Enlightened philanthropy starts with educated philanthropists who understand the needs of their community on both the macro and micro level.
The Circle is committed to helping its members be better grant makers. At Full Circle meetings, Briefing Breaks and Site Visits arranged by the Education Committee, members learn about issues affecting women and children in greater Baltimore and about the work of BWGC grantees. Each year, three meetings of the full Circle membership are devoted to hearing from policy experts, program operators, and program beneficiaries.
We’ve explored depression and foster care, aging and women's health, domestic violence and parenting, low income and affordable housing. One year, for example , we focused on poverty and its solutions in East Baltimore and another year, explored issues related to education. Our guest speakers have ranged from the Baltimore City School’s CEO to young women who, as children, experienced foster care first hand.