Make a real difference in your community and ... in your life.
The Community Foundation of Western Nevada supports Giving Circles as a satisfying and affordable way to give big.
What is a Giving Circle?
A Giving Circle is a fund where members make grants together. Usually each Circle member contributes money to the fund. Members combine their resources for a bigger sum of charitable dollars. Giving Circles are sponsored by an individual or organization. Like a book club, Circle members get together regularly to investigate and collaborate on grant ideas.
Giving Circles can be formed around:
A shared cause ( for example: supporting efforts to create bike pathways and trails on urban roadways and connecting to our lakes and open areas.)
By member affiliation ( for example: members belong to the same church group or are parents of students in same school.)
By age or gender ( for example: Young Leadership Councils, Women's Groups, Seniors who pool their IRA distributions for charitable giving )
Businesses can sponsor a Giving Circle as an employee giving program.
How do you create a Giving Circle?
The Community Foundation can help you get organized. Start with your friends and extended family. Start with your neighbors or bike riding partners. Talk about your passions. Talk about what you are eager to help change. And talk about how much you each can contribute to the Giving Circle fund.
Decide where and often you will meet. Some groups meet at a neutral place, some meet at rotating member's homes and serve desert or potluck.
A minimum balance for a Giving Circle fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada is $5,000. Your Circle will grant the total of the fund balance within a year. The Community Foundation can help facilitate your first few Giving Circle meetings and can guide your group to nonprofit organizations in our region working in your interest areas.
Giving Circle members...
Engage in strategic group decision-making
Conduct interviews with nonprofit agencies and often go on site-visits
Distribute grants that are powerful and effective
Understand philanthropy as a vehicle for social change.
Giving Circles represent a growing trend in philanthropy. Individuals are seeking to have greater involvement in their giving. Currently, there are an estimated 800 Giving Circles nationwide.
I'm interested. What now? Call Tracy Turner at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada for more information: 775-333-5499.
