Last year, Philanos recognized the desire for more connection and sharing of membership themes and we launched a virtual affinity group entitled Membership Roundtable. This group now meets bimonthly to discuss and share membership ideas, challenges, and resources. Every Philanos Affiliate is encouraged to participate through their members. All are welcome. The next Membership Roundtable on Tuesday, March 19 at 12 PM ET, will be sharing ideas for listening to your membership.

Breakout sessions on membership are always well attended at our national conferences, but even veterans of our Board (like Sandy) were surprised to see that a session on tiered membership fee structures was standing room only in Baltimore in November. We will be watching and following up on those circles that have embraced different fee structures and how those newer membership models fare in recruiting more diversity and in engaging and retaining those members.

Of course, membership is often about more than writing a check, and our affiliates have many examples of engaging their members through social events, volunteer opportunities, grant committee work, and educational programming. Our members are deeply committed to and interested in continuous improvement of their communities. It takes thoughtful and hard-working leadership to meet those needs. Just two weeks ago, the day after MLK Day, Greenville Women Giving (Maggie’s SC affiliate) offered up an educational program on Intolerance and Inclusion featuring three local women –an FBI agent assigned to hate crimes in the Upstate, a Jewish educator who offers programs on the Holocaust in schools and churches and elsewhere, and the Director of the Upstate Urban League in South Carolina. It was a fascinating and timely discussion with a very engaged audience.

Keep your members close, send them a valentine, and think about all the ways they enrich your community.

Read the full eNewsletter here

Philanos Affinity Group Snapshot

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:58:45 GMT

Philanos Affinity Group Snapshot:

Philanos offers affiliates opportunities to connect with each other through our five Affinity Groups.
Our Affinity Groups are for members, by members.
These are for all women engaged in giving circles - leaders and those new to giving circles.
We encourage all affiliates to share information and registration details for upcoming Philanos Affinity Group meetings with their members.

5 Affinity Groups for Philanos Affiliates

Philanos Affiliate Comms Club- Comms Club meets the 4th Tuesday of every other month. Join the conversation when we discuss issues and ideas for strengthening communications in your giving circle.
Coming Soon! Philanos Affiliate Grantmaking Group - Grantmaking Group plans to meet regularly in the coming year. Join us to learn and share together about all things grants.
Philanos Affiliate Tech Talk- Tech Talk meets the 3rd Thursday of every other month. Come share your questions and ideas about software and tech platforms for your giving circle.
Philanos Affiliate Membership Roundtable- Membership Roundtable meets the 3rd Tuesday of every other month. Participate in this forum to discuss issues concerning membership in your giving circle.
Philanos Affiliate A Table for Chairs- a confidential forum for affiliate giving circle chairs to share ideas and expertise with leadership challenges.

5 Reasons to Attend Philanos Affinity Groups:

Grow Your Leadership Pipeline Encourage all your members to attend. Affinity Groups are not for current leaders only. New members, long-standing members, members of committees and members interested in the women’s collective giving movement - all benefit from learning about the challenges and successes of other circles.
Your Circle is not Alone Learn how other circles face the challenges you are confronting. Ask your questions in an informal setting. Curious how other circles recruit and retain members? Interested in the software other circles use for grants? Maybe you have a question about the best ways to communicate with your members. Affinity Groups are the perfect forum for these topics and more.
Stop Reinventing The Wheel Save your energy and borrow from what other circles have already done successfully. Maybe it’s a strategic plan. Or, maybe it’s an anniversary celebration. Ask your questions! Affinity Groups allow you to learn how other circles have done it and even give you a roadmap to get there.
Expand Your Reach Hear what other circles are doing to engage their members, connect with their local communities and celebrate their successes. Learn about website design. Hear how circles find support from local businesses. Find out how circles are going beyond the check.
Make Priceless Connections Meet other philanthropic women making impacts in their local communities. Then, keep the connection alive by staying in touch after the session. And, meet in person at the next Philanos Conference!

Join Us!

Affinity Groups meet via Zoom for one hour from 12:00 Noon (ET) until 1:00 PM (ET).
Registration is required and is available via email sent to affiliates and on the Philanos website.
A Table for Chairs is a closed group and provides a forum for affiliate giving circle co-chairs to exchange ideas and expertise concerning leadership challenges.
All other Affinity Groups are open to affiliate members.

January 2024 Comms Club Follow-Up

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:49:50 GMT

Thank you to those who participated in our January 23 Philanos Affiliate Comms Club! What a great discussion on blogging. Thank you for everything that was shared!

The Zoom recording and document/chat file is now available.

Our next Comms Club will be on March 26, 2024 at 12 PM ET. Register here to join our conversation, Listening to Your Membership: Listening Sessions, Focus Groups and Surveys.

Please bring your questions. Comms Club is all about connecting, learning and sharing.

Invite your colleagues to join an upcoming Philanos event.

Webinar: Building a Culture of Belonging: Recruiting AND Retaining a Diverse Membership - Feb 13, 12 PM ET
Tech Talk February 15, 12 PM ET
Membership Roundtable March 19, 12 PM ET

Regards,

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz (Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD)
Ann Marie McGee (Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA)
Philanos Communications Co-chairs
media@philanos.org

Baltimore Women's Giving Circle - Keeping the Inspiration Alive!

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 14:21:52 GMT

The inspiration remains alive for the 35 members of the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle who attended PowerUp! Baltimore. Shortly after the conference, they got together at two brainstorming sessions to share their newfound ideas. Not surprisingly, the ideas shared ran the gamut from ways to onboard new members to thoughts on adding community leaders to the grant process to suggestions for members-only social gatherings to improve retention. Interestingly, some of the discussions even focused on past practices that might be ready for a second act. For instance, the talk about on-boarding new members led into a discussion of the former practice of hosting in-person orientations at members’ home for new members. Everyone agreed it was time to bring back the in-person orientations. The energy was palpable as members discussed ideas for developing closer relationships with grantees by helping grantees identify other funding sources and connecting grantees with schools in the area as a source of volunteers. Ideas for reinvigorating BWGC’s advocacy program by looking at the lessons learned at the conference were well-received. Using poster-size Post-It Notes Philanos Board member Renee Gordon captured the thoughts, ideas and suggestions shared at the two brainstorming sessions and then distilled them into six umbrella categories with all of the ideas sorted into one of the six umbrella categories. Now, the goal is to identify those ideas that BWGC should move forward on. All attendees felt not only re-energized but delighted to connect with each other in the brainstorming sessions.

Philanos & Affiliates in the News: MD Women's Giving Circles Host National Philanthropy Conference, Business Monthly, December 2023

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:04:55 GMT

MD Women's Giving Circles Host National Philanthropy Conference,

Business Monthly, December 2023

Read the article!

Philanos 2024 Leadership Opportunities - Join Us!

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:01:41 GMT

The 2024-2025 Philanos Board of Directors and Governance Committee application process is officially open with submissions being accepted through Friday, February 2, 2024.

As a member of the national Philanos team, you have opportunity to Collaborate in order to:

Create and amplify quality initiatives and solutions for affiliates across the globe;
Change the narrative of an area of collective giving through your expertise and passion;
Commit to this important work with women with diverse experiences and perspectives;
Gain Confidence and be nurtured in your philanthropic leadership journey;
Connect to women from across the network who are equally as committed to women’s collective giving; and
Celebrate the joy of new friendships and fresh ways of thinking!

These “6 C’s of Women’s Giving”, created by Women’s Philanthropy Institute founders Sondra Shaw-Hardy and Martha Taylor, inspire us all in our daily efforts locally, and nationally.

We believe Philanos’ efforts to inspire women’s philanthropy and strengthen organizations for impactful grantmaking are best when inclusive of women with a range of skills and diversity of thought and experience.

Together, we are impacting communities for the better!

Want to make a referral for an amazing woman?
Interested in applying yourself?
Need to talk with someone before deciding if this is right for you?

Check out the application today! Board of Directors & Governance Committee or email questions to our Governance Committee Chair, Maureen Romito.

2024 - Philanos Partner Networks

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:00:39 GMT

As the leading women's giving circle network, Philanos is proud to partner with Community Investment Network, Grapevine, Philanthropy Together. Philanthropy Together serves as a field catalyst for the collective giving movement, bringing together members, leaders, networks, and supporters from across the world - including Philanos, Community Investment Network, and Grapevine. Community Investment Network supports giving circles led by and serving communities of color. Grapevine is the only tech platform dedicated to giving circles, serves as a home for group giving, and has accelerated the movement by connecting people to the issues they care about.

We will also be collaborating with other networks in the collective giving space to increase the impact in our communities and include additional voices and experiences that have not been heard. We are grateful for the support and resources we have received this past year, and particularly proud of our collaborative work going forward that is funded by the Fidelity Charitable Trust Initiative.

2024 - Philanos Has Strength in Numbers!

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:59:18 GMT

We have strength in numbers! The Philanos network now numbers more than 90 affiliated women’s giving circles. Collectively these circles have granted more than $232 Million for the benefit of their local communities! That is an Impact, we should all be proud of. Women absolutely make things happen!

Philanos eNewsletter - January 2024

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 12:55:30 GMT

The Philanos Board and Committees are off and running to create a year of content and resources for all Philanos Affiliates.

We listened and we learned! 2024 programming and events will be based on a foundation of what we heard from leaders at the sessions at our PowerUP! Baltimore conference in November. Learn more about expanding your personal philanthropic leadership at our Jan 9 webinar. February's webinar will feature ideas for recruiting AND retaining a diverse membership. Encourage others from your circle to register for these as well. (Details are below)

We thank you for sharing! During 2023, members of 66 Philanos Affiliates participate in at least on Affinity Group: Comms Club, Tech Talk and Membership Roundtable. The groups return for 2024 and with more frequency. These informal Zoom groups are a terrific opportunity to lean from each other. And be sure and watch for the intro of our newest group for grantmaking in February.

We have strength in numbers! The Philanos Network now numbers more than 90 affiliated women's giving circles. Collectively these circles have granted more than $232 Million for the benefit of their local communities! That is an Impact, we should all be proud of. Women absolutely make things happen!

We welcome Board nominations! The Governance Committee is seeking a few good women. If you or someone you know is interested, please check out the article below or visit the Philanos website. Deadline for applications is February 3.

Most of all, we wish each of you success in 2024 - personally, professionally and philanthropically!

Read the full eNewsletter here

Welcome New Philanos Affiliates!

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 12:50:47 GMT

Welcome to our new Philanos Affiliates:

Women's IMPACT Network of New Hanover County, NC

Aspen Giving Network, CO

Santa Fe Hestia Fund, NM

Impact100 DC

GivHer Circle, MS

100+ Women Who Care East County, MS

100 Women of Central Mississippi

Women's Giving Circle at York County Community Foundation, PA

Women Inspiring Philanthropy, TX

Philanos is the leading national women's giving circle network, with more than 90 affiliates in 29 states, District of Columbia, England and Australia. Philanos affiliates vary by membership and governing models; however they all share one guiding mission: to become informed donors, to practice intentional grantmaking, and to make a lasting impact in their local communities.

Philanos Attends Community Investment Network Leadership Summit

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:49:22 GMT

By Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Co-Chair

I recently had the distinct privilege of attending the Community Investment Network (CIN) Leadership Summit in New Orleans. CIN’s Leadership Summit is an annual leadership development experience for community philanthropists that lead CIN-member giving circles. The group that CIN assembled and hosted included BIPOC leaders from CIN, along with Latina and Latino circle leaders, the Asian Women Giving Circle, DMV Collective Giving Network, Philanos and Philanthropy Together.

The weekend meeting included best practices workshops, leadership training, peer-to-peer networking and personal development exercises. There was also a session led by Tony Bowen, Executive Director, Fidelity Charitable Trustees Philanthropy Fund, on inspiring donors through investments by putting DAF holders more proximate to the nonprofits in their communities. This is an important piece of the collaborative grant recently made by Fidelity Charitable to Philanos and our Network Partners: CIN, Philanthropy Together and Grapevine. The main meeting was held in the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans’ historic 9th Ward–a beautiful venue inspired by the power of black philanthropy.

For further inspiration, the Leadership Summit attendees were invited to the Soul of Philanthropy Gala hosted by the ACLU of Louisiana on Saturday evening at the Tate Etienne and Prevost Interpretive Center, also in the 9th Ward. We were able to preview, in the gallery space, an brand new exhibit entitled “Parading Toward Freedom: A Movement of Black Philanthropy” & “Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited.” The evening dinner program celebrated civil rights leaders and black philanthropy in Louisiana, and wrapped with music and dancing, New Orleans style.

Philanos eNewsletter - December 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:46:37 GMT

We are looking ahead to 2024! And it could not be more exciting for Philanos.

PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 brought 325 of us together in a spirit of collaboration that has us all on a high. We look forward to sharing our plans to build on that momentum and further engage each of our affiliates.

This past weekend, Maggie had the privilege to attend the Community Investment Network (CIN) Leadership Summit in New Orleans joining community philanthropists who lead CIN-member giving circles and leadership from our Philanos Network Partners.

With our recent funding from Fidelity Charitable, we will be partnering with other giving circle networks and organizations to expand the Philanos Network presence and impact further into the Mid and Central South and the Mountain West.

We are in the process of building a new strategic plan thanks to the professional experience and women power of our recently expanded board. And nominations are now open for our 2024-2025 board. Please consider someone in your circle or yourself to nominate!

It is an exciting time to be a member of a women’s giving circle and a Philanos Affiliate.

With gratitude, Philanos Co-Chairs
Maggie Glasgow, mglasgow@philanos.org
Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org

Read the full eNewsletter here

Philanos eNewsletter - November 2023

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:41:19 GMT

Our national Philanos conference - PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 is now a wrap.

We reach out with tremendous gratitude for the work of our Philanos Affiliates!

The more than 300 women attending, represented circles throughout the country - sharing best practices for advocacy, sponsorships, membership recruitment, member engagement, grant making and so much more. Such a powerful collaboration by so many from our Philanos Board, Co-Hosts, Sponsors, Speakers and Volunteers!

Our award announcements are always highlights!

With our announcement of our 2023 Spotlight Awards, we were all inspired by the impact that our Philanos Affiliates are having in their local communities. A special congratulations to Many Hands (DC), The Melbourne Women's Foundation and Impact100 Garden State on this recognition.

Our 2023 Willoughby Award was announced, recognizing Malynda Hawes Madzel of the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD. This award recognizes a changemaker who has used their collective giving experience to make an impact outside of her circle, addressing needs that may not have otherwise been addressed through philanthropic collaboration in her community.

What's ahead?

We are so pleased to announce that we are a Fidelity Charitable Trustees Initiative recipient for a multi-year grant. As the leading women's giving circle network, this phenomenal grant allows us to strengthen and enable Philanos to expand ongoing work in women's collective giving to advance diversity, equity and inclusion among our organizations, build young philanthropist programs, and engage more BIPOC women in our communities.

An important initiative of this grant will be to bring more philanthropic donors and dollars into regions that have historically been underserved and underfunded, the Mountain West and the Mid-South. These areas receive only 1/3rd of the philanthropic dollars per capita compared to those in the Northeast or West Coast. We are honored to partner with Fidelity Charitable to address this inequity by expanding collective giving through our Philanos Affiliate Network in those regions.

We are honored to be joining a group of incredible organizations including our collective philanthropy partners at Community Investment Network, Grapevine and Philanthropy Together.

A very special thank you to Tony Bowen, Executive Director of the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund at Fidelity Charitable, and Fidelity Charitable for investing in Philanos, collective giving and the giving circle impact to local communities.

With gratitude,
Philanos Co-Chairs
Maggie Glasgow, mglasgow@philanos.org
Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org

Read the full eNewsletter here

PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 National Conference - That's a Wrap!

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:43:33 GMT

We reach out with tremendous gratitude for the work of our Philanos Affiliates! Our national Philanos conference - PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 is now a wrap. The more than 300 women attending, represented circles throughout the country - sharing best practices for advocacy, sponsorships, membership recruitment, member engagement, grant making and so much more.

Such a powerful collaboration by so many from our Philanos Board, Co-Hosts, Sponsors, Speakers and Volunteers!

Our award announcements are always highlights! With our announcement of our 2023 Spotlight Awards, we were all inspired by the impact that our Philanos Affiliates are having in their local communities. A special congratulations to Many Hands (DC), The Melbourne Women's Foundation and Impact100 Garden State on this recognition.

Our 2023 Willoughby Award was announced, recognizing Malynda Hawes Madzel of the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD. This award recognizes a changemaker who has used their collective giving experience to make an impact outside of her circle, addressing needs that may not have otherwise been addressed through philanthropic collaboration in her community.

What is ahead?

We are so pleased to announce that we are a Fidelity Charitable Trustees Initiative recipient for a multi-year grant. As the leading women's giving circle network, this phenomenal grant allows us to strengthen and enable Philanos to expand ongoing work in women's collective giving to advance diversity, equity and inclusion among our organizations, build young philanthropist programs, and engage more BIPOC women in our communities.

An important initiative of this grant will be to bring more philanthropic donors and dollars into regions that have historically been underserved and underfunded, the Mountain West and the Mid-South. These areas receive only 1/3rd of the philanthropic dollars per capita compared to those in the Northeast or West Coast. We are honored to partner with Fidelity Charitable to address this inequity by expanding collective giving through our Philanos Affiliate Network in those regions.

We are honored to be joining a group of incredible organizations including our collective philanthropy partners at Community Investment Network, Grapevine and Philanthropy Together.

A very special thank you to Tony Bowen, Executive Director of the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund at Fidelity Charitable, and Fidelity Charitable for investing in Philanos, collective giving and the giving circle impact to local communities.

Philanos Co-Chairs
Maggie Glasgow, mglasgow@philanos.org
Sandy Cook, scook@philanos.org

NEW! 5 Ways to PowerUP! in Baltimore: More Registration Options Available!

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:01:35 GMT

New! 5 Ways to Register for PowerUP! Baltimore

Great News! We have now opened up 5 different registration options for you to attend PowerUP! Baltimore, Philanos' 3-day National Conference for visionary leaders who believe in the power of women's collective giving to create impact in local communities.

We hope you will join us for learning, sharing, networking, and connecting with hundreds of women leaders from around the country. There's a little something for everyone!

Bonus - Everyone who is registered by October 15, will be entered in a drawing for a $250 cash gift card. Register today!

Thank you to our PowerUP! Baltimore Sponsors!

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:04:47 GMT

Thank you to our PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 Sponsors!

Meet the PowerUP! Baltimore DEI Advocates

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:11:40 GMT

Philanos is pleased to announce the 13, 2023 Philanos PowerUP! Baltimore DEI Advocate Awardees. The program aims to broaden and diversify the group of women who will participate in philanthropy at the national level. Awardees were selected based on their passion for collective giving and commitment to expanding opportunities for all. The program was designed by a diverse team of Philanos Board members and is supported by a grant from the Chang Family.

“Philanthropy is evolving, and there is a growing need for collaboration and shared decision-making with the communities that we serve” said Clare O'Brien, a member of both the Philanos Board and Chang Family. "The DEI Advocate Awardees bring the knowledge, lived experiences, and perspectives of groups traditionally underrepresented in philanthropy and we are thrilled to have them enrich our conference, develop new relationships, and share their knowledge with others."

PowerUP! Baltimore Speakers - Join Us!

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:17:48 GMT

Philanos Willoughby and Spotlight Awards - Nominate Today!

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 18:08:48 GMT

PowerUP! Baltimore Awards

The Willoughby Award

The Willoughby Award honors visionary women leaders in philanthropy who, like Colleen S. Willoughby, have taken the field in exciting, new directions.

