Philanthropy is shifting. People everywhere are embracing their radical generosity and returning to the true meaning of philanthropy — love of humankind. Through collective giving, everyone has a voice and decides together where to give their money, time, and talent, with trust at the root.

Across the U.S., more than 370,000 people are engaging in 4,000 giving circles, collectively giving more than $3.1 billion to causes, according to In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S. 

This is people-powered philanthropy! These are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues who are coming together around shared values, turning individual gifts into community-led impact.

In this short video, hear directly from giving circle members and nonprofit leaders as they reflect on how collective giving is breaking barriers, building trust, and directing resources where they’re most needed: into the hands of local, grassroots organizations.

What is a Giving Circle?

A giving circle is a collective giving model where a group of people with shared values gather to build community and create belonging. Members discuss a common vision, engage in discourse and learning, and make decisions together. It’s a form of participatory philanthropy rooted in community and trust.

Each giving circle looks different. Some meet in person over dinner, while others gather online. Some focus on local nonprofits, others on global issues. What they share is simple: a desire to show care for their community. These collective giving practices draw on traditions that are centuries old — from sou-sous in West Africa to tandas in Mexico.

Giving circles come in all shapes and sizes. Some examples include:

• 100+ Teens Who Care Tucson: A youth-led giving circle investing in local issues.
• Geaux Girl Giving: A Black women-led giving circle in New Orleans supporting Black women-led initiatives.
• Impact 100 Metro Denver: A women-led giving circle supporting local nonprofits through a community-rooted grantmaking program.
  

Each of these circles, and thousands more, demonstrates how collective giving strengthens our communities.

Why Start a Giving Circle?

In a giving circle, it’s not about the money or the amount of money given. As Philanthropy Together CEO Sara Lomelin explains in her 2022 TED Talk, “Your Invitation to Disrupt Philanthropy,” It’s about the beloved communities that are created when a group comes together — building relationships with each other and with the nonprofits they support.

According to the In Abundance report:

• 84% of giving circles are led by women
• 60% of groups embed racial and ethnic equity into their giving
• 83% fund organizations serving marginalized communities
• 91% of members say their circle strengthens their sense of belonging

Giving circles are uplifting local communities to make change on their own terms. They are pushing the bounds of how philanthropy is practiced by expanding what gets funded, who gets funded, and who gets to decide. Giving circles bridge divides, build civic skills, and create spaces for democratic decision-making.

How to Start a Giving Circle

You might be looking to start a giving circle to make a difference on an issue you care about, or maybe you are starting it to have fun, to learn new things, or maybe you’re really in it to create community. There is no right or wrong reason, it just has to be true to you. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Gather Your People

Creating community is the first—and most important!—step to starting a giving circle. Together, you each can hold one another accountable and turn ideas into action.

Invite 2-5 people who care about the same issues you do. These can be friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members — anyone who you believe would be a good fit. Reach out and share your idea for starting a giving circle and invite them to collaborate with you. Engage in deeper conversations to explore their interest and commitment. Once you have even just one person excited, you can then leverage the power of networks to grow your circle! 

2. Define Your “Why”

The heart of a giving circle experience is understanding the values that motivate you and others to give. Discuss what matters to your community. Do you want to support local youth programs? Climate justice? Immigrant entrepreneurs? Start with your shared values as they’ll guide every decision your group makes together.

A simple way to start the conversation:

• Ask each member of the group to share two values that describe why and/or how they give
• Look at each person’s responses. Are some values coming up more often than others? Can clusters of similar values come together under one value or sentiment? The top 3-5 values move forward.
• Make sure to give everyone the opportunity to have the floor and ask questions if necessary.
• Once you’ve decided on your values, ask the group for ideas regarding how your giving circle will live these values.

3. Design Your Circle

Every giving circle is designed uniquely. Together, your group will decide how often you’ll meet, how much each person contributes, and how you’ll make funding decisions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Put your vision at the forefront and work backwards to ensure your design aligns with your community and your goals.

4. Launch!

Now that you have a vision for your giving circle, it’s time to launch more widely! Meet with nonprofit leaders. Invite community members to share their insights on the issues your group is most interested in. When you’re ready, decide as a group where to give. Be sure to celebrate as you’ve taken the first step to making real change happen in your community!

5. Keep Growing

Many giving circles often evolve naturally. Invite others to join your circle, grow your membership to begin the process of giving and making change collectively. What matters most is staying rooted in a vision that is true to your shared values.

Ready to Begin?

Download this 10-page guide from Philanthropy Together to help you launch a successful giving circle. Use this template by following the prompts to dive deeper in the steps outlined above. Along the way, you can attend Philanthropy Together’s group coaching sessions to gain inspiration and resources on your journey to launching.

For more inspiration, you can check out the Global Giving Circle Directory, a searchable and filterable database with giving circles from around the world.