Giving Circles

The Power of Women’s Collective Giving

Giving circles are gaining in popularity and the majority of these donors are women. The Women’s Fund is proud to host several giving circles, where donors leverage their collective resources to meet a community need and create the change they wish to see.

Do you have a group of friends or family members interested in female philanthropy? Giving Circles are a great way to have fun and support local women and girls in Northeast Wisconsin. Each circle will make contributions and award grants based on their values and interests. Best of all, each circle will build a permanently endowed fund within the Women’s Fund which will support the circle’s charitable interests forever!

Charitable Giving in Groups

The Women’s Fund will be your partner in establishing your Giving Circle and charitable fund. We will help you assess and achieve your goals for charitable giving and eliminate the undue burden of operating a separate nonprofit. We can provide guidance at anytime about issues in the community, grantmaking strategies and impactful philanthropy.

See our Giving Circle Guidelines for more information.

Giving Circles within the Women’s Fund include:

  • Athena Award Winners Giving Circle Fund
  • Women for Health Giving Circle Fund

 

Interested in starting a Giving Circle within the Women’s Fund?

Giving Circles are groups of women with a common interest in women’s issues and philanthropy. Each circle will make contributions and award grants based on their values and interests. Best of all, each circle will build a permanently endowed fund within the Women’s Fund which will support the circle’s charitable interests forever!  

Giving Circle Guidelines:

  • All giving circles must create an endowed fund within the Women’s Fund with an initial gift of at least $1,000.  
  • Minimum annual gift per member is $250. Individual circles can choose a higher annual gift amount if they choose. 
  • Gifts will be allocated as follows: 50% to endow the fund, 40% to grants directed by giving circle members, and 10% to support the mission of the Women’s Fund
  • Once the fund reaches a balance of $10,000, an annual spending policy will be available for grantmaking. Currently, the spending policy is calculated as 4.5% of the value of the fund assets averaged over up to three calendar years.
    • Giving Circle members will create an operating agreement with help provided by the Women’s Fund. The operating agreement will specify: Grants recommended by the giving circle must support women and/or girls and must be approved by the Women’s Fund board. Grants can legally only be made to 501(c)(3) organizations. 
      • Date founded
      • Initial contribution required
      • Annual contribution & expectations
      • Fund purpose & grantmaking focus
      • Number of members
      • Addition & removal of members
      • Meeting frequency & location
      • Frequency of grantmaking
      • Decision-making process for grantmaking
      • Dissolution of the giving circle

The Women’s Fund will be your partner in establishing your Giving Circle and charitable fund. We will help you assess and achieve your goals and eliminate the undue burden of operating a separate nonprofit. We can provide guidance at any time about issues in the community, grantmaking strategies, and impactful giving.