Philanos will present this award at the PowerUP! Baltimore National Conference November 5-7, 2023 to a woman whose experience and affiliation with her collective giving organization has empowered her to become a visionary leader among women in philanthropy. The award focuses on the leadership aspect of collective giving and honors Colleen Willoughby's legacy as a visionary leader in philanthropy including her history as a founder of Philanos and the Washington Women's Foundation.

2023 Willoughby Award nomination details

Learn more about the history of the Willoughby Award, and Colleen Willoughby's visionary leadership, and past award winners here.

Spotlight Awards

Throughout the country and beyond, Philanos affiliates are practicing high impact transformational grantmaking. Philanos celebrates these efforts by highlighting our affiliates’ grantmaking through the Spotlight Awards. Three Spotlight Awards will be presented at the PowerUP! Baltimore National Conference, November 5-7, 2023.

The Spotlight awards are a vital way for Philanos to recognize the grants that have transformed an affiliate or the nonprofit organization that received the grant and/or their community (demonstrate the change that is a result of investments in our community nonprofits). The three awardees will be recognized at the PowerUP! Baltimore 2023 conference and will be featured in Philanos media.

All Philanos Affiliates are invited to nominate one of their grantees. Applications must by submitted by August 1, 2023.

2023 Spotlight Awards nomination details

View past award recipients here.

PowerUP! Baltimore Conference Early Bird Registration Ends June 30!

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 18:06:50 GMT

“PowerUP! Baltimore: The Spark Igniting Collaboration” is Philanos’ National Conference to be held November 5-7, 2023 for visionaries who believe in the power of women’s collective giving to create impact in local communities.

Conference Overview

As the largest network of women’s collective giving groups, Philanos represents over 90 giving circles whose 20,000+ members have cumulatively granted $207 million in their local communities.
Regional giving circles and networks of philanthropic organizations have joined forces with Philanos to collaboratively host this conference at the Four Seasons in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Attendees will be a national audience of more than 400 giving circle leaders and members, philanthropic advisors, and practitioners of trust-based and intentional philanthropy.
Our speakers and 20 breakout sessions in four specific topic tracks under the theme of “collaboration” will address the power of collaborative grantmaking, best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving, and trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

Conference Registration

$595: Early Bird Pricing, for Philanos Affiliates, members of MD Philanthropy Network, and members of DMV Collective Giving Network
$750: Non-Early Bird, for Philanos Affiliates, members of MD Philanthropy Network, and members of DMV Collective Giving Network
$850: Non-Member

Please Join Us! REGISTER HERE - Early Bird Pricing Ends June 30!

Conference Hosts:

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD is honored to co-host with:

"We are PoweringUP! to welcome you to Baltimore November 5-7, 2023. What will Spark your interest at the conference - a talk, an idea, a conversation over dinner? The opportunities to network and learn from circle members will be plentiful. So join us in November to meet with, learn from and ignite friendships with women from across the country!" Ann Daniels, Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Calling all Volunteers!

Are you interested in volunteering at the conference? Learn about the fun, non-taxing and meaningful ways you can spend time supporting the conference and meeting others here. See you in Baltimore!

Philanos Conference Chairs

Susan Benford, Philanos Chair
Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Co-Chair Elect
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Philanos Communications Co-Chair

conference@philanos.org

May Webinar - Sneak Preview: PowerUP! 2023 Conference

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:35:40 GMT

Sneak Preview at the PowerUP! Baltimore National Conference
Tuesday, May 9, 12 PM ET

Bring your leadership to this webinar for a preview of the Conference agenda, logistics, and programming, including the 20 planned breakout sessions. Topics will be relevant for circles of all ages and sizes, and will address best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving as well as trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

After this session, we know you will want to come to Baltimore and see how "PowerUP! The Spark Igniting Collaboration" will enhance your collective giving group and your individual giving experience.

“We are PoweringUp! to welcome you to Baltimore November 5-7, 2023. What will Spark your interest at the conference – a talk, an idea, a conversation over dinner? The opportunities to network and learn from circle members will be plentiful. So join us in November to meet with, learn from and ignite friendships with women from across the country!” - Ann Daniels, Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Panelists:

Susan Benford, Philanos Chair, PowerUP! Steering Committee

Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Chair-elect, PowerUP! Steering Committee

Sandy Cook, Philanos Affiliate Engagement Co-chair, PowerUP! Programming Committee

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Philanos Communications Co-chair, PowerUP! Steering Committee and Executive Director of The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, one of our conference co-hosts

PowerUP! Baltimore Early Bird Registration Opens May !!

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:28:02 GMT

November 5-7, 2023
The Four Seasons Baltimore
Early Bird Registration Opens May 1, 2023

$595: Early Bird Pricing for Philanos Affiliates
$750: Non-Early Bird for Philanos Affiliates
$850: Non-Member

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

“PowerUP! Baltimore: The Spark Igniting Collaboration” is Philanos’ national Conference for visionaries who believe in the power of women’s collective giving to create impact in local communities. Regional giving circles and networks of philanthropic organizations have joined forces to collaboratively host this event. Breakout sessions will address best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving as well as trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

Learn more and plan to join us!

April Webinar: Syncing Personal Values With Your Philanthropy

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:42:56 GMT

April Webinar
Syncing Personal Values With Your Philanthropy

Our April webinar begins with a brief Philanos annual meeting including the announcement of our newly elected board members.

Webinar details:

We know every dollar we give makes an impact, but have you ever thought about the impact each dollar you invest makes? Learn how to develop an investment strategy that achieves your goals while aligning your money with your values.

Emily Green, Director of Private Wealth, at Ellevest, a women-first financial company offering a mission-driven investing platform, will discuss how you can work with your advisor regarding your personal assets. Hear ideas for motivating endowments you currently support to consider using their investments to support issues that may be personally important to you such as gender inequality, racial injustice, and climate change.

Webinar Date/Time: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 12 PM ET
Please Register by Sunday, April 9!

Your unique link to join this webinar is emailed separately.

March 2023 eNewsletter

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:39:00 GMT

March 2023 eNewsletter - Just published!

February 2023 Philanos Webinar: February Webinar - Soliciting and Responding to Nonprofit Partner Feedback

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:51:17 GMT

Are you curious what your nonprofit partners really think? Do you want to be more responsive to the community’s needs and desires in your grantmaking? Do you want to be a better partner?

Join us to share the love on February 14 when we are joined by Linda Simmons from Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida and Patricia Massey Hoke of Women’s Impact Fund (Charlotte) to discuss soliciting and responding to nonprofit feedback. This is a best practice of Trust-Based Philanthropy and there isn’t just one way to do it! Linda and Patricia will engage in a Q&A style discussion with each other to share the ways their approaches to feedback are alike and different. You will leave with some practical next steps you could consider for your giving circle. See you there!

Panelists:

Patricia Massey Hoke, Women's Impact Fund (Charlotte)

Linda Simmons, Women's Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida

Webinar Date/Time: Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 12 PM ET
Please Register by Sunday, February 12!

Your unique link to join this webinar is emailed separately.

Philanos Board Nominations Are Open!

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:48:14 GMT

Philanos Opens Nominations for National Positions!

Board of Directors Application 3-year term (from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026)

Experience needed in these areas:Communications, Development, Fundraising, Membership, Technology, Webinar Creation

Click here for committee descriptions and Board member criteria.

Governance Committee Member At-Large Application 1-year term (from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)

Experience needed in these areas:Board-level Governance, Nominations, Strategic Planning

Application deadline: Friday, February 3, 2023

As a member of the national Philanos team, you have opportunity to:

Create and amplify quality initiatives and solutions for affiliates across the globe;

Change the narrative of an area of collective giving through your expertise and passion;

Collaborate with women with diverse experiences and perspectives;

Gain Confidence and be nurtured in your philanthropic leadership journey;

Connect to women from across the network who are equally as committed to women’s collective giving; and

Celebrate the joy of new friendships and fresh ways of thinking!

If you wish to refer a good candidate for the Board of Directors or Governance Committee, send her name, giving circle affiliate, phone number, and email to Paula Perkins, Governance Committee Chair. She will ensure that one of our Nominating Committee members connects personally with your referral.

Do you have questions about the application? Or, do you need to talk with someone before deciding if this is right for you? We’re happy to visit with you to talk about Philanos and these opportunities. Email your request to Paula Perkins, Governance Committee Chair.

Throughout the year, we are seeking women who want to join one of our committees. Just raise your hand! It’s an excellent way to see how Philanos works, especially if you’re interested in joining the Board in the future.

Check out the following committee descriptions and then email listed contacts to voice your interests and/or for questions.

Affiliate Engagement Committee
Communications Committee
Development Committee
Education Committee
Technology Committee

We look forward to hearing from all nominees!

Many thanks,
Philanos Governance Committee
www.philanos.org

3 Questions With ... Philanos Affiliates

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:22:28 GMT

We have spent the last 18 months speaking with numerous Philanos Affiliates through our "3 Questions With" series, and getting their thoughts on the work they are doing, including asking them 3 specific questions: 1) What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now? 2) What is something your circle is currently challenged by? and 3) What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

Take a look at the good work happening in the Philanos network around the country!

A Note From Philanos Board Chair Susan Benford

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:30:59 GMT

We welcome 2023 and all our chances to do better. We are especially cheered by the opportunity to meet in Baltimore on November 5-7, for our first national in-person conference since 2020 in Seattle. Early bird registration will open May 1 – watch for our upcoming communications.

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is our main host, along with an impressive regional contingent of co-hosts, including Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, DMV Collective Giving Network, Giving Together Montgomery County, Many Hands DC, Maryland Philanthropy Network, and Women’s Giving Circle of Harford County.

Multiple committees have planning underway, looking for inspiring speakers and shared wisdom. We are keen to highlight knowledge gained through collaboration, networks, and programs featuring our affiliates. If you would like to join our program committee, please hop on now, as we get busy building session ideas to populate our breakout tracks.

And speaking of hopping – we have multiple Philanos programs coming up in January and February, beginning with next week’s webinar, Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Noon Eastern, featuring leadership succession models that work, presented by Greenville Women Giving (Greenville, SC) and ninety-nine girlfriends (Portland, OR). Register here.

On Thursday, January 26th at Noon Eastern, our popular Comms Club will continue its deep dive into social media featuring LinkedIn, use of metrics, and member engagement tools. Marketing and communications teams will find these open discussions useful. Register here.

And, on February 9th at Noon Eastern, we will start the first in a series of Tech Talks, headed by our Philanos Board Technology Chair, Amy Conard, Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund. Amy is retired from a successful corporate career in Information Technology, and now consults with nonprofits to help them be more efficient and effective by leveraging software. So, if you have technology questions related to your work, bring them here for a smart place to discuss. Register here.

Looking ahead to Valentine’s Day, our webinar for February features techniques and wisdom behind gathering and responding to feedback from our nonprofit partners—a real-life valentine message. Register here.

Finally, January is also the month when we turn to recruiting new Philanos board and committee members. The work is always exciting, the company is exceptional, and there is not a better time or place to take a chance to get it right in all our communities through the power of collective giving. Please consider this opportunity for yourself or someone who might need a nudge.

PowerUP! Fall Virtual Gathering

Nancy Clark — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:54:41 GMT

Our 3-hour event focused on trust-based philanthropy and included presentations by national speakers Pia Infante, Kaci Patterson. Philanos Board member, Deepika Andavarapu, facilitated a discussion with Q&A followed by Philanos Spotlight and Willoughby Awards. Watch the presentations and Q&A video recording.

Congratulations to our Spotlight Award Winners: (video recording)

Baltimore Women's Giving Circle - Black Women Build Baltimore

Impact Oklahoma, Oklahoma City - Pivot's Tiny Home Initiative

Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund - Dream Builders 4 Equity

"Philanos affiliates reach deep into their respective communities to address national pressing issues with local solutions. Our 2022 Spotlight nominations by Philanos affiliates throughout the country each highlighted the pressing needs of foster youth, families, and single parents to have a safe place to live and to build economic security.” Ellan Bernstein, Philanos 2022 Spotlight Chair and Board Secretary, Member, Impact 100 Philadelphia.

Congratulations to our Willoughby Award Winner: (video recording)

Katherine Fulton - Impact100 Sonoma

3 Questions With Sandi Slap TTN Philadelphia Giving Circle

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:24:07 GMT

Sandi Slap of The Transition Network Philadelphia Giving Circle

TTN Philadelphia Giving Circle improves the lives of women and children in Philadelphia through collective giving to nonprofit organizations serving their needs. They are committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion and identify and seek to support organizations who share this commitment.

We recently spoke to Sandi and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

The Transition Network Philadelphia Giving Circle has designated 2022 as “The Year of the Child” to commemorate our Giving Circle’s ten years of giving. This year, we are focusing exclusively on the needs of Philadelphia’s children. To that end, we have hosted three educational programs which addressed the most pressing needs and issues facing our city’s children, including, education, mental health, mentorship, youth job training and opportunities and gun violence. We have also embarked on a year-long fundraising initiative to enable us to make impactful grants to nonprofits serving Philadelphia’s children in 2023.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

We recognize that small grassroots organizations have a positive and direct impact on the lives of children in their neighborhoods. Our newly adopted Diversity Initiative is aimed at increasing diversity in the size, leadership and approach to addressing problems among our nonprofit grant applicants in 2023 and forward. We seek small Philadelphia nonprofits embedded in their communities with strong leadership and/or professional staffs of people of color who reflect the communities they serve.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

The webinars on Philanos’ website have provided valuable insights and information for our Giving Circle on trust-based philanthropy and grantee membership programs, among other things. Our Giving Circle is always focused on new ways to increase the impact of our mission and this type of guidance assists us in doing just that.

Philanos Affiliates Impacting Their Local Communities

Nancy Clark — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:13:00 GMT

By Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Communications Co-chair
Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA

Women’s Giving Circles are Making a Difference Across the Country. Check out news from these 22 Philanos Affiliates.

The SAM Initiative - $350,000 in grants to seven nonprofits. August 2022
The San Diego Women’s Foundation – 2022 Community Partners/Focus: Food Insecurity. 2022
Women’s Giving Circle of the Connecticut Community Foundation - Awards $21,00 in Grants. June 29, 2022.
Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County, MD - 2022 Grants. June 17, 2022.
Women’s Giving Circle of Harford County, MD - Awards over $54,000 in 2022. June 15, 2022.
Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis, IN 2022 Grant Recipients! June 14, 2022.
Woman’s Foundation of Boston, MA - Announces 2022 Grant Recipients. June 14, 2022.
Impact Grants Chicago – 2022 Grantees. June 1, 2022.
Impact100 Metro Denver – Congratulations to our 2022 Grant Recipients. June 1, 2022.
Impact Austin, TX - Crosses $8 Milling in Grants. June 2022
Impact Las Vegas, NV “And the Winner Is …” June 2022.
Impact100 Metro Detroit, MI “And the 2022 Grant Recipients Are…” May 18, 2022.
Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville - Awards $660,000 in Grants. May 18, 2022.
Many Hands, DC. Announcing the 2022 Grantees. May 16, 2022.
Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, MD - Grants $159,265 to Local Nonprofits. May 11, 2022.
The Women’s Fund of El Dorado, CA – 2022 Inspiration, Impact and Acorn Grant Recipients. May 5, 2022.
The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, CA – Record-Breaking $900,000 in Grants Awarded. May 4, 2022.
Impact 100 Redwood Circle, CA - 2022 Community Grants Awardees! April 30, 2022.
Impact100 Sonoma, CA – 2022 Impetus Grant Recipients. April 30, 2022.
The SAM Initiative, CA - Announces 2021-2022 Grant Recipients. April 2022
100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation, Orlando, FL - Invests up to $110,000. March 10, 2022.
GIVING WoMN, Minneapolis, MN 2022 Grantee Reveal! March 2022.
Women’s Fund of Smith County, TX 2022 Grants. January 20, 2022.

2022 - 2023 Philanos Board Meets in Denver

Nancy Clark — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:12:11 GMT

The 2022 - 2023 Philanos Board of Directors met in Denver in June to plan for the future.

"It was wonderful to be with these amazing national leaders to plan for our organization's future and for the women's collective giving movement" said Philanos Board Chair Susan Benford. "We are looking forward to many new opportunities to support our 78 affiliates in the coming year."

A Tribute to Colleen Willoughby

Nancy Clark — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 02:16:02 GMT

By Rebekah Bonde
Philanos Board Treasurer
Washington Women’s Foundation

In 1998, I sat in the congregation of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, listening to a Sunday morning 'Moment for Mission'. Two women shared of their experience in a collective giving group and how they were learning an intentional modality of grant making that was changing how they viewed philanthropy. I was transfixed. It was one of those rare moments that etched in my brain because it felt immediately significant, and I noted three things:

The buy-in was $1,000, which was more than my monthly rent as a 27-year-old in the nascent stages of her career.
What would it take to participate in this level of giving; and
Who in the world is Colleen Willoughby?

18 years later, I am in Colleen's kitchen pulling out things to make an impromptu cheese and cracker platter at her direction and talking about scarves and Gen-X giving patterns.

I could spend the next several minutes itemizing Colleen's many accomplishments at Washington Women's, the Evans School at UW, or even the fact she has a Wikipedia entry. But I'd rather tell you about how her work directly changed me even though she had no idea who I was until I joined the Philanos Board (née WCGN) in 2015.

After my husband and I moved from Seattle to Austin, TX, a neighbor introduced me to Impact Austin as a way to use my professional skill set in a meaningfully volunteer manner and to meet other women seeking to make an impact in their community. I joined and attended my first WCGN conference in 2012 when Kathy LeMay spoke, and she asked us to write an audacious goal on a piece of paper that we had to fulfill within one year. It was always my worst fear to be called upon in public, and since I'll probably never have to do it…I wrote down "speak in public about philanthropy."

I saw Colleen at that conference and oh-so vaguely remembered something about Washington Women's. Colleen spoke about the genesis of WaWF, about how important it was for women to give philanthropically in their own name, and why she chose $1,000 - the level at which you first get your name printed in a charity's list of donors. And then the memory of the 'Moment for Mission' came flooding back, and I had to pinch myself: "I can't believe I'm here."

Within 12 months of that conference, I was (very nervously) giving my first talk, standing up and being called on by name. I made my first donation as ME, not "the wife of…" And I found a calling that has elevated not only my voice and my financial impact, but more importantly my sense of self. I never, ever thought I would chair a Board of Directors, or sit on a panel of city leaders as an Impact Austin representative or write for a national publication on behalf of Philanos. Yes, all this because of the women's collective giving movement because Colleen started a movement. How ironic that when we all come to the collective we meet ourselves front and center, sometimes for the first time.

Since that first conference, I've spoken at several Philanos conferences, captained a boat race, ran to meet a political idol, and aggressively shook her hand on a street corner in Washington DC, stood up and said more at work, and even orated to a large group of Presbyterians when selected as my church's 'Woman of the Month'. I think about the 27-year-old women who were in the audience that day, looking at me and wondering, "What would it take…".

Most of us start in the audience, and now we are in front talking to the next generation of women. We are the leaders of today so we can model leadership for tomorrow. And let me tell you, you never know who is listening. It's probably someone you've never met and never will, until…

Thank you, Colleen.

Watch the 2020 PowerUP! slideshow tribute to Colleen!

