USA: donor giving circles, a good example for the European Third sector

Philanthropy starts at home in the United States. With the Giving Circles: groups of people around the country who pool their contributions and then decide collectively how to donate them.

According to the report “More Giving Together: The Growth and Impact of Giving Circles and Shared Giving” , realized by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, in 2006 Giving Circles gave an estimated $13-million to charity . Over all, the Giving Circles have raised a total of about $88-million, most of it since 2000.

Researchers identified 400 “giving circles” in 44 states and Washington, D.C., and received responses to their questions from 160 groups, which represent more than 11,700 donors. A third of the groups have been formed in the past two years and forty-two of those that responded have been in operation for at least five years.

Where do the Giving Circle put their money? According to the Cronicle of philanthropy, “A majority of the grants made by giving circles support education, youth development, or programs for women and girls. Some 47 percent of the organizations include men among their members, and slightly more than half consist exclusively of women”.

The report, “More Giving Together: The Growth and Impact of Giving Circles and Shared Giving,” and a summary of its findings are available online at www.givingforum.org/givingcircles.