The Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) has had an immense impact over the past 22 years, giving more than $7 million to more than 180 organizations in the region. From the original 52 members, the BWGC now has more than 445 participants.
When co-founders Shelley Goldseker and Pam Corckran established the BWGC at BCF in 2001, giving circles were having a moment. A collective of donors pooling their philanthropy and supporting impactful nonprofits found a foothold at community foundations across the country. Giving circle assets have tripled in the last decade with grants awarded topping $1.29 billion, according to a recent report. Of the estimated 2,000-plus giving circles in the country, a whopping 70 percent are majority female.
This year, BWGC marks several important milestones in its own history. On November 5-7, 2023, Philanos, the U.S.’s leading national women’s giving circle network, will host its national conference in Baltimore, PowerUP! Baltimore: The Spark Igniting Collaboration. BCF is proud to sponsor the event, which several BWGC members have helped to plan. BWGC member Crickett Woloson is also moderating the break-out session “Stepping Into Trust-Based Philanthropy.” This session details BWGC’s innovative approach to explore a more inclusive, impactful grantmaking process. See page 20 for a preview of the session in Woloson’s own words.
Ann Daniels, BWGC co-chair with Salli Ward, joined the circle in 2008. Daniels had been a BCF program officer from 2000 to 2005 when the Circle began. “I wanted to be involved with other women who care deeply,” she says. “I was involved with other organizations, but I really saw the benefit of pooled philanthropy.”
Both women are thrilled with the Circle’s growth. “There was a debate a few years ago about how big is too big, and I kept saying, ‘for every 20 new members we can do another grant,’” adds Ward. Each year, about 25 organizations are selected for a grant from BWGC’s carefully crafted grantmaking process. Founding member Mary-Ann Pinkard creates smaller teams of grant readers from the 120 or so who volunteer and assigns a mix of applications for the team to read and discuss. In-person site visits and an in-depth vetting follow, all managed by the members.
Any member who attends BWGC voter orientation may vote on the grant readers’ recommendations. BCF, the Circle’s fiscal sponsor, then reviews the selected organizations before BWGC announces the final grantees each May. “We’ve been told by [grantees] that they can then leverage our support for further support because the BWGC is known for being thorough,” Daniels adds. “We do site visits, check the finances and talk to people.”
Members participate as their interest and time allows. “Our members can choose to be involved as much as they want,” says Ward. The 24-member steering committee oversees the work of eight committees beyond the once-annual grantmaking cycle. There are four Full Circle meetings annually, with no expectations about how or when a member participates. “We want to meet members where they are with the time that they have,” Ward explains.
This is the spirit behind the new BWGC membership levels. A common myth, Daniels says, is that you need to be nominated to join. Untrue. You just need to go to thebwgc.org and donate either $600, $1200 or $2500 (fully tax-deductible). Some give more, but there is no difference in the levels–equity and inclusion are key tenets of BWGC–and no one knows the amount of another’s giving.
“We want to be accessible to people at different economic levels,” notes Ward, who joined in 2006. “The whole idea of having as many women be involved in any way that they can is really important to us. We’re grateful that we have so many women who want to be part of this, want to learn about what’s going on in Baltimore and want to celebrate the great work.”
This year brought an important language tweak to the BWGC mission. “We used to talk about supporting organizations that move women towards self-sufficiency for them and their families,” Ward says. “Now we talk about advancing opportunities, which can mean many different things for our grantees.”
Last January, BWGC hired its first paid staff member, Lisa Calixto, a part-time administrator coordinator. The group also is planning to roll out a sponsorship program for corporations and foundations soon.
“This is boots on the ground and not just making sure that your membership is on your LinkedIn profile,” adds Daniels. “[Being part of BWGC] is something you’re doing that gives others a voice. The more women we have sharing their experiences, ideas and talents, the stronger our Circle will be.”
