More Giving Together

1007, 36 pages. The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 467-1120, www.givingforum.org

Giving circles are small, philanthropic, community-based groups, that are either formally or informally organized. Put simply, they are groups of people with a shared vision and a common pool of money. Despite their tendency to be small, according to this report from The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, giving circles gave nearly $13 million to community needs in 2006. This study has identified more than 400 giving circles and has collected data from 160 of them. In addition to a general update about giving circles, More Giving Together also provides some insight from long-run giving circles founded in the early 1990s, as well as details about the ways in which giving circles interact with foundations and larger philanthropic organizations. This report is part one of three. Part two will focus on the relationship between giving circles and their host organizations, and part three with deal with the impact of giving circles on their donor members' philanthropic and civic engagement.