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 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

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. 

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

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

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

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

​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:

• 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.
• W​e 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!

• 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.