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For Ladies Only....
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Parties with a Purpose
Get together with your girlfriends to change the world. Really!!!
From Woman's Day Magazine, 12/6/05, by Holly C. Corbett
It's not big foundations that bank the most cash from charities-... 80 percent comes from individuals. And the Old Boys Club is getting a run for its money, thanks to groups of women gathering to talk, laugh, eat...
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and do some good. Giving circles, as they're called, are a growing trend in philanthropy. "We all want to make a difference, but many of us just don't know where to start or don't think we have the time," says Tracy Rutnik, director of Practice Development for the Fannie Mae Foundation in Washington, DC." Giving circles allow women to make connections, combine their money and have a bigger impact than they would alone." A recent survey of 77 giving circles found that they had collected more than $44 million for community needs.A giving circle is a group of individuals who pool their money and decide, collectively, where to donate the money. Giving circles vary enormously, from tiny, casual groups to large organizations with staff and committees.
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Part of the joy of starting a giving circle is using your creativity and energy to make something unique. You and your fellow giving circle founders can decide where to give money, how to structure the circle, how many members to have, and how to learn about community issues.
In the midst of all that creativity, however, it can be helpful to have some guidance about the questions to ask, the issues that will rise up as your circle matures or expands, and some suggestions of possible ways to establish the circle. You can locate a wealth of information on giving circles at the following website: www.givingforum.org/givingcircles.
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How to Start Your Own Giving Circle
"Starting a giving circle is as easy as planning a dinner party," says Adria Goodson, 38, a founding member of The Kitchen Table in Boston. "It's kind of like a book club, but we give money away."
Though there are many different types of giving circles, you can follow these easy steps to get in on the action:
1. Start small. Choose what your mission will be, who will be involved and a name for your group.
2. Prioritize. Decide whether you want to focus on your community, a certain region or a global issue.
3. Give it structure. Do you want to keep it to 10 members or have as many as 100? Hold a kickoff meeting and talk about how your group might work. Ideas include partnering with another nonprofit organization, starting your own chapter of a preexisting circle, having a formal arrangement with a grant-making committee or holding informal meetings that members attend whenever they have the time.
4. Money matters. Determine whether members will be required to donate a set amount, such as a dollar a day, or give as much as they wish. You can appoint a treasurer, start a separate bank account or simply have everyone write a personal check for each grant.
5. Delegate. Once you know which causes you want to donate to, figure out how the administrative tasks will get done. You can rely on volunteers, tap staff members from a host organization or hire your own staff.
6. Let us help. We would love to help you to get your giving circle off the ground. Contact us for assistance.
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You can join in the work of Lois' Lodge through a one time gift
or by providing ongoing monthly support.: http://www.loislodge.org/donate.html
Lois' Lodge * 1316 Hemlock Street * Charlotte, NC 28203
(704)376-8550
http://www.loislodge.blogspot.com/
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