Originally Aired February 17, 2016 with speakers Joelle Asaro Berman and Hali Lee.

1. TRANSFORMATIONAL PHILANTHROPY
THROUGH GIVING CIRCLES
EPIP Webinar
February 17, 2016
EPIP Host: Biz Ghormley
EPIP Speakers: Joelle Asaro Berman & Hali Lee

2. 2
Emerging Practitioners in
Philanthropy (EPIP) is a
national network of
foundation professionals,
social entrepreneurs and
other change makers who
strive for excellence in the
practice of philanthropy.

3. 3
We provide a platform
for our community to:
Connect
with others
Learn &
practice
leadership skills
Inspire
emerging ideas in
the social sector

4. Get in touch!
Please reach out with any questions or to
learn more about membership!
Biz Ghormley
biz@epip.org
Membership & Operations Manager

5. What’s Next?
• Next EPIP Webinar!
• The Importance of Philanthropic Advocacy for LGBTQ
Communities at All Levels of Seniority - Funders for
LGBTQ Issues on March 2, 3pm ET
• Implicit Bias in Grantmaking, March 16 at 4pm ET
• All Events
• epip.org/events

6. Housekeeping
• Use the question box for technical difficulties
• Use the question box for content questions for Q&A
• Use #EPIPwebinar to follow the conversation on social
media
• This webinar will be recorded
• Complete the post-webinar survey!

7. TODAY’S WEBINAR

8. EPIP Giving Circles
• Chapters that have had giving circles programming:
Los Angeles* Philadelphia*
Washington DC New York
Bay Area
*have led giving circles
• Learn more on our blog:
http://www.epip.org/tags/giving_circles

9. Speakers
Joelle Asaro Berman Hali Lee

10. Hi, we’re Joelle and Hali.
Today, we’ll cover:
● Origins of Giving Circles
● Basics: What they are, what makes them unique
● Giving circles & justice work
● Examples
● Foundations & giving circles
● How to start one

11. Tell us more about you.
How would you describe your employer?
● Foundation
● Philanthropic Advisory firm
● Non-profit
● Social Enterprise
● Other

12. Giving circles are where power is born.
● Women coming together
● Korean “geh”
● Giving Circle Networks
○ Amplifier
○ Asian American & Pacific Islanders
in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
○ Community Investment Network
○ Social Venture Partners
○ Women’s Collective Giving
Grantmaking Network

13. More about you
What best describes your experience with giving circles?
● I am actively involved
● I have been involved in the past
● I have collaborated with a giving circle as a funder
● I have worked for a project or org funded by giving circle
● None

14. Giving circles 101
● Social.
● Maximize impact.
● Fun!
● New conversations
● Education (and self-awareness)

15. Empowered philanthropy
What do we want to address?
What challenges does our community face?
What are our values?
Where would our time, funds, and energy
best be spent?

16. More about you
What issues are you passionate about, either on a local, national, or global level?

17. Giving circles + justice
● Community-driven process
● Changes relationship between
giver & recipient
● It’s about more than $
● Civic engagement
● Everyone gets a vote

18. Examples
● Hosted by Individuals
○ Create community
○ Social change
○ Amplify resources + voices
● Hosted by organizations
○ mission engagement
○ leadership development
○ alumni engagement
○ culture of philanthropy

19. More about you
How has your foundation worked with giving circles?

20. Foundations + giving circles
● Matching grants
● Hosting a giving circle
○ What’s your goal for the giving circle?
○ How long will you run the circle for?
○ Is the amount of money contributed
worth staff time?
○ What resources are needed? Staff time,
due dilligence, grantee research,
meeting facilitation, etc.
● Giving circles as “test kitchens”

21. Your Own Giving Circle
● Startup Questions:
○ Who will you invite?
○ What will you ask people to contribute?
○ Issue area first? Or decide together?
○ Social/educational events?
● Nominate a leader or two.

22. Resources
Amplifier
amplifiergiving.org
joelle@natan.org
Forum of Regional Associations
of Grantmakers
givingforum.org
Hali Lee
hali@asianwomen
givingcircle.org

23. Join a circle
● Amplifier (amplifiergiving.org)
● AAPIP (aapip.org)
● Community Investment Network (thecommunityinvestment.org)
● Women’s Collective Giving Grantmaking Network (wcgn-network.org)

24. Thanks for having us!