Philanos Announces the 2022-2023 Board of Directors

Nancy Clark — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 23:15:47 GMT

Philanos July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Board of Directors

Susan Benford, Chair, member of The Philanthropy Connection (Boston, MA) and Impact100 Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

Margaret (Maggie) Glasgow, Chair-elect, member of Greenville Women Giving, (Greenville, SC)

Ellan Bernstein, Secretary and Education Co-chair, member of Impact100 Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

Rebekah Bonde, Treasurer, member of Washington Women’s Foundation (Seattle, WA)

Deepika Andavarapu, member of Impact 100 Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Communications Chair, member of Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (Columbia, MD)

Amy Conard, Technology Chair, member of Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (St. Louis, MO)

Sandra (Sandy) Cook, Affiliate Engagement Chair, member of Impact100 Metro Denver (Denver, CO)

Stephanie Cook, member of San Diego Women’s Foundation (San Diego, CA)

Heather Jauregui, member of Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation (Boise, ID)

Deborah Majewski, Education Co-chair, member of Women’s Impact Fund (Charlotte, NC)

Ann Marie McGee, Communications Vice Chair, member of Impact 100 Redwood Circle (Santa Rosa, CA)

Clare O’Brien, member of Impact 100 Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)

Paula Perkins, Governance Chair, member of Impact100 Wichita Falls (Wichita Falls, TX)

Philanos Thanks Retiring Board Members

Nancy Clark — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 22:50:20 GMT

June 30, 2022 6 board members retired after years of Philanos service. Several were founding board members who have exceeded their service both in term limits and development of the Philanos Network.

Colleen Willoughby
Washington Women’s Foundation, Seattle, WA

Colleen Willoughby is a force for women’s leadership development and their engagement in civic life. It began early. Visiting Washington, DC as a high schooler and sitting in the seat of the first ever female US Senator Margaret Chase Smith during Girls Nation, Colleen had an epiphany which has been her North star. Like the Senator, she inherently believed in effective civic leadership and respect for women’s roles in our civil society. She has dedicated much of her life to creating opportunity for women to learn, participate and to continue their leadership development. Read more

Laura Midgley
Washington Women’s Foundation, Seattle, WA
Wood River Women’s Foundation, Kechum, ID

Laura served as the founding board chair of Philanos (then called WCGN) from 2013 to 2015. She’s an active member of two Philanos affiliates, the Wood River Women’s Foundation in Ketchum, ID (since 2014) and Washington Women’s Foundation in Seattle (since 2002), where she was a WaWF director for nine years and served in numerous leadership roles. She proudly co-chaired PowerUP! The Spark That Ignites Change, Philanos’ national conference in February 2020 for 370 leaders who convened in Seattle to advance their understanding and commitment to equitable grantmaking and inclusivity in our organizations. She led securing nearly $200,000 in grants, major gifts and earned revenue for the network that still contributes to its sustainability today. Read more

Virginia Mills
GIVING WoMN, Minneapolis, MN

Virginia is a founding board member of Philanos (formerly WCGN) and served as the second board chair of Philanos, from 2015-2017. She is a member of GIVING WoMN in Minneapolis, MN and past member of both The Philanthropy Connection and Womenade Boston, MA.

When asked how she came to this network, Virginia tells of a “completely freaky” set of circumstances that led her to this board, but those who have known her well would reply that this was no coincidence. In 2009 she had just joined the GIVING WoMN Board in Minneapolis as a co-chair of marketing. Her fellow co-chair told her, “We can go to this event in Boise and meet some other women leaders of like groups,” and Virginia agreed. When her travel partner got ill and couldn’t attend, Virginia showed up alone to a meeting where she knew no one. She met Vicki Sheehan from St. Louis in the hotel restaurant, who took her under her wing and introduced her to the group of women that would become the founders of WCGN (Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network), now Philanos. Read more

Avani Desai
100 Women Strong, Orlando FL

Avani credits Paula Liang, past Chair of Philanos, for bringing her onto our national board. Avani was, at that time, President of her affiliate, 100 Women Strong in Orlando, FL, when Paula engaged with her around the planning of the national WCGN conference in Jacksonville in 2017. She was recruited to the board to assist with technology, social media and building a partnership for DEI work among their affiliates. Read more

Karen Holly
Impact 100 Indianapolis, IN

Karen Holly, like retiring board member Avani, has also served for two terms (six years) on the Philanos Board – beginning when it was still the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network (WCGN). Karen is a past president of her affiliate, Impact 100 Indianapolis, where she demonstrated a real heart for membership as their membership chair. Read more

Gwen Wesley
Spirit of St. Louis Women's Fund, MO

Gwen came to the Philanos Board, and the Board went to her because of her expertise in strategic planning. Founder Vicki Sheehan was instrumental in this match, and they both are members of Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund. Gwen came on the board in 2019 to craft a strategic plan during a period of rebranding and renewal, and six months into her work, the pandemic hit. Read more

The Collective Giving Movement Featured in Nonprofit Leaders’ Podcast

Nancy Clark — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 19:10:29 GMT

Philanos Chair, Susan Benford was a guest on IMPACTability™: The Nonprofit Leaders’ Podcast – The Collective Giving Movement, powered by Soukup Strategic Solutions.

During this podcast Susan was asked, What is collective giving, and how could it benefit your nonprofit? How does a group start a giving circle?

Susan also shared how giving circles can leverage individuals’ small donations into a large, significant gift.

Lots of nonprofits are curious about giving circles. Listen to Susan’s practical insights in this podcast.

3 Questions With Eliza Rossman

Nancy Clark — Thu, 19 May 2022 16:34:49 GMT

Eliza Rossman of ALLINBKLYN

ALLINBKLYN is a community of women committed to philanthropy in Brooklyn. We pool our dollars and make thoughtful grants to organizations that are strengthening our borough. All nonprofits in service to the people and places of Brooklyn are eligible for consideration.

We recently spoke to Eliza and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

We're always working on something interesting... But right now the effort that has my attention in particular is our focus on creating a viable infrastructure so that Allinbklyn can continue to work in service to Brooklyn way into the future! That means engaging as many members as possible to make the engine run - so far so good!

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

A constant challenge for us is figuring out the best way to meet the vast need in Brooklyn with our limited funds. We are always challenged to determine how best to direct our dollars for the greatest impact. This borough is the fourth largest "city" in the country and only receives 5% of all philanthropic dollars raised in New York. Meeting that challenge realistically, given who we are and how we operate, is top of mind.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

In past years, the Philanos conferences and virtual meetings have been very helpful. This year, given all the internal work we're doing to solidify our infrastructure, Philanos has been an especially helpful and practical resource for us. For instance, when we needed information on databases, they connected us to giving circles that could answer our specific questions. This saved us valuable research time enabling us to get solid information quickly.

Philanos Presents on Exponent Philanthropy Podcast

Nancy Clark — Wed, 04 May 2022 15:20:08 GMT

by Exponent Philanthropy
April 22, 2022

Sandy Cook, Philanos Affiliate Engagement & Expansion Chair, a leader at Impact100 Metro Denver and a founding member of the Women’s Giving Alliance of Northeast Florida, joined Exponent Philanthropy's Catalytic Podcast to share her thoughts on, "How Can We Support Transformation at Your Organization?"

Creative, high-impact philanthropy is practiced by donors of all types - foundations, donor advised funds, social venture funders, and collective giving organizations.

Find out why Impact100 Metro Denver invites nonprofits to step back and consider what they need to make significant shifts in how they work. Sandy shares examples of how investing in nonprofits' unglamorous infrastructure needs, such as redesigning space, and buying trucks and equipment, helps organizations achieve exponentially more impact.

The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast - A Women’s Collective Giving Group Asks Nonprofits, “How Can We Support Transformation at Your Organization?” Listen to the podcast: Part 1 | Part 2

Giving Circles Hosted by Foundations: Promise and Pitfalls

Nancy Clark — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:03:22 GMT

By Maggie Glasgow
Philanos Chair-elect

Many giving circles are created by and/or reside within a foundation – a community foundation, a woman’s foundation, a private foundation, or some other regional or national foundation. The reasons are many, and the benefits can be mutually rewarding. Circles who have been in longstanding relationships with their foundation offer the following reasons to affiliate:

No legal expense to create separate legal standing as a 501 (c) 3.
No accounting expense for separate financial audits.
No need to obtain separate insurance, especially liability for events.
Back-office support, from invoicing to member databases to grants, is available (even if you pay a fee) freeing you up to work on impact.
Foundation can professionally manage your assets, especially if you have an endowment or money held over time.
Foundation staff are knowledgeable about the philanthropic landscape in your community with wisdom to share.
Foundation may have other funds or funders who can and will collaborate with you.
Reputation of the foundation rubs off on you.
If the foundation holds you close and actively promotes and fosters what you do, it is an amazing asset to your mission.

Why, then, is not every giving circle hosted? Less than half of the Philanos affiliates are hosted, and the issue of hosted vs. independent 501 (c) 3 status remains a perennial topic for webinars, conferences, the member forum and questions to our board members. The truth is, in every relationship, problems crop up. Some can be resolved with hard work and new understandings. Others dissolve and a breakup occurs. Where are the pressure points – the place where relationships between host and giving circle can crack?

Money. The relationship is, by nature, transactional. Somewhere, somehow, an administrative fee for operations will have to be paid. Depending on how large your group and how much the foundation does for you, your members (or special donors) will have to pay.
Money. How are you charged for what you are getting? Flat fee, surcharge, percentages? Most foundations charge a percentage (usually 2-1/2 to 4%) to manage donor advised funds. If you have an endowment and the foundation manages that as well, they may charge the fee on whichever is larger—your assets or your grants.
MOU. Have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is crystal clear. It needs to be updated when things change, and it’s recommended that you also review it regularly every 3-5 years.
Ownership. If you were created under a foundation, they own your name/brand unless otherwise stated in an MOU. If you create an endowment under your foundation, they own those assets, which they can keep even if you are no longer an organization. The legacy of your assets should be spelled out in your MOU.
Technology. If you share technology platforms, make sure you are part of the contract for updates and service. Realize that shared platforms can reduce your overall operating costs, but your needs and the contracts need to be carefully minded.
People. Relationships between you and the foundation are built on trust and understanding over time. Be proactive whenever there are key personnel changes at the foundation and anticipate time spent on fostering new relationships. Likewise, each new leadership team of your circle needs to spend time getting to know the foundation staff.
Expectations. What do you expect the foundation to help you with in fostering your circle and what, in fact, are they willing and able to do? Conversely, what does the foundation expect from you in terms of access to your membership for marketing their products and services?
Communication. Crucial to everything already listed, but even more critical in terms of public facing communiques. When your circle and the foundation are in sync, the host sees your work as integral to their mission (and vice versa).

Recently, Susan Benford, Chair of Philanos, began collecting information for peer-to-peer sharing from circles who were transitioning from a hosted status with their community foundations to becoming their own independent 501 (c) 3. Two affiliates, the Roanoke Women’s Foundation (RWF), Roanoke, VA, and Del Mar Women’s Giving Collective (DMWGC), Del Mar, CA, participated in documenting their stories. Kathy Stockburger of RWF and Lani Curtis of DMWGC each shared insights with us as to how their journey unfolded. Their responses to a series of questions reveals lessons learned in forging new paths.

What motivated your transition from being hosted to securing 501 (c) 3 status and how long did it take?

RWF transitioned from a field of interest (FOI) fund at the Roanoke Community Foundation because of a desire to be autonomous, based primarily on financial considerations. The group was doing most of their own administrative work already and felt they could reduce costs charged to them by the foundation related to events, office supplies, software, etc. They also wanted to allow their members full donations to be tax deductible (including the admin fee). Finally, they listed a concern about grant allocation decisions needing approval by the foundation. Although they had never had a grant decision overturned, hypothetically the foundation had that power. RWF board members recall the topic of becoming a separate entity had been mentioned on occasion in the past, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the board spent an entire year in study and discussion before voting on the transition. The final process was smooth and relatively quick – they applied for status in December of 2020 and received the IRS determination letter in April of 2021.

DMWGC transitioned from a donor advised fund (DAF) at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. They were the second women’s giving circle that foundation agreed to host, but shortly after taking them on, the foundation said they could no longer process any of their administrative expenses. They felt the decision was made for them by the foundation, and they had to become their own 501 (c) 3 if they wanted to continue to operate. They did so quite quickly, between November 2019 and January 2020. They also received a grant from a local business to help them set up. Lani Curtis shared that their members immediately realized the full tax benefit of their donations, and the circle felt that the new status gave them greater legitimacy when recruiting prospective members.

While a member of the foundation what actions had the host performed for your circle?

Since Roanoke had a longer standing relationship than Del Mar with their foundation, the RWF reported that the foundation had had handled member donations and reconciliation for granting, maintained a member data base, sent tax receipt letters, approved allocations for grantees, and originally shared software.

DMWGC stated that RSF Foundation had originally collected their donations and distributed grants as voted on by their own advisory council, distributed tax receipts to members and reimbursed approved expenses to members or vendors.

How was the change communicated to members?

Both organizations said they communicated directly with membership. Since Roanoke had more time for their process, they communicated when they first had the idea years prior, during the year of study by the board, and to a greater extent when the board decided to move on it. Communications included benefits as well as challenges, and occurred in newsletters, direct mail, and virtual events.

Del Mar communicated once the advisory council decision was made and got no pushback. It was a very minimal change for their members, just a different donor name on their check.

How much did it cost to attain a 501 (c) 3 ruling?

Roanoke paid attorney’s and filing fees of about $2,000. Del Mar paid about $1,000, but a member attorney did the work pro bono.

What new expenses do you anticipate your circle will have?

RWF anticipates about $1,000 in annual insurance costs, including risk mitigation for social events; increased accounting fees (including filing 990) of up to $5,000, software fee of $6,500 annually, and administrative costs for website, IT, stationery, postage that were not estimated.

DMWGC has, so far, only had the filing costs. They are a small circle, relatively new, and are still absorbing costs through volunteer help.

What was most helpful in making the transition? What was most challenging?

Roanoke felt that their intentionality and adequate study beforehand paid off, as well as having knowledgeable legal guidance. Keeping major stakeholders, like founders and board members, informed and engaged was important.

The challenges for the RWF included following regulations in a timely manner, becoming very scrupulous in document retention, financial reports, anything to do with the tax-exempt status, and knowing which nonprofit benefit entities to join.

Del Mar felt that their biggest challenge was that the transition was out of necessity, not a decision they had originally planned to make. They are a new group with younger members who are actively involved in work and childrearing, so they do not feel as if they have a deep bench of working volunteers to do the heavy lifting of running a nonprofit. They are currently actively seeking a working relationship with another foundation.

What sort of relationship do you retain with your former host?

RWF reports they remain on excellent terms with their previous host, the Roanoke Community Foundation. Immediately after their departure they hosted an appreciation luncheon for the foundation staff to cement those feelings and that relationship. Since leaving, RWF has embarked on a strategic planning process to provide new structure that will allow them to be sustainable and resource their administrative costs.

Kathy Stockburger, a nonprofit consultant, and member of Roanoke Women’s Foundation, sums up their new status in this way:

“We are carefully straddling the line between resourcing our costs to do what we do – allocate over $350k annually – and not be perceived as competition by our grantees. We are not a fundraising organization and feel strongly that we need to navigate this prudently. We can, however, accept gifts beyond our member donations, engage sponsors for events, and explore a friends-type gift initiative for those who do not wish to become members… There is no model fitting every giving group. Plan strategically. It is a lot of work.”

Philanos Announces Three New Board Members

Nancy Clark — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 18:19:37 GMT

Leading Women’s Giving Circle Network
Announces Three New Board Members

Philanos, the leading women’s giving circle network in the U.S., announces three newly elected board members comprised of women who are members of Philanos affiliate organizations.

“The Philanos board welcomes these women whose talents, skills, knowledge and experiences will be welcome additions to our board’s continued growth,” says Gwen Wesley, Chair of Nominations.

Amy Conard
Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, St. Louis, MO

Amy Conard is the Technology Chair and Board member for Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund. She has led a technology transition over the past three years to implement new software, consolidate systems and increase access for members to manage their information and access resources.

After a successful corporate career in Information Technology, she now consults with nonprofits to help them be more efficient and effective by leveraging software. The consulting work includes assessing the needs, identifying software options, and providing recommendations on solutions and implementation. She also mentors women technical leaders and volunteers in a food pantry and at the International Institute.

Amy has an MBA from Washington University and an aerospace engineering degree from Princeton University. She has two sons, Jacob and Peter, who regularly remind her how much taller they are.

Heather Jauregui
Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, Boise, ID

Heather has been a leadership volunteer for multiple nonprofit and charitable organizations. Her career has been in the nonprofit sector leading teams and philanthropy programs. An active member of IWCF since 2005, and a director for seven years, Heather has served in many leadership roles at IWCF, including president, vice president, and symposium chair. Heather has a MS in education for Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a BS in business from Santa Clara University. She’s been honored as one of the Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished “40 Under 40” in 2003. An Idaho native, Heather resides in Boise with her husband and has three adult stepchildren.

Ann Marie McGee
Impact 100 Redwood Circle, Santa Rosa, CA

Ann Marie McGee is a member of Impact 100 Redwood Circle where she co-chaired the Marketing Committee for four years. Moving to Sonoma County in 2017, she joined Impact 100 Redwood Circle to learn more about nonprofits in the North Bay and quickly embraced the collective giving model and its importance for women to support their communities.

She is currently a board member for the Santa Rosa Symphony where she serves on the Donor Relations Committee. Prior nonprofit board experience includes Brighter Beginnings and Northern Light School, both in Oakland and the Contra Costa Crisis Center in Walnut Creek. She has also served on numerous advisory/advancement committees for the University of Idaho. As a National Volunteer for Tri Delta sorority, Ann Marie currently serves on the Volunteer Engagement Committee focused on quality leadership experiences for national coordinator and committee chair positions.

Prior to retiring and relocating to Sonoma County, Ann Marie had her own marketing consulting firm, specializing in branding, messaging and positioning services for startup/early-stage technology companies. Her consultancy was preceded by stints at several technology startups in Silicon Valley, including GRiD Systems where she was the Marketing Manager for the industry’s first tablet computer. Before her tech career, she taught music at Arkansas State University and Interlochen National Music Camp and was a member of the Arkansas Symphony. Ann Marie holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in flute performance from the University of Idaho and the University of Illinois.

Ann Marie lives in Santa Rosa with her husband Robert where they enjoy learning about food and wine, gardening, traveling and spending time with their two children and a granddaughter. When not volunteering, she enjoys cooking, playing her flute, watercolor painting, tennis, and golf.

Philanos is a philanthropic network of women’s funds, foundations and giving circles that grants collectively into their own communities. Philanos accelerates women’s philanthropic giving by providing resources to its members to increase their impact. Philanos believes that communities with women’s collective giving circles are healthier, safer, more equitable and thriving. The network is comprised of women and those who identify as women. Philanos represents over 17,500 women in 80 affiliates in the U.S. and abroad who have collectively infused over $146M into their respective communities through their collective giving organizations.

3 Questions With Melbourne Women's Fund

Nancy Clark — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:38:20 GMT

Gillian Hund OAM, Patricia Burke OAM (Co-Founders) &
Christine Darcas (Executive Officer) of
Melbourne Women's Fund

MWF enables members to be part of informed, democratized giving where their power is amplified through the collective benefit they provide to vulnerable women and families in Melbourne.

We recently spoke to Patricia, Christine and Gillian to hear their thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

Re-energizing and reconnecting the members and supporters of our Melbourne Women’s Fund community after living in the most locked-down city in the world over 2020 and 2021. Although we survived those two years reasonably well, it required an agile, yet time-consuming, reorientation in our approach that couldn’t entirely compensate for the joy and satisfaction our members value from in-person socializing and networking. We are now re-directing our efforts to provide those opportunities, which is exciting and liberating!

