Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle

Take one terrific idea, an expanding group of smart women with a purpose, and a host of carefully selected grants to local nonprofits. Mix for a decade, and what do you get? Success.

The Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) kicked off its 10th anniversary year in September, and it has quite a story to tell. Since making its first charitable distributions in 2002, the BWGC has contributed $2 million to area organizations to help women in need and their families.

“I beam just thinking about the BWGC,” says Pam Corckran, one of the organization’s founders. “All these great women, who were bright and committed, wanted to see this idea develop—and it did. We’ve given a lot of money back to the community; we’ve made a big impact.”

THE BWGC IN ACTION

This year alone, the BWGC, the region’s largest giving circle, awarded $317,245 in grants to 20 Baltimore-area nonprofits. Each of the 317 circle members has agreed to donate $1,100 per year for at least two years.

“Women are naturally careful with their dollars,” says current co-chair Christie Coe. “This level of giving brings a sense of responsibility and makes us really think about how to use the dollars wisely.”

Circle leaders describe a “two-pronged approach”: educating members about the needs of the community and then deter- mining how grants will be distributed.

 “This really is a collaborative effort,” says Coe. “We learn about the needs of area residents and educate our members to be more effective donors and citizens. We study issues of juvenile justice, education, the redevelopment of East Baltimore—and we want to hear both sides. We support programs for women in prison, work- force development, housing—you name it. We go on site visits, and we follow grantees throughout the year to assess their progress.”

There are always more worthy organi- zations than available funds, and members advocate with considerable spirit for their preferred potential grantees. “We had something like $1.7 million in requests this

year,” Coe says, “and everyone has a pro- gram that is near to her heart. By the time grant votes are final, we’ve made some tough decisions.”

MULTIPLE REWARDS

For the organizations selected to receive grants, benefits go beyond financial sup- port. Several times a year, past and current grantees are invited to “Grantee Connect” events, where they network and share resources. One grantee found that a seemingly unrelated organization could provide an invaluable service to clients.

Many BWGC participants also con- tribute beyond their membership donation. “The circle creates opportunities to learn about organizations that are doing wonderful work,” says Ellen Bernard, current co-chair. “A lot of members volunteer and mentor, contribute funds directly, and serve on organization boards. Membership is a gift that keeps on giving.”

BWGC volunteer committees provide ample opportunities for involvement and leadership. “I wanted to have a more thoughtful, educated approach to sharing not only money but time, energy, and vision,” Bernard says. “I ended up with so much more than that. I’ve made won- derful friends, which was an unexpected gift. Members reinforce, encourage, and energize one another. That vitality is an important part of the circle’s success.”

THE ORIGINS

Ten years ago, the idea that women might combine their charitable dollars to make a larger philanthropic impact was a novel concept. Corckran was working at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, headed by Betsy Nelson, when she read an article about professional women who pooled their money to help the community.

“I thought it was a great idea, but it was very new,” Corckran recalls. “We started talking about the idea with Betsy and Shelley Goldseker. BCF stepped up and offered staff support and $10,000 of seed money—and that was like manna from heaven.”

The outcome of such a venture, however, was far from assured, and the founders had modest expectations. “When we got 52 founding members our first year, I was in a stateofshock,”Corckran recalls.“Then we doubled our membership the second year and reached 150 members the third year.”

Corckran and Goldseker recruited the founding members and served as founding co-chairs. “The founding members took a leap of faith and had a whole- hearted, enthusiastic sense of ownership,” Goldseker says. “They gave the organization a member-driven structure in whicheveryone has a voice. That’s what makes it so engaging.

“I also give credit to BCF because they fostered a climate in which collaborative fundraising could flourish,” she continues.

“It takes a willingness to nurture new models of giving. They helped incubate the Giving Circle and embraced it—and in doing so, they helped to develop a cadre of new philanthropists who are eager to invest not only their financial resources but their social and intellectual capital to effect strategic change.”