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

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

Register Here

Register Here

Register Here

• 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