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

Sustaining the caliber of our management. The term ‘Giving Circle’ can sound simplistic and belie the complexity involved in keeping a 100% volunteer-led organization running smoothly across areas that include an informed and collaborative grants process, marketing, events, governance, financial management, membership engagement, Next Gen and partnership/sponsorship—all underpinned by a solid three-year strategic plan. We’ve been very fortunate in having a devoted team. But life can get in the way for any of us, so we have to stay on the lookout for potential compatible volunteers and do what we can to keep them.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

There isn’t one resource. Overall, it is great to know that Philanos is there to turn to. Even though we’re on the other side of the world, the Philanos webinars during Covid were just as relevant for us. Its reservoir of giving circle-related research is useful as well. We look forward to being able to attend the next conference (the strategic planning session at the 2020 conference was a game-changer for us in particular). You’ll be seeing us again!

3 Questions With Bridget Dunn - The Philanthropy Connection

Nancy Clark — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:42:45 GMT

Bridget Dunn
Co-president
The Philanthropy Connection

TPC inspires and enables a community of women to learn, grow, and engage in collective giving to support nonprofit organizations that address systemic inequities impacting individuals and families within the greater Boston area.

We recently spoke to Bridget and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

In 2021, TPC rolled out a new four-tier membership investment structure. This updated membership framework creates a new membership entry point at $300 and allows all members to choose the contribution level most comfortable for their financial situation. All members receive the same privileges and voting rights, and are equally welcome to participate in our programming and grant making processes. In less than a year this new structure has resulted in a higher number of total members and several lapsed members rejoining. TPC is working to become a more equitable, inclusive organization and this new membership structure allows us to live those values.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

TPC is seeking to incorporate the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy (TBP) in our grant making. This has required re-thinking some of our grant making processes and challenging ourselves to incorporate new ideas. Some tangible changes we have made towards this end have included:

Changing all grants to be unrestricted funds
Completely rewriting our application and rubric to emphasize principles of TBP and reduce the burden on applicants
Allowing applicants to submit applications they wrote for other opportunities
Waiving grantee reporting requirements and strengthening our liaison program to communicate with grantees in a less demanding way

The work is not yet done and we are continuing to look inward as an organization and have hard conversations about how we can better exemplify the values of TBP.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

We found the Philanos chat boards to be very beneficial as we’ve researched and incorporated these changes. We were able to gain valuable insights about how other groups have structured their memberships and went on to meet with leaders from those groups in very helpful and informative sessions. Additionally, as we explored opportunities for offering multi-year grants, participants in the chat forums offered us valuable insights into how their group accomplished this and led to several excellent 1:1 conversations. We are always grateful for the willingness of other Philanos organizations to share their wisdom and insights with us.

3 Questions With Greenville Women Giving

Nancy Clark — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 18:16:46 GMT

Beverly, Diane, Mary, & Susan
Co-Chairs of Greenville Women Giving

GWG works collectively to identify and fund nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts, education, environment, health and human services in Greenville County, SC.

We recently spoke to Susan Cinquemani, Mary Hipp, Diane Perlmutter, and Beverly Ward, GWG Co-chairs and invited their thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

One of the areas of our focus right now is our membership and membership committee. As our membership grew to over 500, we realized the need for a more dedicated effort in the areas of both new member growth/recruitment and current member engagement. Both areas require time and different approaches. After brainstorming and discussions, we decided to split our membership committee into two committees: Membership Engagement and Membership Growth. Each committee has its own unique leadership, members, and duties. This year, beginning September 2021, is our first year with this two membership committee structure.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

Our biggest challenge is managing the ever-changing Covid situation. We responded quickly in March 2020, moving to virtual events for our education sessions, grant selection, and annual meeting. In Fall 2021, we held successful hybrid events. It continues to take significant time for our leadership team as we are currently modifying plans based on Omicron's impact.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

The availability of webinars for the GWG board and membership has been the most helpful Philanos resource.

Philanos 2022 – The Year Ahead

Nancy Clark — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 21:02:54 GMT

We are excited for 2022!

5 ways Philanos Affiliates can learn, share and engage:

1. Philanos Learning: We have numerous, regular virtual gatherings planned for affiliates to learn together, including our monthly webinars and Affiliate Comms Club gatherings – mark your calendar!

2. Philanos Sharing: We invite you to share your latest news, ask and/or answer questions in the Member Forums, and let us know about your recent media mentions – send us your latest news so we can promote it and engage with your colleagues!

3. Philanos Leadership: We encourage you to get further involved in Philanos through committee and/or Board leadership. We are only as strong as the individual affiliates that support our sustainability and growth – we need you!

4. Philanos Celebration: We are honored to celebrate our individual affiliate and collective network successes through the Willoughby and Spotlight Awards this fall – nominate the women and grants that have made an impact!

5. Philanos Partnership: We are excited to strengthen and grow our partnerships with and among our network partners, and other collective giving and philanthropic networks for the benefit of our organization and individual affiliates – we are stronger together!

We look forward to continued learning, sharing, celebrating, partnership and growth as we focus on building and supporting the women’s collective giving movement.

Have something to add? Let us know! Email us with any other thoughts about Philanos in 2022.

3 Questions With Elaine McCormick Impact 100 Richmond

Nancy Clark — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:40:51 GMT

Elaine McCormick
Chairwoman of Impact 100 Richmond, Virginia

Impact 100 Richmond is committed to creating positive change in Metro Richmond through high-impact, life-long, transformational grantmaking.

We recently spoke to Elaine and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

Every 5-6 years we form a Strategic Planning Committee to help us evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. This committee tackles some pretty big issues that our giving circle has neither the time nor resources to address during the everyday running of Impact 100. The goal is to look at our organization objectively and strategically to determine if we are still operating under our initial mission, whether our goals and/or objectives have shifted over time, and whether changes are needed to set us up for success over the next 5-6 years.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

We work closely with our local Community Foundation, who is our fiscal sponsor. When changes happen within their organization they affect us directly, and this year we had to migrate to a new website and database and adapt to staffing changes at the Community Foundation, all while kicking off our giving season! It was a steep learning curve, but everyone came together and we launched our campaign with only minor delays. In the long run, the new system will provide us with more information about our donors and help us become better fundraisers for our local nonprofits.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

The monthly webinars are wonderful! It is so helpful to hear how other circles are dealing with the same issues that we are grappling with.

Philanos 2021 - Year in Review

Nancy Clark — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:36:59 GMT

Philanos 2021 – Year in Review

It’s been a challenging year as we continue to be affected by the global pandemic, racial and social injustice, and political upheaval. And, it’s been a successful year for our individual giving circles and our collective giving movement as we’ve attempted to address and support these and other issues in our local communities, and together as a cohesive network.

Here are highlights of our collective efforts this year:

Philanos Affiliate Membership Growth – 75+ affiliate members collectively learning and sharing to strengthen our network.
Philanos Affiliate Collective Giving Growth – Our 75+ affiliates have collectively given over $175M.
Philanos Leadership Growth – 6 new Board members helping to lead and grow our organization for the future.
Philanos Network Partnership Growth – 3 networks in order to continue to learn, share, organize, and connect the broader collective giving field.
Philanos Collective Communicating – growth of the Philanos marketing and communications efforts, including our strong social media platform to highlight the good work of Philanos, our affiliate members, partners, the collective giving movement, and philanthropy overall.
Philanos Collective Learning – 8 webinars that focused on membership, communication, governance, and grantmaking and that had an overall attendance of 600+.
Philanos Collective Sharing – 4 Comms Club gatherings that encouraged learning and sharing among those interested in all things communications.
Philanos Collective Celebrating – We continued to celebrate the groundbreaking work of Colleen S. Willoughby and the inspiration she has brought to so many women and philanthropists through our inaugural Willoughby Award and Spotlight Award recipients.
Philanos Communities of Practice – 13 Philanos affiliates participated in our 3 DEI Affinity Groups.
Philanos and Philanthropy Together – Numerous Philanos affiliates have participated in Philanthropy Together efforts, including the PhT Global We Give Summit, Racial Equity Community of Practice, Storytelling Community of Practice, and Launchpad Start-up Groups.

We look forward to continued learning, sharing, celebrating, partnership and growth as we focus on building and supporting the women’s collective giving movement.

Have something to add? Let us know! Email us with any other thoughts about Philanos in 2021.

3 Questions With The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Nancy Clark — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:51:32 GMT

Martha Cukor and Susan Perl
Co-chairs
The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle

Through collective giving and collaboration, BWGC seeks to empower women and their families in the greater Baltimore area to achieve self-sufficiency.

We recently spoke to Martha and Susan and invited their thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

This is very hard to answer because we have so many things going on simultaneously. Because we have to name only one project, it would be the real effort the Membership Committee is making to learn from other Giving Circles and other organizations how to attract younger members. The committee has come up with lots of ideas, some seemingly obvious directions in which to go, others which will take more serious discussion and investigation. This is an endeavor in which we must succeed, or we will not exist in the future.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

As with many giving circles and organizations across the country, the BWGC has been investigating issues around racial diversity, equity, and inclusion. The circle and the committee are challenged by how best to proceed and has tried to learn from other organizations. Start with a small group and then include the rest of the circle? Come to conclusions in the committee and present ideas for a vote, or include the entire circle in the full process? What does education look like for the circle? These are just some of the challenges.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

The webinars are the most helpful to the Circle Co-Chairs, while at least one affinity group is helpful to a committee, with more expected in the near future.

Side note: We at the BWGC find Philanos tremendously helpful for our work, and we thank you for all you do.

Philanos Leadership Opportunities

Nancy Clark — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:17:28 GMT

We are stronger together!

Philanos is at its best when it reflects the diverse voices of women committed to collaborating with others nationally to further the collective giving movement. With sister organizations throughout the United States, Australia and Europe, together we are impacting communities for the better.

Please consider joining our virtual team. Participating provides excellent opportunities for networking and utilizing your leadership skills. We have positions open on committees and the Board of Directors. Please refer to the various board job descriptions and criteria. Want to talk to someone about the experience? Email info@philanos.org and we will make that happen!

Nominations Are Open for National Positions!

Philanos Board of Directors

Governance Committee

Submission Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2022

Affiliate Engagement and Expansion Committee - AE&E (description) identifies prospective affiliates, welcomes new affiliates, and works to share affiliate needs within our organization. Questions?

Communications Committee (description) manages the overall marketing and communications for the organization. It is a great place to meet and work with women across the country. We are looking for variety in voices and experiences so we can reflect everyone in the network.

Education Committee (description) is responsible for producing all of our webinars. Help us keep up with the trends in collective giving and providing the education our affiliates seek.

3 Questions With Mary Kwak Many Hands DC

Nancy Clark — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:10:35 GMT

Mary Kwak of Many Hands

Many Hands is a women’s grantmaking organization committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of Washington, DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need and to helping its members become well-informed donors.

We recently spoke to Mary Kwak and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

This fall we are launching a members-only racial equity learning series that has been more than a year in the making. The series is designed to center active, collaborative learning so that together members can build an understanding of what we mean by racism and racial equity, how racism and racial equity relate to our work at Many Hands, and what we can and want to do about it. Since everyone will be a learner and teacher, we don’t know what the outcome will be--which is a little scary but also very exciting.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

One of our biggest challenges is managing growth. Over the past five years, our grant pool has grown by more than 70% and with it, the complexity and amount of the work it takes to get each year’s grants out the door. We’ve invested in donor and grant management systems, we’ve expanded the board by two-thirds, we’ve created non-board committees, and still, as an all-volunteer organization, we feel stretched thin. We are currently engaged in strategic planning, and sustainability is a major theme.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

We’ve been fortunate to participate in two DEI affinity groups--one focusing on membership and organizational strategies and the other on grantmaking--that have created unique opportunities for learning and cross-pollination of ideas. Most of the resources available for guiding work around racial equity and DEI target very different types of organizations, so connecting with other Philanos affiliates has been incredibly valuable. We get to learn what other giving circles are thinking and doing and to share and test out ideas. As a bonus, it’s a great way to meet even more women who are passionate about collective giving!

Environmental Justice – The Journey to Action

Nancy Clark — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:17:57 GMT

Clare O'Brien
Philanos Board and Education Committee Member

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 9:00 AM Pacific/12:00 PM Eastern Philanos will host our November Webinar, Environmental Justice – The Journey to Action. I hope you will join us as we explore the interconnected relationship between DEI work and environmental action.

Our featured speakers will share their personal and organizational journeys to embracing environmental justice and how protecting the most vulnerable communities benefits us all:

Kef Kasdin, Board Chair, Rachel’s Network and Rachel’s Action Network
Maria Kolby-Wolfe, President and CEO, Washington Women’s Foundation

They will also share practical guidance and a curated resource list to help giving circles champion this critical, urgent work to safeguard all people and our shared planet. You can find the resources in advance of the webinar below.

Please Register by Sunday, November 7! Your unique link to join this webinar is emailed separately.

Environmental Justice Articles & Reports

Environmental Justice Books

All We Can Save - book and discussion guides (highly recommended)
List: 15 essential reads for the climate crisis
Silent Spring
Braiding Sweetgrass

Environmental Justice Organization Resources

Amplifying the Voices and Efforts of Philanos Affiliates

Nancy Clark — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:42:29 GMT

Virginia Mills and Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz
Philanos Marketing and Communications Committee Co-Chairs

Philanos strives to amplify your collective voices and your important work. We want to share with you all the ways we are communicating your stories to larger audiences, and how your involvement can help us spread the word!

How are we doing this? Through the Philanos Marketing and Communications Committee. We manage the overall marketing and communications for the organization, and communicate regularly about the good work of Philanos affiliates - to our network and beyond through our numerous marketing and communication vehicles.

Why are we doing this? We are promoting Philanos’ efforts and those of our affiliates to support and encourage the growth and sustainability of our individual affiliates, the advancement of the women’s collective giving movement, and the trends in the philanthropic sector.

Here’s five ways we are regularly communicating about Philanos and our affiliates:

Philanos Social Media – daily
Philanos eNewsletters – bi-monthly
Philanos Blog Posts - ongoing
Philanos “3 Questions With” Series – ongoing
Philanos Comms Club – bi-monthly

Here’s five ways that you can help us spread the word about your efforts:

Tag us in your social media posts – we’ll amplify your efforts by spreading the word on our social media pages – find us at @philanos on Facebook and LinkedIn, @philanoswomen on Twitter and Instagram.
Email us with your latest news – did you announce your latest grants? Hit a milestone? Enter a new partnership? Let us know at media@philanos.org and we’ll share the news in our eNewsletter.
Write a guest blog post – do you have a blog post with great information to share with your fellow affiliates? Share it as a guest blogger for our national organization. Let us know at media@philanos.org if you are interested.
Provide information for “3 Questions With” – have you seen our new series profiling Philanos affiliate members shared in the eNewsletters? Let us know at media@philanos.org if you would like to be profiled.
Participate in the Philanos Comms Club – have you joined us yet for our monthly gathering to discuss all things marketing and communications? We invite you to participate in this casual gathering to share together, learn from one another, and have an opportunity to ask questions and highlight your good work. Register for our upcoming Philanos Comms Club on Wednesday, November 10 at 9-10am Pacific/12-1pm Eastern.

Here’s some thoughts on how you can get more involved with us:

Be part of our expanding committee highlighting affiliate and network developments, reflecting the growth of the network and importance of the work.
Do you have a background in or are you interested in marketing and communications? Join us and be a thought partner!
All are welcome, including those with experience and/or interest in writing, editing, design, public relations, social media and/or website management and/or eNewsletter development.
This is a great opportunity to work on the national level promoting giving circles and the collective giving movement, collaborating with others across the country, learning new skills, and bringing back information and resources to your affiliate.

Have questions or are ready to join in? Let’s talk! Contact us at media@philanos.org

We look forward to hearing from you so we can continually amplify your voice and promote your good work!

Philanos 2021 Award Celebration

Nancy Clark — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 14:50:58 GMT

Wow – what an event! Thank you to the 100+ attendees of our virtual Award Ceremony where we announced our inaugural Willoughby Award recipient, Kyle Ruffin of Impact100 South Jersey, and our Spotlight Award winners Impact100 Metro Denver, Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis and Impact 100 Richmond.

The Spotlight Award is our opportunity to highlight how Philanos affiliates are strengthening the collective giving movement through grantmaking. The Spotlight Awards celebrate women-powered philanthropic efforts, highlighting grants that demonstrate the multiplier effect of impact investing in community nonprofits. We admire and celebrate these impactful grants that represent a slice of the grantmaking being done throughout the country:

	Impact100 Metro Denver for their grant to Fresh Food Connect, which started in one zip code in Denver, to develop an app to be a national force providing access to more healthy foods.
	Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis for their 2018 Change Maker Grant to Trinity Haven to provide safe, affirming housing for LGBTQ youth experiencing housing instability.
	Impact 100 Richmond for their innovative, Trust-Based Philanthropy-focused Neighborhood Catalyst Grant provided to the Fulton neighborhood, for community leaders to decide where the money would be utilized.

The Willoughby Award is in honor of Colleen S. Willoughby, the founder of both the Washington Women's Foundation, and Philanos. This inaugural award is honoring Kyle Ruffin as a visionary leader in philanthropy who, like Colleen, has taken the field into exciting, new directions:

Impact100 South Jersey: Kyle’s experience has inspired her to be a visionary leader in philanthropy beyond her affiliate and has received a $1,000 prize that she will have donated in her name to the nonprofit of her choice. Kyle’s philanthropic experience with many nonprofit organizations left her “othered and tokenized” as a black woman in the white philanthropy world. Over time however, she found her voice and became empowered to speak up. She recently initiated and led a program to showcase other women and people of color to tell their story about why they are already giving. Using her background in storytelling, she helps people tell their own stories which helps others recognize the vital role people of color already play in philanthropy and volunteerism. She is a champion of partnership over integration when it comes to increasing the impact giving back can have on a community.

“We gave these awards because it is a meaningful way to elevate the voices, stories, and important work being done in the field by Philanos affiliates and women leaders on behalf of us all in the growing collective giving movement” said Susan Benford, Philanos Chair. “Congratulations to these wonderful women, their giving circles, and their grantee partners for their community impact.”

We were inspired and moved by the wonderful opening words of Sara Lomelin, Executive Director of Philanthropy Together, who helped us celebrate these special award winners live and inspire us on how far forward the movement has gone. Philanthropy Together was created by many giving circles, to diversify and democratize philanthropy and we are proud to partner to strengthen the field.

Thanks to all those who joined us to honor these amazing women and affiliates among us who are part of our growing network, and are helping to elevate all of our work every day!

3 Questions With Kelly Walsh Impact100 Metro Detroit

Nancy Clark — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:12:16 GMT

Kelly Walsh of Impact 100 Metro Detroit

Impact100 Metro Detroit's mission is to fuel transformation in Metro Detroit by uniting women through collective giving to support local nonprofit heroes and award high impact grants.

We recently spoke to Kelly Walsh, President of Impact100 Metro Detroit and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

We're taking a strategic look at our calendar - moving the grant application window earlier to allow for more committee review. Our board is also discussing a shift of membership calendar to be aligned with our "Big Give" award event. (Our membership currently closes Dec. 31st with the award event late May. The shift would consider membership closing in April with the event in May).

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

Brand building and communication - we're constantly working to find the right communication cadence for both members and prospects. There are 3 Impact groups in our region - which is awesome, but can be a challenge for women to understand the differentiators of each group.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

We're new to Philanos, but have found the online resources and the connection to a large network of like-minded organizations to be wonderful.

