Launched in 2004, the African American Women’s Giving Circle (AAWGC) cultivates philanthropy among African American women in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. AAWGC pools monetary contributions to support member-identified nonprofits serving the needs of African American women and girls. To date, AAWGC has invested more than $225,000 in 20 local nonprofits.
To cultivate philanthropy among African American women and invest their resources in a way that will encourage and sustain African American women-led organizations and support promising or effective projects that address unmet needs of African American women and girls.
The African American Women’s Giving Circle awards grants to organizations that:
• are located in the Washington, DC, metro-area, and serve African American women and girls who live, work or study in Washington, DC, metro area;
• are led by an African American woman at either the board or staff level;
• demonstrate innovative and promising approaches to addressing the social and economic obstacles that are barriers to success for African American women and girls;
• use both a gender lens and an African American cultural lens to frame effective strategies and create valuable opportunities for African American women and girls; and
• have a sound mission and objectives for the organization’s impact.
AAWGC does not solicit proposals for its grantmaking process. Instead, AAWGC draws its pool of potential grantees from organizations members of the circle identify and recommend.
View the full list of AAWGC's grantmaking since 2005
Members make an annual donation of at least $1,000 + $100 to cover administrative support via Washington Area Women’s Foundation. To participate in the year’s grant-making process, members must complete payment by September 1. To become a member, complete and submit the commitment form to The Women’s Foundation’s Chelle Johnson mjohnson@wawf.org.
Download the commitment form
To learn more about the African American Women’s Giving Circle, please contact a member of the circle at AAWGCofDC@gmail.com. Connect with AAWGC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AAWGC) and Twitter (@AAWGC) to learn more about AAWGC’s activities.
