See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:
The Women’s Foundation in the News!
On May 18, 2007, a Wall Street Journal article, "When Small Donors Get Together," discussed local giving circles, with a mention to The Women’s Foundation. In response to the article, Tactical Philanthropy cited The Women’s Foundation as "cornering the market" on giving circles and gave a shout out to this very blog!
On Philanthropy
This week, The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers released a report acknowledging the tremendous growth and impact of giving circles–to the tune of more than $100 million in funds raised–over the last two years. More Giving Together: The Growth and Impact of Shared Giving reveals key findings such as:
- The number of existing giving circles has more than doubled in the last two years; there are now at least 400 giving circles nationwide.
- In 2006 alone, giving circles surveyed donated $13 million for community needs.
- Nearly 12,000 people participate in the 160 giving circles surveyed.
- Giving circles are diversifying. Nearly half of circles now have male members, and the popularity of giving circles is also growing among people of color and in the gay and lesbian community.
- Giving circles have staying power. Nearly a third of circles surveyed have been through more than five rounds of grantmaking.
"There’s never been a better time to start or join a giving circle because it multiplies the impact of your charitable donations," said Daria Teutonico, director of the New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. "With the same amount of money you’d use to write a check to a charity, you get to make more of a difference, spend more time with friends, and learn more about what your community needs." To learn more about joining a giving circle in our region, visit TheWomensFoundation.org.
Earlier this week, the Maine Women’s Fund released news that they had received their first $1 million gift to advance women and girls in Maine! The gift, from the five female trustees of the River Rock Foundation, is discussed in detail in fund’s press release. Says the release, "According to Women & Philanthropy, less than ten percent of all overall funding is aimed at programs that directly impact women and girls. ‘The River Rock Foundation gift is newsworthy because of the amount and because it was given by women, for the specific purpose of helping women and girls. It recognizes a strategic shift in philanthropy – because women are the gateway to health, education, and economic decisions, when women thrive, whole communities will prosper,” said Elizabeth Stefanski, the newly hired executive director of the Maine Women’s Fund. ‘It’s a wonderful example of women using their wealth and philanthropy to dismantle poverty, violence and discrimination—issues that disproportionably harm women and girls,’ reported Stefanski."
Tactical Philanthropy brings us news about The Case Foundation’s new plan for a pilot grantmaking program encouraging civic-centered participation. The program is interesting, Sean reports, because, "The Foundation will not only be supporting citizen-centered efforts, but will be attempting to walk the talk of citizen-centered practice itself by involving the public in virtually every aspect of the process from creating guidelines to vetting proposals to making grant decisions." Exciting indeed, and very much in line with the spirit of The Women’s Foundation’s own Leadership Awards Program, also a grassroots grantmaking program.
Dr. Susan Raymond of Changing Our World Inc. asked on On Philanthropy last week if philanthropy has truly abandoned the needy, commenting on the recent study commissioned by Google.org that concluded that, "less than a third of tax-deductible donations are targeted at those in need." Susan’s article salutes the study for its commitment to unearthing more empiracle knowledge about the philanthropic sector, but questions the study’s premise that, "The philanthropic expression of concern for the ‘needy’ is measured by dollars allocated to immediate services." She writes, "And if we are to discourage people from funding complex, long-term problems with uncertain outcomes, then how will we ever innovate? How will we ever come to fundamental understandings and fundamental solutions? And how will the needy ever become anything but needy?"
On Women and Girls in Our Region
The D.C. Women’s Agenda released its white paper, Voices and Choices for Women and Girls: Recommendations to City Leaders 2007. The report outlines recommendations by District advocates for girls and women on programmatic and funding priorities in the following areas: economic security, housing, health, women and criminal justice, safety, leadership and accountability, and girls.
On Women in Nontraditional Jobs and Job Training
The Wall Street Journal reported this week on "Finally, Women’s Wear for the Hard Hat Set," on the increasing trend of women working in construction and the need for clothing and attire to meet their needs. This story hearkens back to our work here at The Women’s Foundation, where we fund programs such as the YWCA’s Washington Area Women in the Trades and Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Female Construction Employment Class to further the skills and confidence of women hoping to enter nontraditional careers such as construction.
On Poverty and Economic Security
The Congressional Food Stamp Challenge wrapped up on Monday, with the participants, Congressman Jim McGovern, Congressman Tim Ryan and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky–as well as a few Hill staffers–blogging about their week buying food based on the average food-stamp benefit of about $3 per day to raise awareness about the challenges facing Americans living in poverty.
And that’s it for this week!
Enjoy catching up on the lastest news and views, and don’t forget to drop us–or the sites you visit–a comment or two about your thoughts!
Enjoy your weekend!