3 Questions With Anne Arundel Women Giving Together

Nancy Clark — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 16:02:25 GMT

Bronwyn Belling and Linda Eggbeer of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together [AAWGT]

AAWGT is working to improve the quality of life for women and families in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

We recently spoke to Bronwyn Belling and Linda Eggbeer - who are both past presidents and who currently help lead their Web/IT and Marketing and Communications efforts - and invited their thoughts on their current work - take a look!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

We’re working hard to simplify and improve our entire grants process by carefully considering the many things we’ve learned over the past year. We’re using ideas generated by this year’s grant reviewers and our Racial Equity Study Group as well as thinking through the best practices other giving circles and the philanthropic community are employing. While we’re still in the iterative stage, it is a process that is stretching us. We expect it to yield positive results for our grant recipients and for AAWGT, an organization deeply committed to continuous improvement.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

AAWGT’s Racial Equity Study Group, which has met monthly since January 2019, recommended this spring that a DEI Committee be created to conduct a comprehensive examination of the way the organization functions with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Due to COVID and the time and care we took in assembling the diverse group that we did, we finally were able to convene our first in-person meeting last week. The conversation made clear that there are a range of viewpoints about how we should go forward, including what we should focus on first. This is challenging but not surprising as we work to create and implement a plan that will serve our organization well.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

We’ve used a number of resources including Philanos’ excellent webinars that are offered throughout the year, the website (particularly DEI in Action), the Comms Club, and direct connections to other giving circles facilitated through Philanos.

3 Questions With Jennifer Bennet Impact San Antonio

Nancy Clark — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 16:23:12 GMT

Jennifer Bennett, Impact San Antonio

Impact San Antonio brings women together to provide substantial grants to nonprofit organizations in the Greater San Antonio community through the power of collective philanthropy.

We recently spoke to Jennifer Bennett, President of Impact San Antonio and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

One of our goals is to educate our membership on the needs in our community and to do it in partnership with other like-minded local organizations. We recently connected with an organization of women of color and are brainstorming topics. We plan to offer the program to the broader community, not just our membership. We hope to spark more action in tackling problems, while also increasing awareness of our organization and encouraging greater diversity of our membership.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

We recently reviewed our conflicts of interest policies relating to agency interactions. Through robust debate on options and their implications, our board found a balance to achieving fairness and objectivity, while avoiding unintended consequences. We recognized that too strict a policy would exclude women from serving on our board who serve in executive roles on local nonprofit boards or who work at those agencies. We want experience like that because it will help us improve how we operate and our decision-making.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

The “We Give Summit” in May was a tremendous resource for great ideas and best practices being used by other women’s giving circles that we could apply to our organization. One terrific aspect of my experience was being a presenter with 2 other wonderful ladies on how to grow membership in a pandemic. Through our collaboration I learned about some of their successful approaches that we plan to implement to enhance our member retention and acquisition results.

Honoring Changemakers Among Us The Willoughby and Spotlight Awards

Nancy Clark — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:37:28 GMT

Honoring Changemakers Among Us
The Willoughby and Spotlight Awards
October 14, 2021

We give awards because it’s fun to celebrate the impact of our philanthropy and the women in our network who we know and respect and inspire us. We also give them because it’s a meaningful way to elevate the voices, stories, and important work being done in the field by these women and their affiliates on behalf of us all, and in support of the growing collective giving movement.

This year we are excited to announce the Willoughby and Spotlight Award winners at a virtual event on October 14 at 9am Pacific/12pm Eastern. Guest Speaker Sara Lomelin, ED of Philanthropy Together, will help us celebrate these special award winners live and inspire us on how far forward the movement has gone. Philanthropy Together was created by many giving circles, to diversify and democratize philanthropy.

We hope you will join us to honor these amazing women and affiliates among us who are part of our growing network, and are helping to elevate all of our work every day. Register here.

The Willoughby Award is in honor of Colleen S. Willoughby, the founder of both the Washington Women's Foundation, and Philanos. This inaugural award honors visionary women leaders in philanthropy who, like Colleen, have taken the field into exciting, new directions. This year, the Willoughby Award will be presented to a woman in the Philanos network whose experience with her collective giving organization has inspired her to be a visionary leader in philanthropy beyond her affiliate. She will have a $1,000 prize donated to the nonprofit of her choice.
The Spotlight Awards are awarded to Philanos affiliates who are practicing high-impact, transformational grantmaking. We are celebrating and highlighting our affiliates’ grantmaking and impact based on their efforts. Philanos will award each affiliate honored with $500 which may be passed through to their grantee.

Quotes:

“We give awards because it is a meaningful way to elevate the voices, stories, and important work being done in the field by Philanos affiliates and women leaders on behalf of us all in the growing collective giving movement.” - Susan Benford, Philanos Chair
“The Willoughby Award is in honor of Colleen S. Willoughby, the Founder of both the Washington Women's Foundation, and Philanos, and honors visionary women leaders in philanthropy who, like Colleen, have taken the field in exciting, new directions.” - Laura Midgley, Founding Board Member
“The Spotlight Awards honor Philanos affiliates who are practicing high-impact, transformational grantmaking. We are celebrating and highlighting our affiliates’ grantmaking and impact based on their efforts.” - Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Vice Chair

3 Questions With Maureen Romito Impact Las Vegas

Nancy Clark — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 20:46:55 GMT

Maureen Romito, Impact Las Vegas

Impact Las Vegas empowers women by giving collectively in a way that positively transforms our community.

We recently spoke to Maureen Romito, Founder and Executive Director of Impact Las Vegas and invited her thoughts on their current efforts!

What’s the most interesting effort your circle is focusing on right now?

As an organization, we have primarily operated with a very limited number of volunteers. As Founder, I have been guilty of doing many administrative and operational tasks myself rather than encouraging volunteers. This is changing, however so I have been documenting processes and cross-training board members, but this shift is causing us to focus more on volunteering than we have ever done in the past.

What is something your circle is currently challenged by?

It has been difficult to communicate the reality of this change and for our Membership to understand exactly what it means. Even the board, despite numerous discussions, strategizing, and planning meetings has been slow to realize that the change is happening. Encouraging a larger group of volunteers than we have ever had to do in the past is currently our biggest challenge.

What Philanos resource has been most helpful to you this year, and why?

Philanos website – our board is learning what an educational resource it is.
Webinars – incredibly valuable! The perspective of multiple collective giving groups and the sharing of best practices has helped us operationally.
Member-to-Member Forum (I’ve currently got a question posed there!) Plus past questions are a great resource for information.

A Philanos Award Now Endowed

Nancy Clark — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:03:10 GMT

As my final news as Philanos chair, I am delighted to share that during our May board meeting, we had an extraordinary event I want to share.

After a discussion about the number of women who have been nominated for The Willoughby Award, a board member, our founder Colleen Willoughby, made a pledge to endow the award for 5 years. Additionally, retiring board member Dale Clifford made a 10-year endowment pledge, a memorial to her mother, Laura Egerton Lothrop. We are incredibly grateful for their vision and generosity.

Applications for The Willoughby Award are due June 30 and our Spotlight Awards are due July 15. Every affiliate has outstanding leaders and grants, we want to hear about yours.

Philanos Declaration of Unity Statement

Nancy Clark — Tue, 18 May 2021 19:24:14 GMT

Philanos Declaration of Unity

We are stronger together.

No member of our society should ever feel threatened, or invisible, or devalued, or experience acts of violence. All people deserve to live full and abundant lives free of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression.

We are stronger together.

Every characteristic that makes an individual unique—height, weight, physical and mental ability, eye color, ethnicity, education, gender, race, geographic location, religious preference, sexual orientation, and more—is an asset if we choose to believe that.

We are stronger together.

Our vision is that communities in which women’s collective giving organizations exist are healthier, safer, more equitable, and thriving. This vision can be our community’s reality.

We are stronger together.

We are committed to equity, diversity, collaboration, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability because therein lies our strength.

We are stronger together.

Philanos supports philanthropy which is anti-racist and anti-bias through education, resource sharing, training, and open and honest discussions.

We are stronger together.

Philanos encourages affiliates to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their grantmaking, and to fund organizations whose leadership includes the population they serve in order to recognize and value lived experience.

We are stronger together.

Women know the power of collaboration and that we are stronger when we advocate for our vision together. Philanos accelerates this collaboration with our affiliates, partner networks and fellow philanthropists.

We are stronger together.

Global We Give Summit - Join Us!

Nancy Clark — Mon, 17 May 2021 20:39:57 GMT

Philanthropy Together along with Philanos and other networks are hosting the We Give Summit throughout the month of May!

The We Give Summit is designed to ignite and unite all of us in the powerful movement of collective giving.

Open to giving circle members, philanthropy experts, community leaders, and social impact newcomers, we've been learning, growing, and dreaming together across four weeks in May as we joined sessions centered on this year's theme: Stronger Together.

Here's a quick event overview:

100+ incredible speakers who are making an impact their community through collective giving including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Emmy-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Abigail Disney, Author Edgar Villanueva.
25+ sessions that began on May 4 and have continued every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the month.
Hundreds of giving circle members and supporters from around the world connecting during lively networking events.
Session topics are covering everything from connecting with the next generation of givers to embedding racial equity into your giving circle to building a movement.

If you've been participating, we hope you've been enjoying it so far. If you haven't yet had a chance, it's not too late to join in the learning and fun! See the full schedule and register here.

And, make sure to check-out the Philanos-hosted sessions that have taken place, and those coming up:

Trust-Based Philanthropy: How Giving Circles Can Redistribute Power - Wednesday, May 12th, noon ET. Features Impact 100 Richmond (Talley Baratka) and Washington Women's Foundation (Kris Kaminishi).
When Women of Color Lead, Climate and Environment Win - Wednesday, May 12th, 1 PM ET. Hosted by Gwen Wesley Philanos Board Member (Spirit of St. Louis) and features speakers from Rachel's Network (new Philanos network affiliate), the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, and Georgia Conservation Voters.
The Shecession: Making Informed Funding Choices after COVID's Impact on Women and Girls – Wednesday, May 12th, 2 PM ET. Hosted by Paula Liang, Philanos Chair, featuring Anna Fink of Amalgamated Bank and Dr. C. Nicole Mason, Institute for Women's Policy Research.
Philanos Communications: Tips and Tools - Wednesday, May 12th, 7 PM ET. Virginia Mills, Philanos Founding Member and Board Member (Giving WoMN) and Maggie Glasgow, Philanos Board Member (Greenville Women Giving). Virginia and Maggie are the Communications Co-Chairs for Philanos and will share ideas and resources from their recently revamped communications plan.
Against All Odds: Growing Membership in a Pandemic - Wednesday, May 19th, 2 PM ET. Hosted by Susan Benford, Philanos Chair-Elect (The Philanthropy Connection, Boston), featuring Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz (Women's Giving Circle of Howard County), Jennifer Bennett (Impact San Antonio), and Maureen Romito (Impact Las Vegas).
Start Your Giving Circle's Endowment and Grow Your Impact - Wednesday, May 26, 1 PM ET. Hosted by Susan Benford, Philanos Chair-Elect (The Philanthropy Connection, Boston) with professional advisors Amanda Long, Philanthropy-Strategist Group, and Sherry Magill, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, on how to start or strengthen an endowment for your giving circle.

Learn, grow, and think big with hundreds of everyday givers during the final weeks of May - join us!

Leading Women’s Giving Circle Network Announces Five New Board Members

Nancy Clark — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:50:55 GMT

Philanos, the leading women’s giving circle network in the U.S., announces five newly elected board members comprised of women who are members of Philanos affiliate organizations.

“The Philanos board wholeheartedly welcomes these women to the board,” says Jenny Berg, Chair of Nominations. “These are all very skilled women who bring many talents, skills, knowledge and experiences to the board.”

Deepika Andavarapu, AICP, PhD
Impact 100 Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Deepika is the founder and CEO of DEEP Consultants. Dr. Andavarapu, who uses she/her pronouns, is an urban planning scholar, community researcher, and evaluator working with government, nonprofits, and other philanthropic organizations. She is a strategic systems thinker designing long-term solutions with an emphasis on results and measuring impact.

Deepika has over sixteen years of experience working with the public sector and philanthropy over many social justice issues. As a researcher, she has produced trailblazing scholarship related to social capital's role in the resilience of disenfranchised communities such as slums. She is a published author, a public speaker and presented her research at a TEDx conference. Dr. Andavarapu is an intersectional scholarly practitioner who brings academic rigor and expertise to the nonprofit world. She designed and implemented rigorous impact evaluations that meet the guidelines of federal and state grants such as CNCS, HRSA, etc. She conducted landscape assessments that included issue mapping, policy mapping, data mapping, and stakeholder interviews to assess the state of knowledge around a topic.

In 2018, Dr. Andavarapu received the Rising Star award by Cincinnati's YWCA and went through rigorous leadership and DEI training. Dr. Andavarapu has held many local and national leadership positions, and she was the first DEI committee chair for Impact 100 Cincinnati. In that role, she led the development of the first-ever DEI strategic plan for the 20-year-old organization. Under her leadership, the organization's diversity more than doubled (2.5% to 6.5%) in three years; today, the organization is working towards incorporating an equity lens into its grant-making process. In 2020, the 400+ members voted DEI as the top priority for the organization. In 2021, under Philanos Leadership, Dr. Andavarapu co-designed and facilitated the first-ever conversations around DEI with six collective giving organizations across the country.

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz
Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Columbia, MD

Buffy began her career working for an international human rights organization in Washington, DC. More recently she was the Communications Director at the Maryland Philanthropy Network and is President of her own firm BBS Consulting, working with foundations, nonprofits and political campaigns.

She has come “full circle” by now serving as the first Executive Director of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC), having been an original founder 19 years ago, and a past advisory board chair.

Buffy is a co-author of the award-winning book Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World with Sondra Shaw-Hardy and Martha Taylor, is the author of numerous articles on women’s giving, and has participated in ground-breaking national research on giving circles for the last two decades.

She’s in the “Circle of Excellence” being named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women three times - in 2003, 2008 and 2010 by The Daily Record, and an "Innovator of the Year" in 2004 by The Daily Record, and honored as one of "40 Under 40" in 2004 by the Baltimore Business Journal. She was a first Impact Award Winner in 2012 by The Mall in Columbia and the WGC, and is a 2019 Inductee by the Women’s Commission of Howard County into the Women’s Hall of Fame.

Buffy has served on many boards including the Community Foundation of Howard County and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and she’s involved in political campaigns and gun violence prevention efforts.

She has a BA in Russian history from the University of Maryland. Originally from Newtown, CT, she has lived in Howard County - between Washington, DC and Baltimore - for over 30 years. Buffy and her husband Howard have four children ranging in age from 28 – 14, and two granddaughters, ages 17 months and four weeks.

Rebekah Bonde
Washington Women’s Foundation, Seattle, WA
Previously with Impact Austin, Austin, TX

Rebekah graduated from Abilene Christian University with two Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and International Business and minors in Economics and French. Her professional background in Finance spans successive roles in oil and gas, financial services, and telecommunication industries, as well as consulting for both nonprofit organizations and high net worth individuals.

Collective giving became a passion for Rebekah in 2011 when she became a member of Impact Austin in Austin, Texas. Elected to board leadership, Rebekah spent five years in different roles that included chairing the Audit, Finance, Personnel, and Governance Committees, as well as in executive leadership positions as Treasurer, Vice President, and Chair of the Board of Directors. After moving back home to the Pacific Northwest in 2018, Rebekah became a member of both 100 Women of Whatcom and Washington Women’s Foundation where she currently serves as a co-leader on a Pooled Fund Grant Committee.

Rebekah’s previous board services include Street Youth Ministries, Sammamish Rotary Club, and Women’s Enterprises (all based in Seattle). Rebekah is also a past director of Philanos where she served as Treasurer. Her work in women’s philanthropy has been featured in Philanos webinars, newsletters, and conferences; local media; and in The Huffington Post Blog.

Rebekah and her husband are supporters of Bellingham Food Bank (WA), Central Texas Food Bank (TX), Bellingham Symphony (WA), Manos de Cristo (TX), and pro bono financial education organizations in both Washington and Texas.

Rebekah states, “My goal is to continue to meet and meaningfully interact with dynamic women representing collective giving groups across the county. I enjoy building organizations from within and broadcasting our message externally. Although financial management is my primary honed skill set, I am able to contribute in other roles, as evidenced by my written contributions on behalf of the communications committee.”

Stephanie Cook
San Diego Women’s Foundation, San Diego, CA

Stephanie is the Executive Director of The San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) where she oversees the organization’s strategic direction and mission to connect, educate and inspire women to come together in collective philanthropy. In this role, Stephanie is responsible for directing staff and operations, board and financial oversight, overseeing DEI initiatives and creating connections and partnerships in the community. She is also a proud SDWF member.

Stephanie is on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego (YNPNSD), currently serving as treasurer and a member of the executive team, after previously serving as programming co-chair. In addition, she is a member of Girl Scout San Diego’s Leadership Advisory Bureau (GSSD-LAB), a group of local leaders committed to providing support and mentorship to Girl Scouts, troop leaders, and GSSD volunteers.

Stephanie’s previous work experience includes program and event management, marketing, communications, and membership growth strategies in the nonprofit sector. Stephanie has a background in gender studies, certificates in nonprofit management and nonprofit DEI solutions, and an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago, where she conducted research and wrote a thesis on changing notions of community and empowerment in Cuban women’s movements throughout the 20th century.

Paula Perkins
Impact 100 Wichita Falls, Wichita Falls, TX

Paula is the founder and president of Impact100 Wichita Falls, TX, incorporated in 2018. She proudly champions women’s development and leadership as a result of her own experience with the Junior League of Wichita Falls and has recently expanded that passion to include strategic philanthropy through women’s collective giving. Paula is also a member of the XIX Society of the Texas Women’s Foundation.

Paula continually demonstrates a keen sense of purpose and meaning in her volunteer efforts with a strong commitment to improving her community through direct action. In 2014, her governance expertise assisted in founding the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts & Culture in response to a community-wide arts and culture plan. Additionally, Paula has facilitated numerous efforts to address food insecurity through board service with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank and co-founding its signature fundraiser, Empty Bowls, in 2012. She has served as president of the Junior League of Wichita Falls and as a board member and the governance committee chair of the Association of Junior Leagues International. Paula has been named as one of Nexstar Media’s Remarkable Women of 2021 and received a Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2013 for forging the way for others through her extensive community leadership.

Paula has both BS and MA degrees in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University and is a recipient of Board Certification in Pediatrics and Specialty Certification in School Systems by the American Occupational Therapy Association. She served as a school-based therapist for the first two decades of her professional career. Currently, Paula is an Education Specialist for Region 9 Education Service Center, providing training and technical assistance for educators in the areas of special education and other federal programs.

Philanos is a philanthropic network of women’s funds, foundations and giving circles that grant collectively into their own communities. Philanos accelerates women’s philanthropic giving by providing resources to its members to increase their impact. Philanos believes that communities with women’s collective giving circles are healthier, safer, more equitable and thriving. The network is comprised of women and those who identify as women. Philanos represents over 17,500 women in 80 affiliates in the U.S. and abroad who have collectively infused over $146M into their respective communities through their collective giving organizations.

In Large and Small Ways, Philanthropy is Helping Our Communities

Nancy Clark — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:10:53 GMT

The recent big news in philanthropy was that in late 2020 Mackenzie Scott donated $1.7 billion to 116 nonprofit organizations, followed four months later with an additional $4.2 billion given to another 384 organizations. Each of the recipients received a carefully researched gift – many of which were the largest they had ever received. Scott’s extraordinary generosity, coupled with the increased need caused by the pandemic, raised the question: Does a philanthropic gift have to be large to have impact?

On January 12, the Philanos monthly webinar was The Power of Thinking Small: Smaller Grants Can Have Big Impact. It had the largest-ever registered audience. The two presenting affiliates were Spirit of St. Louis, a founding organization of the then-WCGN network, and Impact 100 Seattle, founded just a year ago. Members of affiliates can view the webinar in the Philanos member portal.

