Giving circles are having a moment.
If you haven’t run into one yet, you’re going to! So let’s get ahead of it by getting into it…
At its core, a giving circle is about collective action. It’s a group of individuals combining their efforts to make an impact. And it’s proof that generosity can be small and all together.
As I’ve seen it play out, there are two distinct kinds of giving circles, but they often get lumped together. And I think it’s worth teasing them apart:
The Grassroots Effort
This is built by a group of individuals. They often don’t have a formal connection to a charity, but they share a value or interest in a cause. And so they pool their money so it can go further for that cause.
Think of the groups like local 100 Women Who Care.
With this group, when 100 people each to give $100, together they can give $10,000 to a shared cause, and that can be transformational.
Of particular interest to me is that these groups are taking root in women’s causes and groups. Women in particular are gathering and giving as a group, and it’s helping advance causes near and dear to them as a group, causes that have long been underfunded. (Which is wonderful! Let’s go ladies!)
The Organizational Initiative
This is, essentially, the opposite of the Grassroots Effort, and is formed and managed by the charity. It mirrors membership levels in other sectors: so an individual can “join in” at different monetary entry points, like $2,000, and you’ll see different tiers of recognition as the dollar amount grows.
What’s interesting to me about this approach is that it can double as a cultivation tool for the charity. Your “members” get invited to events, talks, even a tours. They get a closer look at the work their contribution supports and see the human impact resulting from their efforts.
And over time, the charity may be able to evolve them from annual giving to Major Gift or even Planned Giving, because they’ve had time to see the impact and realize the value of their contributions.
All because a collective action made it easy to participate.
So you have two ways to approach the same outcome: a group of people being able to make a collective impact for a shared cause they care about.
Whether it happens because of individuals or an organization, the outcome is the same: You get a giving circle. And it’s a beautiful thing.
If you’ve been thinking that your mid-level giving is an either/or strategy (either annual fundraising or major gifts), you’re missing an important alternative.
And it’s what the giving circle can give you: more space to cultivate your donors, more impact from many people, more opportunities to make a difference. It shifts from “either/or” to a “yes, and!”
I love giving circles in all their shapes and sizes.
Because they allow donors to do something kind, to do something generous, with what they have and can share.
And it enables them to get involved. And an involved donor is one more likely to stay with you over the years.
My giving circle tip: Don’t just jump in or let it simply ‘happen’. Make a plan around it so you can make the most of it.
If you’re interested in creating giving circles for your organization, let’s talk!
Sarah
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