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

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 affiliate groups, giving a picture of 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 link)

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 on the Philanos website (link). 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 offer all the previous year’s webinars to our affiliates through Philanos U (link.) 

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:
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:

Membership Roundtable:

Comms Club:

Tech Talk:

Grantmakers:

 Staff Chat:

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.

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

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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:

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.

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!

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 

Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe to gain access to all Philanos Affiliate benefits. 

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:

• Board of Directors Application 
• Governance Committee Application 
• All Other Committee Applications 

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, 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!

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 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.

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!