For both of these affiliates, identifying smaller non-profit organizations and giving grants of $25,000 or less, represented their approach to philanthropy. But that is not true of all the affiliates who have recently begun looking at smaller grants. There are intriguing examples of how other Philanos organizations have deviated from long-standing practices to supplement their granting with what each refers to as “small grants”. These are two of them.

Womenade Boston

In a city of many women’s giving circles, Womenade Boston has carved out a special mission: to improve the lives of underserved women and teen girls. Their approach has been to make four grants (two supporting women and two for teens) each year in the $20,000 - $25,000 range to non-profits around $1.5 million in size. Their vetting process was for their Evaluation Committee to reduce the number of requests to sixteen semifinalists (eight for each), all of which would receive site visits. Following the visits, the committee would identify eight finalists. From this group, the entire membership would select the grantees.

But 2020 was a different year. Like so many affiliates, they were right in the middle of their selection process when Covid-19 restrictions hit. The Committee met to discuss the situation in a group that included leaders of some of the local nonprofits. They realized there was no time to finish the formal process, including site visits, they had used previously. And they knew many in their group of sixteen urgently needed the money.

In a radical move, they decided to give all sixteen semi-finalists grants of $5,000 to use immediately as they saw fit, an idea immediately embraced by members and recipients. Did it work? Anecdotally, yes – but final reports are not due for another month. What they do know, according to Jennifer Flanagan, President, and Sara Lavoie, VP and Chair of Evaluation, is that all sixteen organizations are still open and serving their constituencies – a significant accomplishment in these times.

Girls Rock Campaign

Impact 100 RVA

To honor their tenth anniversary and in response to community leaders’ request for accessible funds, the women of Impact 100 in Richmond VA created the Neighborhood Catalyst Grant. This four-year, place-based grant will fund up to $25,000 each year utilizing the trust-based philanthropic model.

In 2019, the members selected the Fulton neighborhood with a focus on food security in the community. A true partnership, Impact 100 members work closely with a panel of neighborhood leaders – Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) – identified with the assistance of people living in Fulton who were already focused on marshalling community resources. The NAC has the responsibility to highlight very specific needs and concrete solutions for improvement. Throughout the program’s three years, the NAC has played a key role in encouraging grant applications and collaborative projects among the neighborhood’s important support organizations.

The Neighborhood Catalyst Grant is a complementary undertaking to the annual awarding of at least one $100,000 grant Impact 100 RVA has done historically (there have been two grants in recent years). It has different committee members and the money is raised separately from the annual membership fee. A big benefit to members has been the opportunity to work closely with the women neighborhood leaders in the Fulton community. According to Talley Baratka, Impact 100 RVA founder and Catalyst Grant Initiative co-founder, “Trusting women is what women’s collective giving is all about. This approach is about trusting women in their own neighborhoods to know what needs to happen. It is that simple.”

"We are standing on some good ground here." Ms. Linda Sutton says of the Fulton community. The Impact 100 Fulton-based Catalyst Grant Committee continues important work during their second virtual meeting to review invited proposals. More work continues next month by these dedicated volunteers. This is the third year of a four-year commitment by Impact 100 Richmond in partnership with the women-led committee.

As these innovative programs show, a gift can be impactful if it is large or small. It just needs to be the right size for its purpose. To learn more, go to www.womenadeboston.org and www.impact100rva.org

DEI from Theory to Practice

Nancy Clark — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:38:46 GMT

In March, I and my team will launch a pilot project for online affinity group engagement among interested affiliates. The purpose of the test groups is to provide peer-to-peer sharing for affiliates involved in adopting DEI-related initiatives for their respective giving circles.

Several Philanos affiliates are participating, including Impact 100 Cincinnati (OH), San Diego Women’s Foundation (CA), Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (MD), Impact 100 Essex (NJ), Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle (MD), Women’s Giving Alliance of Jacksonville (FL), Many Hands (DC), Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte (NC), Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation (ID) and The Philanthropy Connection (MA).

These affiliates are assigned to one of the following two tracks and will meet for at least two sessions. Then they will determine how they want to stay connected as they proceed.

Track 1: “Grant Making with an Equity Lens”

For organizations that are exploring, testing and doing early-stage implementation of changes in grant making processes that further equity and trust-based philanthropy.

Facilitated by Laura Midgley, WA Women’s Foundation member; Philanos Board Member; Past Chair of WCGN (now Philanos)

Track 2: “Organizational/Membership DEI Strategies”

For organizations that are implementing DEI learning resources for members, outreach to BIPOC women as members, and enhancing leadership diversity.

Facilitated by Deepika Andavarapu, VP, Impact 100 Cincinnati; Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Other ongoing work by our Philanos AE&E team includes case studies of affiliates who have made multiple and significant changes in their grant making over time. Additionally, they have begun baseline interviews with any affiliate doing DEI work, capturing who they are, a description of where they are in the process, lessons learned, and further contact information. This information will be collated and shared in the Member Portal to assist affiliates as they move from theory to practice. We will let you know when this vital information is online!

Elevating Collective Giving Around the World

Nancy Clark — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:34:39 GMT

Philanos promotes the global initiative for the collective giving movement through Philanthropy Together.

Philanos is proud to be one of five networks, along with Amplifier, Asian Women Giving Circle, Community Investment Network, and Latino Community Foundation, that founded Philanthropy Together (PhT) in April 2020. Its goals are to:

expand the number of global giving groups to 3,000 (from an estimated 2,000);
involve 350,000 individuals (from 150,000 currently); and
foster $1 billion of collectively made grants within 5 years.

PhT’s global initiatives will bolster all networks like Philanos as well as individual giving circles. So what does PhT do and how is it different from Philanos?

Philanthropy Together intends to democratize and diversify philanthropy around the world by incubating giving circles and supporting existing ones. It has four strategic, global focus areas:

Showcase: Expand awareness about giving circles (listen to PhT’s Executive Director, Sara Lomelin, discuss “What Big Philanthropy Can Learn From Giving Circles”)
Scale: Strategically grow circles and circle membership (learn about Launchpad, the giving circle incubator that provides 5 weeks of virtual training for those who wish to start a giving circle and Launchpad for Hosts for those, like community foundations, interested in hosting one);
Strengthen: Build capacity, leadership, and knowledge sharing (discover the “Community Calendar” in which giving circles can share their virtual events and learn of others, and watch for the first global giving circle directory in early 2021); and
Sustain: Support ongoing vibrancy and effectiveness of the field.

One way PhT will promote sustainability and vibrancy is through its “We Give Summit” throughout the month of May 2021. The purpose of this celebration of collective giving is elevating the movement and spawning collaborations across networks and giving groups. If you have ideas for breakout sessions around perennial topics of interest like member retention, strategic planning and Board development, please send them to sbenford@philanos.org.

Because Philanos had to cancel its planned PowerUP! in-person event for September 2021, we will be active presenters (and attendees) in the “We Give Summit”. Plan on joining us!

Also, PhT is creating an international, searchable directory of giving circles. Each profile will cover the basics about each giving group: its mission, issue focus area, membership, dollars raised and invested, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to raise the visibility (and impact) of your group and giving circles in general.

Join Philanthropy Together on January 28 at 4 pm Pacific/7 pm Eastern as giving groups around the world complete their profiles together and meet each other for the first time. Please register here, which also puts you in the running to win:

$1,000 for your giving group;
A specialized media kit for your giving circle and a 45 minute consultation about your social media strategy; and
Swag bags from PhT and Grapevine, a Philanos sponsor and the platform on which the directory is being constructed.

If you’ve questions about the directory or the profile party, contact PhT’s Director of Engagement, Tyeshia Wilson (tyeshia@philanthropytogether.org) or Philanos Chair Paula Liang (pliang@philanos.org).

See you there!

Affiliates Implement Trust-Based Philanthropy

Nancy Clark — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:22:45 GMT

Giving circles and collective giving groups are working to address power in philanthropy. Why? Because there are times that funders inadvertently hinder nonprofits doing the work they know best.

According to the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (the Project), this can slow down progress, perpetuate inefficiency, and obstruct nonprofit growth and innovation. Trust-Based Philanthropy reimagines that dynamic. Infused by core values of power-sharing, equity, humility, transparency, curiosity, and collaboration, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project believes philanthropic efforts will be more successful and rewarding if funders approach each grantee relationship as an ongoing partnership rather than a one-time transaction.

The Project outlines a trust-based approach that relies on six interrelated principles which, when practiced together, can help alleviate power imbalances:

Provide Multi-Year, Unrestricted Funding
Do the Homework
Simplify & Streamline Paperwork
Be Transparent & Responsive
Solicit & Act on Feedback
Offer Support Beyond the Check

If you were able to join the Philanos monthly webinar series on October 13 on Women's Giving Circles & Trust-Based Philanthropy, you heard an introduction to trust-based philanthropy for giving circles - what it is and how it can be reflected in collective giving.

The webinar presented its principles and practices, the reasons for its emergence, and the impact it has had on the social sector. We heard from two perspectives: Colby Swettberg, Chief Executive Office of the Silver Lining Institute in Boston spoke from the nonprofit perspective; and Philip Li, President and CEO of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation in New York City, spoke from the funder perspective. In addition to sharing their experiences, they helped us understand how we might apply trust-based philanthropy principles to the collective giving model – how we educate our members, how we evaluate applications and organizations, and how we remain open to supporting organizations we may not know very well.

Philanos affiliate member Impact 100 Seattle is committed to incorporating trust-based philanthropy principles and practices throughout their grantmaking philosophy.

In fact, they proudly and publicly state their grantmaking philosophy as believing in trust-based philanthropy to drive enduring improvements in the Puget Sound Region. As a somewhat new organization, they are working hard to address some of the unhealthy power dynamics in traditional philanthropy.

Here are their grantmaking principles:

●       Trust-Based Philanthropy. Impact Seattle 100 members see trust-based philanthropy as a process to address long-standing power imbalances and increase equity in philanthropy. They believe this approach requires funders to build relationships with grantee organizations through trust-based practices and behaviors.

●       Partner for Transformative Change. This approach is based on their desire for transformative change – or addressing the root causes of issues and inequities as opposed to the symptoms. They want to support organizations that work in partnership with others toward collective impact and those that build power among those who may lack it.

●       Embrace Risk. Impact Seattle 100 members are committed to embracing risk, by rewarding and encouraging new ways of thinking and acting to increase resilience and impact.

●       Listen, Learn and Evolve. They are committed to listening, learning and evolving, by recognizing the learning journey they are on with other members, and their partners.

“We are offering support beyond the check ... we want to be an organization that grants with curiosity” said Jennifer Larsen, Impact Seattle 100 Vice President. “We worked hard to remain in a learning posture throughout the process and sustained an equitable process throughout.”

The principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy have been important for funders across the country in general, and in particular the last ten months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philanos affiliate member ninety-nine girlfriends has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting their work to be responsive to the situation at hand in their community. As they state publicly on their website, “ninety-nine girlfriends plays a unique role in our region in connecting women in collective action and supporting nonprofits. All of us must pivot as the pandemic moves through our community ... ninety-nine girlfriends will play our role in ‘flattening the curve’ to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and the severity of its impact on our community.”

Ninety-nine girlfriends has been vocal about leveraging best practices by philanthropic leaders across the country and highlighting Trust-Based Philanthropy principles to their philanthropic response to COVID-19. In fact, they have highlighted recommendations from the Council on Foundations and the Whitman Institute.

The Council on Foundations created a Call to Action to guide philanthropy’s commitment during COVID-19, where over 600 organizations have signed.

Among the recommendations are to:

●        Loosen or eliminate restrictions on current grants.
●        Make new grants as unrestricted as possible to provide maximum flexibility for nonprofits.
●        Reduce what we ask of nonprofit partners e.g. site visits, reporting requirements and other demands on their time.
●        Support grantee partners advocating for important public policy changes.

COF’s recommendations are based on the work of the Whitman Institute, advocating for Trust-Based Philanthropy. There is much we will learn about the Trust-Based philanthropic response to COVID-19 in the months and years to come.

Giving circles and collective giving groups across the country are increasingly listening, learning, and responding by incorporating Trust-Based Philanthropy principles and practices throughout their grantmaking philosophy and seeking to help alleviate power imbalances.

And, Philanos is committed to being an ongoing resource and partner to our affiliate members across the country on the principles and practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy.

Listen to Pia Infante & Vu Le's PowerUP! 2020 presentation here!

Eleven Affiliates Awarded DEI Grants

Nancy Clark — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:40:57 GMT

Philanos proudly announces 11 of our affiliates were granted $1K to further their DEI practices.

Philanthropy Together made 25 grants of $1,000 each to organizations that had participated in PhT’s six-month Racial Equity Community of Practice. Grants were made to attendees who had developed ideas about programming that would further their group’s DEI journey. The Philanos affiliates that were awarded are:

Anne Arundel Women Giving Together - MD, Giving Together - Chevy Chase MD, Impact Austin, Impact100 Philadelphia, ninety-nine girlfriends - Portland, OR, Women’s Giving Alliance - Jacksonville FL, and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County - MD; each received funding to hire a trainer. Some will train their board, others their grants team, and some will train both board and members.
Impact100 Metro Denver, Impact100 South Jersey, Many Hands - DC and The Philanthropy Connection - Boston; each received funding to hire a facilitator or a coach to guide their DEI conversations.

Explore Philanos DEI resources here!

My Experience in the Philanthropy Together Racial Equity Community of Practice

Nancy Clark — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:09:30 GMT

Spoiler Alert: It was extraordinary, just like all of their programming to date.

Having been one of the original Co-Design team members whose mission was to bring some infrastructure and support to the entire collective giving sector will, I believe, be one of the crowning achievements of my life.

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others, the five of us on that team took a leap of faith in the movement and each other: Felicia Harman of Amplifier, Hali Lee, founder of the Asian Women’s Giving Circle, Sara Lomelin of The Latino Community Foundation, Marsha Morgan, chair of the Community Investment Network, and myself. We practiced radical transparency and decided early on that we wouldn’t be defined by “turf.” Many philanthropic women sit at multiple tables. We aren’t in competition; we are in community.

Now called Philanthropy Together, the initiative that we designed with input from more than 100 funders, leaders and members across the movement (men and women), launched on April 1, 2020. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that it felt like terrible timing in that moment, and we were all concerned about 18 months of work going up in the flames of a global pandemic.

We needn’t have worried. The ED we hired, Sara Lomelin, (yes, an original member of the Co-Design team) and our amazing consultant, Isis Krause, who was Sara’s first hire, have the knowledge and the passion to push through many obstacles. They are also unhampered by an imposing structure, a large board and the expectations of hundreds of funders. They hit the ground at a gallop and haven’t let up.

Their first two webinars, attended by hundreds, were all about the Black Lives Matter moment and philanthropy’s response. They featured Executive Directors of frontline organizations, answered crucial questions, and offered important “tips and tricks”. Two personal takeaways:

One consultant suggested that if it is difficult to diversify your giving circle because of your geography, think about how else you can help: where do you bank? Who do you employ as consultants, speakers, caterers, etc.? You can support Black-owned businesses in many ways. I spoke with nascent groups in Vermont and Maine over the Summer, and this was helpful to them.
One session featured EDs of frontline organizations involved with the BLM movement. One of them pointed out that “we” in the collective giving movement might be shocked by George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent fallout, but that none of them were surprised; they all knew it was just a matter of time and circumstance. Her appeal to us, and I’m paraphrasing because she was much more polite, was this: We’ve been doing this, and coordinating across organizations for a very long time. If you want to support our work, send a check. Don’t quibble about language, or nibble around the edges of the policy recommendations. As someone who can always come up with an opinion, it was a very powerful gut-check.

Following two outstanding webinars, Philanthropy Together found enough interest in these topics to host a six-month long Racial Equity Community of Practice, which was attended by dozens of staff, leaders and members of collective giving groups across the sector, including Susan Benford, Sandy Cook and myself and dozens of leaders of Philanos affiliates. Marsha Morgan (who many of you will remember from her intro of Ijeoma Oluo at PowerUP!2020) and I recorded sessions for this Community of Practice (COP) and other organizations. A couple of takeaways:

Marsha asked me if there were affiliates who weren’t interested in “doing the work” of diversity, equity and inclusion. My response was “if they aren’t, they are being quiet about it. Everyone who came to Seattle wants to do the work. What they might not be ready for is the next step they have to take after they bring in diverse women. They have to let them lead.” And in that moment, I realized that I was taking up space on at least two boards, which I will phase off of over the next several months, to make way for other voices. Stay tuned.
I learned that two of our affiliates, ninety-nine girlfriends of Portland, OR and Wood River Women’s Foundation in Ketcham, ID have morphed their language from DEI to JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. How cool is that?

As the final act of the Racial Equity COP, Philanthropy Together announced that they had $25K available to grant to organizations whose leaders had been part of the cohort, and who had ideas about programming that would further their DEI journey. It was incredibly fulfilling to have 11 of our Philanos affiliates win these $1K awards. Details:

Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, Giving Together of Chevy Chase, MD, Impact Austin, Impact100 Philadelphia, ninety-nine girlfriends of Portland, OR, Women’s Giving Alliance of Jacksonville, FL, and Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, MD each received funding to hire a trainer. Some will train their board, others their grants team, and some will train both board and members.
Impact100 Metro Denver, Impact100 South Jersey, Many Hands, DC, The Philanthropy Connection of Boston, each received funding to hire a facilitator or a coach to guide their DEI conversations.

I look forward to hearing stories about the impact of these small but meaningful grants. I also encourage all of you to add Philanthropy Together to your bookmarks, check out their programming and the resources available on their website—you’ll recognize some of Philanos’ best content being promoted to a wider audience.

And if any of you have questions, suggestions, ideas, you all know how to reach me, pliang@philanos.org

BoardSource exceptional post!

Nancy Clark — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:45:05 GMT

Sharing this exceptional post with valuable resources:

Facing the Challenge of Racial Inequity or Avoiding It, Jim Taylor, BoardSource blog, October 30, 2020

August is Black Philanthropy Month

Nancy Clark — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 21:09:30 GMT

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland is proud to continue our support for Black Philanthropy Month (BPM) which is observed every August. The primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives.

"We are excited to continue our support of National Black Philanthropy Month" said Hina Naseem and Judy Smith, co-Chairs of WGC's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. "Informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership are among the goals of this annual celebration and we are committed to advancing this important work in philanthropy, both in our community and across the country."

Read the full post here!

WELCOME, THE GIVING PROJECT, TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLLECTIVE GIVING

Nancy Clark — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 19:43:40 GMT

Shared post from July 9, 2020
https://www.givingprojectvt.org/new-blog

I had a wonderful, appropriately socially distant, afternoon with the visionary founders of The Giving Project, Leslie Halperin and Laura Latka in mid-June. As a part-time Vermonter myself, I was very excited to hear about their achievement in standing up 10 new Giving Circles around the state during the COVID quarantine, and hoping that the next cohort, which they expect to start in the Fall, will include one in Windham County, because I would absolutely join.

By way of introduction, I am a member and past President of Women’s Giving Alliance in Jacksonville, FL which is where my husband and I spend most of our time. WGA was founded by 5 influential local women in 2001, and it’s 450 members generally grant about $500K per year to organizations that serve women and girls in our five-county region. I am also the Chair of Philanos, a national network of over 70 women’s giving circles, and women’s funds and foundations that practice collective giving, and which have 15,000+ individual members. These groups annually invest over $15Million in their communities. The network provides individual mentoring for the leaders of these groups, monthly webinars and other tools, and hosts a very popular biennial conference, where the sense of common purpose and Sisterhood is very powerful.

Leslie and Laura asked me to write a guest blog, and I thought what I could offer to those of you who are just starting a Giving Circle or are considering being a part of the next wave are some ideas of things you might want to consider before you make your first round of grants—though Brava to the group in Brattleboro that has already moved funds to local Nonprofits! So, in no particular order:

What Matters Most?
Hali Lee, who founded both the Asian Women’s Giving Circle in NYC and the Donors of Color network likes to say that because she isn’t religious, her giving circle is where she goes to talk about values. Some very well-established groups with hundreds of members are going to be having interesting and perhaps uncomfortable conversations around their shared values in the next few months. You have the opportunity to put what you believe and value right up front, and we are all living in an environment when this has become an expectation. Ideally, this would be the result of a a conversation among the founder(s) and several other committed founding members.
What Needs are the Greatest?
Lots of collective giving groups have done “disaster philanthropy” with some or all of their funds, others have stuck to their grant cycles as laid out before COVID. To be clear, there’s no wrong answer here. There are countless frontline organizations battling both the virus and institutional racism that need immediate funding. But as Joanne Cohen, of the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, which hosts WGA, has said, recovering from this set of crises will require that folks invest in the entire non-profit sector; we will need not only disaster relief, but investments in social services, educational institutions and the arts to fully restore our society.
How do we respond to #BlackLivesMatter?
In a state that was, as of 2019 94% Caucasian, it might be difficult to imagine about how to diversify your Giving Circle; but there are other ways to think about this. I listened to a webinar this week where Marcus Littles of Frontline Solutions acknowledged this problem, and basically said, your circle members are who they are, but there are other ways to help: Consider who you hire to advise you, (and please, if you look to NPO CEOs of color to advise you, compensate them), who you order food and other products from for your circle or your events. You can support black business owners, locally and nationally.
You can also learn more about anti-racist philanthropy. Reading and resource lists abound on this subject. Feel free to use the Philanos Building Anti-Racist Organizations page. There is also a national organization that that began working to support giving circles and giving circle networks on April 1, 2020, funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called Philanthropy Together. They have produced two excellent webinars on the topic already, which you can watch here
What stories will you tell about your Circle?
Lots of GC leaders like to talk about the “Four Ts: Time, Talent, Treasure and Testimony” as the most significant, and equal, assets they bring to the work. I was fortunate to be in Seattle a few months ago and was invited to the founding meeting of a group called Impact 100 Seattle. Laura Midgley, a Philanos Board Member, friend, and member of Washington Women’s Foundation in Seattle came along with me, to a wine and cheese reception in a locally owned shop a couple of miles north of what was recently #CHAZ. She told the founders, women in their 30s, to take lots of photos, and “remember this night, because in 10, 15 years, you’re going to be telling the story of the night you launched.” The founders were pretty wide-eyed at this. It was great advice when we could meet in person, but if your launch is going to be virtual, you can also make it memorable. I have been on Zoom calls with musicians, poets, all kinds of “ice-breakers” and celebrity guests. Invite your mayor or the wife of one of your (sadly all male) Congressional delegation.
There will also be non-grantmaking effects of your work, especially as you grow, and you should keep track of those stories as well. How many local Non-profit women are part of your Circles? What non-monetary assistance did you provide to a grantee: volunteers, board members, advice, connection to other resources? Which of your members changed her path to work with Nonprofits? Who founded an organization to fill a gap in services you learned about? These kinds of stories abound within Philanos and the other Giving Circle Networks, and they lend a great deal of credence to the work.
Consider Funding Democracy?
Philanos held a conference in Seattle in late February, 2020 which was called PowerUP! The Spark that Ignites Change and was DEI-focused. The final plenary speaker, Pia Enfante of the Whitman Institute said something that I will admit has haunted me, especially in light of the rolling state of crisis in which we find ourselves. Her advice: “consider funding Democracy, and if your members think it’s too political, ask them if they want to breathe air and live in a democracy?” Even if you can’t get your nascent group to think about aligning around values in politics, there are non-partisan groups in every State working to register people to vote and turning out the vote that you could support.

I’m envious that you are all at the beginning of what I am certain will be an incredibly satisfying journey in collective giving, and excited to know that in a few years, probably sooner than you think, Vermont will have a statewide network of smart, connected women who care about their communities and are working to be the change they seek to make in them. You’ll meet lovely humans, make lifelong friends and learn a lot about your local NPO ecosystem. There will likely be wine involved. This is not a moment, it’s a movement. Welcome.

-Paula Liang
Chair, Philanos
pliang@philanos.org

Ten Ways The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is Utilizing Our Strengths to Respond to COVID-19

Nancy Clark — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:27:43 GMT

Hi - here's an overview of 10 Ways the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland is utilizing our strengths to respond to COVID-19

https://www.womensgivingcircle.org/blog/ten-ways-the-womens-giving-circle-of-howard-county-is-utilizing-our-strengths-to-respond-to-covid-19

CATALIST NETWORK JOINS THE WING TO PROMOTE GIVING TUESDAY

Nancy Clark — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 21:27:26 GMT

November 2019
For Immediate Release
Paula Liang, Board Chair, pliang@philanos.org

THE CATALIST NETWORK JOINS WITH THE WING
TO PROMOTE COLLECTIVE GIVING AND GIVING TUESDAY

Catalist, the largest network of women’s collective giving organizations, is joining with local organizations to promote collective giving initiatives across the country in support of Giving Tuesday. Hosted by The Wing, events will be held at their urban locations on Monday, December 2, or Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

A complete list of locations, dates and participants is here.

Catalist has led the content development for the events and will provide discussion leaders and panelists in concert with local giving circles and other women’s organizations. Discussion will affirm a new wave of an old paradigm is remaking philanthropy. Across the United States and spreading abroad, starting at the grassroots level, community-led giving circles are growing rapidly. The movement is a testament to the power of women banding together with real capital to advance important causes.

According to Catalist Chair Paula Liang, “Our national board members and local affiliate leaders are honored to partner with The Wing to advance this important dialogue. They will focus discussions on active philanthropy, with the message that women can collectively have a significant impact on their communities.”

Catalist supports the creation, development, and expansion of women’s collective giving and grantmaking nationwide and globally. Catalist leads a network of women’s collective giving groups which help women pool their money to make high-impact grants in their local communities. The organization currently has more than 70 affiliates in the US, Australia and the UK, representing over $125 million in giving by more than 17,000 women since 1995.

The Wing is a women-focused, co-working space collective and club with locations in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston. It was founded in 2016 and currently has over 10,000 members.

Reflections on Collective Giving: The Joy of Convening in Houston

Nancy Clark — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 19:52:02 GMT

Houston, October 2019

A few weeks ago my friend Stephanie Ellis-Smith, founder of Phila Engaged Giving, and I went to Houston for the Community Investment Network (CIN) conference, which celebrated its 15th anniversary by reflecting on its legacy of building up communities through investing their time, talent, treasure, and testimony (using our collective voice for change). CIN is national network of giving circles impacting communities of color. It connects and strengthens African-Americans and other donors of color by leveraging their collective resources to create the change THEY wish to see. The majority of their members are African-American from the Southeast.

Stephanie had some familiarity with giving circles in general, but was generally new to this organization. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know CIN as a board member of Catalist.

I went to Houston with the specific mission to further Catalist's relationship with CIN. Five networks in collective giving -- The Latino Community Foundation, Amplifier (giving circles based on Jewish values), the Asian Women’s Giving Circle, Catalist, and CIN – have collaborated on a co-design project aimed at accelerating the size and impact of the giving circle sector on community transformation. (Read about the co-design work funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.) The missions of these five networks of collective giving groups are closely aligned, so rather than compete, we collaborate. We all use conferences to inspire affiliates to dig deeper into this work and to prepare the leaders to go home to their communities feeling elevated. Sometimes this work can be wonky but we came home from Houston reminded it must always be joyful!

Stephanie went to Houston strictly to listen, learn, and observe. Though we both are members of the Washington Women’s Foundation in Seattle, WA, Stephanie didn’t have much first-hand experience with giving circles, but has always been impressed with their personal engagement in their communities and the members’ commitment to learning and each other. Her work as a philanthropic advisor has been limited to high-net-worth individuals and families who are looking to become more strategic and dedicated in their charitable giving. Stephanie says “working with family groups is in some ways similar to a giving circle, but there is something uniquely special about a group of unrelated people voluntarily pooling their money to make investments in their local community.”

We anticipated meeting new colleagues and reconnecting with fellow philanthropists who give through collective giving grantmaking, pooling funds for community impact. But a genuinely worthwhile conference should do more than provide a few new tools and a pile of business cards. Our goals for traveling to Houston varied, but we both were delighted that our trip to Houston yielded an unexpected joyfulness that rejuvenated us.

What struck us the most was the level of joy and camaraderie we observed, not just within each giving circle, but among them as well. Participants gathered to share stories and best practices and to learn. Their dedication to the work and communing with a cohort of like-minded people produced a powerful aura of goodwill that was hard to ignore.

For me, the joy came from stepping back from the work and taking stock of why and how we show up for the communities to which we belong and care about in the first place. In the opening session, Linetta Gilbert, formerly of the Ford Foundation and a founding visionary of CIN, spoke meaningfully about how to blend institutional philanthropy with individual philanthropy. And of course, this is exactly what collective giving groups do – inform the individual through group experience and then elevate the impact through collective giving. Ms. Gilbert spoke about the value of a listening tour and the power of starting any foray into philanthropy by asking “Who is absent?” How can we as philanthropists elevate community by seeking out the voices of those left out of the traditional philanthropic power dynamic?

Ms. Gilbert and her co-presenter Darryll Lester, CIN’s founder, said of the partnership between funders and grantees: "Spend time with each other to get to know one another before doing business". Too often institutions begin the relationship with a transaction – the grant or the donation. Starting that way sets the tone for it to become forever framed and dominated by that transaction. At The Ford Foundation and now in her recent work, Ms. Gilbert invests in relationships first. Doing so allows us to understand the landscape behind the issue and to better allocate our resources and energy. It became clear to us that it is only from this level of engagement that we can begin to envision how all American communities can grow and thrive equitably.

For Stephanie, she found a deep sense of joy simply from the conference’s theme: “We are Philanthropists”. “It was empowering for me to be among African-Americans who proudly claim the mantle. While many debate whether the sector is hopelessly corrupt and ineffective, CIN’s giving circles harness all that is right with philanthropy and brings it into the Black community on their own terms.” Circles represented at the conference gave to individuals (from Black men and boys mentorship groups to struggling entrepreneurs or artists) and to traditional organizations. They also came to learn about innovative programs going on nationally that they could bring back to their circles to learn from or adapt for their own community.

The learning components tapped neatly into the spirit of the conference: community-based and Black-centered. Speakers who brought their expertise to CIN included land trust advocates from the South speaking about building land sovereignty for displaced black and indigenous people, representatives from Black community foundations talking about how and where to invest a circle’s funds, and community-owned grocery store investors on how to eliminate food deserts. We left inspired not just by the work, but by the communion of the network.

Collective giving embodies the best tenets of philanthropy. People pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and offering a hand up to those who need it brings out the best in all of us. Stephanie and I wish this blog could share the warmth of the hugs we received or the sounds of laughter we heard during those two days. Such a jolt of energy renewed my spirit and my commitment to helping people find joy in their giving through deep engagement and understanding.

Feel free to contact Stephanie or me about our work. We will explore more of these themes at the Catalist conference PowerUP! The Spark That Ignites Change in Seattle in February 23-25, 2020. As conference co-chair I am delighted we have so many talented speakers lined up, including Stephanie, who will be presenting on women of color philanthropists.

Co-Design Blog Post #3: Montgomery and Birmingham, AL

Nancy Clark — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:44:28 GMT

Alabama, July, 2019

This third in-person meeting of the Co-Design team was different, more personal, more emotional than the first two. As a team, we have been grappling, in the aftermath of our field-wide convening in April, with how strong a values statement we wanted to make to undergird the work. The question we were asked a lot in Seattle was: More #GivingCircles in service of what? It was a great question.

It’s easy to say that hate is not welcome and if you fund terrorists, we won’t provide support. But the real issue is, do we go further and make a strong statement about equity and justice as common values, knowing those words might not be commonly understood among potential founders or funders, and off-putting to some.

Our friend and colleague Marsha Morgan, Chair of Community Investment Network which supports African American giving circles invited us to Birmingham for our Summer meeting so that we could meet with her Pastor, Bishop Van Moody who supported the First Step Act, and has been hosting panel discussions about Race and Reconciliation in their community. Several of us decided to fly down a day early so we could visit Montgomery as well, to see the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Justice and Peace, sometimes referred to as the Lynching Museum, in advance of our meeting.

We visited the Memorial first. The primary structure is an L-shaped pavilion cut into a square of grassy knoll on a hill, a bit reminiscent of Maya Lin’s Vietnam Memorial. It is beautiful and haunting and exquisitely done. The sculptures outside the pavilion are arresting and heartbreaking. Inside the pavilion, each of the 400 counties in the US in which the Equal Justice Initiative could verify one or more lynchings has an 8-foot Corten steel monument into which the names of the individual, when known, and the date of the lynching are cut. On some, there are just one or two names in large, easily legible letters. On others, there are two columns of tiny names. There is a 45-minute path you walk through this experience, starting with green lawn, some sculptures and explanatory signage. Then you enter the L-shaped pavilion. At first, the monuments are on the ground and you walk among them, reading names and counties, as if they were people. But soon you start to walk down hill, and the monuments are suspended, a little bit at first, and progressively higher every few yards. By the time you turn the corner and reach the end of the building, the 400^th monument, you can only see the name of the county on the bottom of the monument, because they are fully hung above you. That’s where I found the monument for Duval County, Florida, my adopted home town. There were 7 lynchings in Duval from 1909 to 1925. The name of the first and last human beings who were lynched are not known, which is heartbreaking. As Marsha pointed out, it is as if those lives simply didn’t matter.

The vertical monuments inside the pavilion seem to be arranged in a totally random manner. Outside, there is another set of identical but horizontal monuments arranged, like coffins, alphabetically by state and county. It had just rained, and they shone as if they were bronze. I was able to find the Duval monument and the other 44 Florida monuments (Florida has 67 counties, so at least 22 have something to be proud of here) and read the names and dates I could not see from below. This set of monuments is available to be claimed by Counties who want to start the process of reconciling their past with their present. I don’t have a ton of hope that my community will take this on, but I do have a Tweetstorm in mind as soon as my desk is clear.

In a very subdued car, we headed next to the Legacy Museum, which is also run by the Equal Justice Initiative, and which traces the slow but inexorable crawl from slavery to mass incarceration. Through photos, statistics, primary source quotes, original signage from buildings, video and other media the interactive exhibits make a full-throated and undeniable case for systemic racism as the backdrop to mass incarceration, the wealth disparity between families of color and white families, and pretty much every other disparity. There are also rows and rows of huge jars of multi-colored dirt, with the names and dates of Alabama’s lynching victims; the product of a project to send students and other volunteers around the state to collect earth from the sites of the documented sites of Alabama lynchings. The walls and walls of these enormous jars make quite a statement.

Some Peach Cheesecake ice cream atop blackberry cobbler at a spot chosen by Marsha along the route to Birmingham picked up our spirits a bit. Liz Fisher, ED of Amplifier, which supports giving circles inspired by Jewish values, opined that this might suffice for dinner, but we all managed to eat later at the hotel. Also, there may have been wine.

We gathered the next morning to see what our consultants had come up with since we met last: a growth model, a financial model and a business model. What we heard was energizing, and gives us a roadmap for the future, pending funding. Our final proposal has been submitted to the Gates Foundation, and we should know within two months whether they will provide the anchor funding for a 5-year campaign to showcase, scale, strengthen and sustain existing groups, and look to grow up to 1500 new ones over 5 years.

The Mission of what I alone call 5YC is to catalyze and connect the giving circle movement and to democratize and diversify philanthropy. The Showcase strategy will include things like a broad awareness campaign (imagine, if you will, never having to explain to anyone, ever again, what your organization does!), as well as special targeting to underserved populations; retirement communities, perhaps, or communities of color, and a HUGE marketing push.

The Scale effort will likely include online toolkits as well as incubators that work across many models as well as consulting with philanthropic partners and corporations to build giving circle networks within their organizations and supporting new networks for affinities not currently networked (i.e., LGBTQ).

The Strengthen initiative will involve an annual field-wide convening and other network-weaving activities. There is also an opportunity to use research and reporting to aggregate the work of the entire field

Sustain efforts will involve communities of practice, donor education, webinars, micro-grants for Networks in formation and back end technology infrastructure for networks who would like that assistance.

The Co-Design team has decided to stay attached to the project through the end of Calendar 2019 to continue to fundraise and hire the ED, should we be fortunate enough to raise sufficient funds.

And one final note: This isn’t the only values statement we landed on, but perhaps the one we will plant our flag on, and one I am particularly proud to have been a part of crafting:

We believe in a philanthropic landscape in which ALL donors can participate in a way that fits their ambition, values, and personality. We are committed to building philanthropic infrastructure that supports collective givers, especially those traditionally underrepresented in philanthropy so that more resources are leveraged for communities, issues, and to reduce disparities. Communities are their own best experts and so we listen deeply, respect different opinions, and value all voices.

Seattle Bytes: Local Seattle author's perspective on what makes Seattle so unique

Nancy Clark — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:44:43 GMT

Seattle, Washington
by Kit Bakke, Washington Women's Foundation member and author

Seattle Bytes

We invite you take a few minutes (or even an extra day or two) to acquaint yourself with this part of our country. February is actually a good time to be here because tourists are at a minimum, so you can rub shoulders with the locals. We know Seattle’s not on most travelers’ radar, so here are a few bits and bytes that might help bring our city in clearer focus:

Weather

Back in the 1950s a well-known local newspaper columnist led a movement he called “Lesser Seattle” that tried to discourage people from coming here. Talking up the incessant rain was one of his major tactics. But in fact, Seattle has less rainfall, about 37 inches/year, than 13 major U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Houston and New Orleans. The problem, though, is that our rain comes down slow and steady—we average 225 cloudy days/year. Even though we’re 2 degrees latitude north of Maine, we don’t get much snow either—but when it comes, we panic (why? See below).

Geography

We’re a city of many steep hills. It’s those hills that close down the schools and keep us home from work with only an inch or so of snow. Their verticality also accounts for the electric motor assists on most of our bike-share equipment.

Further afield, we are accustomed to seeing snowy mountains ringing our horizon—we have the Olympics (which are not volcanic) to our west and the Cascades (still active volcanos) to our east. Topping the volcanos is Mt. Rainier, the third highest mountain in the U.S. after Denali and Mt. Whitney. The first American to summit Mt. Everest was a local Seattle man, Jim Whittaker. He and his team trained on Mt. Rainier for their 1963 Himalayan success.

Besides volcanos, our corner of the country is also known for earthquakes. Along with the rest of the west coast, we are part of the “ring of fire” that circles the Pacific Ocean. Young and active geological forces remind us that the earth is still changing beneath our feet.

We also have an abundance of water. Seattle is said to have the largest number of boats per capita. The boundary between the salt water (Puget Sound) and fresh water (Lake Washington) is maintained by a set of locks, which are the busiest locks in the U.S. and second in size only to the Panama Canal locks.

Lake Washington is a 20 mile long and very deep (over 200 feet) glacially-formed lake running along the eastern border of the city. On it float three multi-lane concrete bridges which serve thousands of commuters daily to and from Seattle’s eastside suburbs.

Why floating bridges? First envisioned by an engineer in the 1930s, the idea solved two problems: the lake bed is too soft and the lake too deep to build the piers to support a conventional bridge, and the span from land to land would require the towers for a suspension bridge to be over 600 feet tall. We also have a floating bridge over a salt water inlet, even trickier to build as it must account for tidal flow. These four bridges are the four longest floating bridges in the world.

History

Seattle is the only large city in the country named after a Native American chief. Local tribes lived here for centuries, raising their families and eating well off the abundant food found in the water and the forests. The first outsiders arrived in 1851 by boat to the shores of what is now the West Seattle neighborhood. Their intention was to stay, build a sawmill, raise their families and build a town, which they did.

Like many cities, Seattle had its “Great Fire.” In 1889, started by an overturned glue pot, it burned 29 square blocks and many of the city’s wharves. No one was killed, but it’s said that a million rats died. Rebuilt mostly in brick above the ruins, you can see the remains of the old city one story down on the “Underground Tour” in Pioneer Square.

Seattle grew into a rough-and-tumble port city, full of gambling saloons and, during Prohibition, major smuggling operations. The term “skid row” originated here as the city’s most disreputable elements congregated in Pioneer Square where the logs were skidded down from the forests to waiting ships in the harbor.

Seattle has a strong labor history with many strikes, including a general strike. Socialists were elected to city and county offices. In 1936 one federal official described the U.S. as having “47 states and the Soviet of Washington.” Seattle was an early adopter in the growing number of U.S. cities that guarantee its citizens a $15/hour wage.

Washington men voted to give women the right to vote in 1910, a decade before the idea became national law. In 1926 Seattle became the first major city in the U.S. to elect a woman mayor. Bertha Knight Landes cracked down on gambling, bootlegging and police corruption perhaps a little too heavily, and she was not elected to a second term.

Bainbridge Island, a lovely 25-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle across Puget Sound, was the home of the first Japanese-American families to be taken from their homes and interned during World War II. The federal government was worried about resistance to the idea of internment so they decided to try it out first in our far west and out-of-the-way part of the country. If you go to Bainbridge Island, you will find a historical park dedicated to telling.

The World’s Fair hosted in Seattle in 1962 is the first such event to have posted a profit. Many of the buildings from the fair are still in use and form the core of the popular Seattle Center.

Seattle is one of two U.S. cities holding the title of a UNESCO City of Literature. Maybe because of all those cloudy days?

People

Seattle and our region is or has been the home of a dozens of people whose artistic talents have been appreciated nationally and globally. Here are just a few: musicians Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Curt Cobain, Mark O’Connor and Macklemore; artists Jacob Lawrence and Dale Chihuly; and writers August Wilson, Theodore Roethke, Timothy Egan, Jonathan Raban, Elizabeth George, David Guterson, Tom Robbins, Deb Caletti, Nancy Pearl, Frank Herbert, Dan Savage, Neal Stephenson, and Garth Stein.

We can’t close without naming many of the businesses that were born here and that have transformed our region. The technology bent of many of them owes a nod to Bill Boeing, who, from 1916 onward, drew flocks of engineers and innovators to his Boeing Airplane Company. Other familiar corporate faces headquartered in greater Seattle are Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, Paccar, Alaska Airlines and Expedia. Seattle is also home to the largest private philanthropic foundation in the world, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Bright Side of Technology: Tech Hacks That Have Improved Society During This Fourth Industrial Revolution

Nancy Clark — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 23:22:09 GMT

Orlando, June 4
By Avani Desai

Even when the developments might’ve been considered primitive by modern standards, technological progress has always been a definitive characteristic of humanity. Like any new tool, technology has infinite capacity to be used in all the wrong ways—in this, atomic and biological weapons come to mind. And even with better intentions, sometimes technological impact can still skew negatively, such as when society’s immense reliance on it harms our environment, health, or thought patterns.

Yet there is a second face to this coin, with just as boundless potential—use for good, in intentions and impacts alike.

There is the side of technology where good ideas and honorable intentions do indeed produce spectacular results and, in turn, help humanity evolve positively. These developments enable citizens to succeed more easily while upholding the most harmonic, peaceful, and visionary values and ethical standards. While in pursuit of this bright side of technology, we may never actually reach the end of the road with the possibilities and benefits—it’s both exhilarating and endless. One thing we can be certain of, however, is that technology has the ability to consistently affect transformative social reform.

In fact, within the series of articles entitled “The Network Revolution,” AIMatters chief executive officer (CEO) Barry Libert and his three co-authors argue that embracing this social change is a theory of being rather than one of change—“one that places a virtual network of individuals seeking social change at the center of everything and leverages today’s digital platforms (such as social media, mobile, big data, and machine learning) to facilitate stakeholders (contributors and consumers) to connect, collaborate, and interact with each other to exchange value […] to effectuate exponential social change and impact.” Though technology has already gained some ground in the improvement or eradication of certain community and social issues, including those outlined below, there is a ways to go yet.

1. Global Poverty and Hunger

It’s estimated that 11% of the world’s population still goes to bed hungry each night, but with any luck, that won’t always be the case—especially given technology’s impact already in genetic engineering advancements and improved farming methods. More “smart farming” solutions have been made possible thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), and upgraded livestock monitoring and soil measurements, among other improvements, are helping to upgrade the efficiency, quantity, and affordability of food sources. In addition, technology on a wider scale has also created more jobs and extended job markets across the board, especially through remote work; now, thanks to the Internet Age, promoting digital literacy and internet access ensures greater opportunities for people to support themselves and elevate their financial status. As more advancements like these continue to expand resources, that 11% number will hopefully continue to steadily dwindle.

2. Modern Slavery, Child Abuse, and Local Crime

The statistics are sickening: modern slavery exists in over 165 countries in the world and annually generates $150 billion in profit. According to the 2018 Cocoa Barometer, as many as 2.1 million underage children are forced to work in West Africa alone. Unfortunately, technology has played its own ugly part in allowing for the exploitation of these children, along with those others that have been sexually abused across the world and had their images spread. Nonetheless, it’s also had a hand in trying to curb these terrible industries. The non-governmental organization, Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, fights back with deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to identify the most vulnerable victims of child abuse and upend the platforms spreading illegal content, all while developing awareness campaigns in order to hamper abusers. Its flagship product, Spotlight—a data archive containing escort ads, photographs, and forum data gathered off the internet—uses algorithms to analyze and proactively generates leads and potential profiles, helping law enforcement find kids faster. Since being founded in 2006, Thorn has identified nearly 10,000 victimized children in total.

Further efforts must be made to continue eliminating such treatment of fellow human beings—both children and adults trapped in these unconscionable conditions. New smart procurement technology has proven a great tool, as it enables major companies to more comprehensively analyze supply chains while pairing with third-party data for better evaluations and increased transparency. Amit Mondal, vice president of Software Development at PowerSchool Group, also points out how technology also helps to foil policy brutality, kidnappings, and incidents of rape: “Glasses or IoT-enabled personal devices with face recognition technologies connected to a database of criminals may be able to proactively warn when known offenders are in close proximity; peer-to-peer, location-based emergency communication technologies can enable victims to seek help from law enforcement or others nearby.”

3. Climate Change and the Green Revolution

While the use of some technologies has been paralleled with our abuse of the earth’s resources, the other side of that coin has also given us options for fighting against the mammoth problem we’ve brewed up—climate change. “Technology can help out in myriad ways,” points out Forbes Technology Council member Leah Allen, “From making electric cars mainstream and building alternative sources of energy to replace coal to creating more efficient buildings, non-polluting air conditioning systems, and desalination systems.” Back in 2016, solar energy became the world’s cheapest energy source, made possible by the evolving technology that drove costs down. As it represents a more economical and environmentally friendly choice, the switch to renewable energies wherever possible should be a no-brainer.

4. Education and Employment

Richard Margolin, chief technology officer (CTO) and founder of RoboKind, points out that apart from mere accessibility, technologies like online courses and classroom robots “allow for a higher-quality and standardized delivery of curriculum by experts who really understand the subjects being taught,” which in turn “dramatically increases access both for urban and rural classrooms that lack the resources to maintain a well-trained staff.” And it’s not just important for educating children—Siddharth Banerjee, of Indusgeeks USA Inc., commends the potential of virtual reality, showcasing it as a transformative tool for training workers displaced by automation, as it enables them to learn new skills more efficiently and effectively, with “VR-Cades” circumventing expensive trainings to save money and time.

Yes, smart classroom technology eliminates physical boundaries and limitations for both students in school and those already in the workforce. It opens a world of possibilities with developments in cloud, video conferencing, faster internet, advanced network coverage, budding virtual reality, and wireless technology that allows people—especially those in more remote locations—unprecedented access to a greater quantity, quality, and personalization of classes, schools, and subjects. Those who can’t afford or are otherwise unable to enroll in a school also have access to a plethora of cheaper or free online material, including self-teaching courses via YouTube, Wikipedia, and digital libraries.

5. Health Care

Smart and strategic use of technology in the health care sector can do, and already has done, wonders for patient outcomes, hospital savings and efficiency, and research across a plethora of fields. It begins with a better understanding of biology and genomics, which then leads to better drugs and preventive measures. With further enough advances, we may soon discover cures for currently incurable diseases—we’ve done it before (goodbye smallpox), and we can do it again. In fact, many diseases, including hookworm, malaria, measles, and rubella, among others, are already well on the way out the door completely, having already been eliminated from large regions of the world.

Furthermore, blockchain technology can be used to resolve security, scalability, transparency, and privacy issues within the sector. IoT wearables can provide user-generated health data to detect issues earlier and alert emergency services faster. With tools such as artificial intelligence and robot-assisted surgery (improved diagnoses and performance), virtual health care (improved accessibility, efficiency, and speed of care), nanomedicine (improved and more precise targeting and delivery systems, helping combat more complex conditions like cancer), virtual reality (improved worker training and offering patient therapy and rehabilitation), and 3D printing (improved prototypes and revolutionized transplants and tissue repair), technology is already breaking barriers at every turn, and will continue to do so as we progress.

Today’s world is in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or what World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab defines as the fusion of technologies blurring the lines among the physical, digital, and biological spheres. Unlike any of those before it, this revolution is one in which digital networks are upending traditional business models, enabling new ways of sharing, distributing intelligence, and creating value.

Even with the change already wrought, there’s still a vast frontier of opportunity on the technological horizon. As with any tool, however, it’s important to remember that our attitude and approach counts as much as—if not more than—the potential that tool has in and of itself. As eloquently noted by T.J. Cook, the CEO of CauseLabs, “in order to truly solve big problems related to the environment, sanitation, education, poverty, and other health and social issues, the goal must be to change human behavior, awareness, and attitudes. The role of technology is to serve as a catalyst to jump-start these changes.”

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/technology-can-help-solve-societal-problems/

https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/tech-solutions-global-problems

https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/child-labour-cocoa-production

https://www.thorn.org/our-work-to-stop-child-sexual-exploitation/

https://freedomtech.solutions/solving-social-problems

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2017/10/02/solving-social-problems-11-ways-new-tech-can-help/

http://fortune.com/2016/12/15/solar-electricity-energy-generation-cost-cheap/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2017/10/02/solving-social-problems-11-ways-new-tech-can-help/

https://www.optus.com.au/enterprise/accelerate/technology/how-is-technology-helping-to-solve-global-challenges

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/5-ways-technology-healthcare-industry/

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/technology-can-help-solve-societal-problems/

https://www.wired.com/insights/2014/04/great-technologists-can-help-solve-worlds-problems/

Reflections on the Giving Circle Field-Wide Co-Design Convening

Nancy Clark — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:18:23 GMT

Seattle, April 1-4
By Paula Liang

After four days in Seattle, three at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one at the Seattle Foundation, I find that my primary feelings are wonderment and gratitude. After being a part of this movement in a nearly full-time volunteer capacity since 2012, to have such influential philanthropists take notice, lift up the work, support it, and suggest to a room full of philanthropy tech platform folks that lots more people should be both participating and supporting it is nothing short of amazing. And to the 82 people who came from around the country, to give us feedback on how we should structure that support, we are so grateful for your time, your stories and your generosity of spirit.

But to start at the beginning: On Monday and Tuesday, April 1 and 2, through the incredible generosity of the Gates and Seattle Foundations, we convened individuals from across the country and the movement, including many funders and other key opinion leaders to sketch out the Co-Design team’s (and 6 working groups’) thinking regarding the structure for an infrastructure organization (IO). The Team includes myself, Hali Lee, also a Catalist member and co-Director of Donors of Color Network, Liz Fisher and Felicia Herman of Amplifier, which supports Jewish Giving Circles, Marsha Morgan of Community Investment Network, a network of African American Giving Circles, and Masha Chernyak of Latino Community Foundation.

Catalist participants from L-R: Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz of Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Laura Midgley of Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) & Catalist Board, Colleen Willoughby, Founder of WaWF & Catalist, Jenny Berg, Catalist Chair & Impact 100 Cincinnati, Paula Liang, Vice Chair & Women’s Giving Alliance, Jacksonville, FL, Virginia Mills, Catalist Board & Giving WoMN, MN, Susan Benford, The Philanthropy Connection, Boston, and Hali Lee, Asian Women’s Giving Circle, NYC, also a colleague on the Co-Design Team.

To an incredibly diverse group, across all ways of thinking about that—zip code, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, class—we started to roll out how we were thinking about what issues the IO would address, what its mission and vision would be, and how it would be structured. And we got a LOT of feedback, all of it incredibly valuable--too much to have been distilled overnight. IO Version 2.0 is very much a work in progress, but a few key takeaways for me:

As powerful as it is to be “networked” in this work, some worried that we are too siloed, a problem we hope the IO will solve, or at least start to chip away at. Someone proposed a circle that combines Muslims and Jews. I feel like folks in that room will make it happen soon.
We thought part of our mission might be to “demystify” philanthropy. Turns out no one on the funding side is mystified by it—many are not made to feel welcome, perhaps, but they totally get it. As our own Susan Benford put it, she’s all about making philanthropy “less pale, male and stale.” There was a lot of social media from the gathering that included #IAmAPhilanthropist, which warmed Colleen’s heart for sure.
Democratizing and diversifying the field as part of the mission statement met with broad agreement
We have to make sure our values statement includes language around diversity, equity and inclusion to avoid inadvertently supporting a circle that funds hate. Who is not under the tent is as important as who is welcomed.

We didn’t solve everything, but we made a good deal of progress, heard some great stories and recorded some others on video. Laura Midgley told a powerful story about how her own approach to her personal philanthropy was changed by a grant process she participated in with WaWF.

As at any gathering of folks who practice collective giving, there was a good deal of hugging and crying; new alliances were formed, information was shared, I think Catalist may have picked up a few new affiliates. My favorite new friend from this gathering just might be Pastor Joseph Frierson of Greensboro, NC, who started the Young & Dangerous Giving Circle Fund at the Mount Zion Baptist Church’s Young Adult Ministry as a way to get his parishioners from ages 18-35 to become more civically engaged beyond the church walls. He even had T-shirts that said “Young and Dangerous”. I told him he should trademark it—he said he was working on it! This is just one of many ideas we heard that could be radically and easily scaled—the group, not the T-shirts.

After saying goodbye to most of the group on Tuesday afternoon, about 15 of us, including the Co-Design team stayed on for Wednesday and Thursday to participate in the Gates Greater Giving Summit, which convened 170 people under their Giving by All Initiative. Turns out, Giving Circles are one of their “Giving Channels of Focus”. Seriously, who knew?

These 36 hours were much more tech and data-driven, but we all met some interesting people and learned a lot. The first guy I introduced myself to works for Paypal and lives in Portland, OR. When I started to tell him about 99 Girlfriends, he stopped me and told me his wife is a member! The conference was using a technology called Slido to let attendees react and ask questions, and we got #givingcircles trending as often as possible. We spread ourselves out, talked to as many people as we could, soaked up whatever was offered, but we generally felt a lot less relevant in this environment.

But at the end of the day on Thursday, a sort of miraculous thing happened. In the closing panel, there were three people talking about their amazing philanthropic web platforms, including one in China, and a woman named Lucy Bernholz from the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. When it was Lucy’s turn to talk, she gave everybody a bit of a scolding about data privacy, which they pretty much expected, and then she exhorted them to stop talking about “the technology” and start talking about “the work”. When the moderator from the Gates Foundation asked if she could possibly end on a high note, she said “Sure, how about the Giving Circles and the fabulous work they are doing? We should all be focusing on that!”

I introduced myself to her afterwards, and when I told her how many members are represented by Catalist affiliates, her jaw literally dropped. We exchanged cards and promised to be in touch. Something about a book she’s writing? More to follow. . .

Co-Design Project Update

Nancy Clark — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:00:00 GMT

Brooklyn, NY November 25-26, 2018
by Paula Liang

2 Days in Brooklyn
1 Fabulous consultant
5 representatives of Giving Circle and Collective Giving Networks
Dozens of Bagels
$370,000 in total funding raised and
Hundreds of Post-It Notes later. . .

I’m delighted to report we have a much better idea of where the Co-Design project is headed and the five Co-Design partners are united in our belief that we are aligned around a set of big picture dreams for the field.

To sketch out the broad strokes for those who are just hearing about this, or who have heard just a little bit, the headline is that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has taken an interest in our sector, and their interest typically comes with support and resources and eventually a ton of national attention. They have invested $250,000 in a 12-month process to enable 5 leaders of networks to work together to design an infrastructure organization to provide support for the collective giving ecosystem. They challenged us to raise the additional $120,00 that would be required. We were able to do so through appeals to private foundations, some of whom, like W.K.Kellogg Foundation, have supported these networks for years, some support from the networks themselves, some good old-fashioned collective giving, and investments from US Trust and Schwab Charitable, which have generously sponsored Catalist conferences.

The five Co-Design leads are:

Felicia Herman of Amplifier, a network of giving circles guided by Jewish values based in NYC
Marsha Morgan of Community Investment Network, a network of African American giving circles based in Birmingham, AL
Sara Velten of the Latino Community Foundation of California
Hali Lee, President of Asian American Women’s Giving Circle, a member of Catalist. Hali is also in the midst of standing up a network for high net worth donors of color. She is based in Brooklyn, and it was in her home that we met
Paula Liang, Vice Chair of Catalist, based in Jacksonville, and a member of two Florida Affiliates.

And none of it would be possible without Isis Krause of Knead Partners who keeps us on task and makes sense of the hundreds of Post It Notes.

We have been meeting for months remotely via Zoom and have conducted 40 something interviews with members of other networks, funders, members of the broader philanthropy field, some grantees, and other stakeholders as part of the “Needs Assessment”. When read a list of the possible supports that might be provided (i.e., technology, capacity building, funding, impact evaluation, staff support, communications/branding and on and on) almost everyone said, “Can I choose them all?” Clearly, there are many needs.

But the organizing wisdom came from Hali at about 10:30 on Day 1. As I recall, what she said was, “This doesn’t have to look like anything that already exists. Let’s build the party we want to go to.” The work we all do is so essentially hopeful, we want to lift it up without organizing the joy out of it. There may have been a group hug at this point.

So, we have an idea of what we think this party should look like, we have a bit more time to refine our ideas through a series of working groups that will involve many of those we have interviewed, a series of pilot projects and a field-wide convening, April 1-2 in Seattle. The Gates Foundation has invited us to use their space on April 1.

Stay tuned. Watch this space. If you know of anyone, man, woman or child, who is thinking of starting a giving circle, please give Paula a shout at pliang@catalistwomen.org One of the pilot projects could be an incubator—we would like to see if we can stand up a bunch of new organizations before the end of the project in September 2019, to prove to the Gates Foundation and our other partners that we can deliver the goods.

To those of you who donated to this project, many, many thanks! Catalist itself, as well as several individual members of our Affiliates made investments, all of which were much appreciated.