How an Alumni Giving Circle Creates Student-Led Impact
What if giving back to your high school wasn’t just a donation, but a shared tradition you looked forward to? That question inspired Amy Doyel and her husband, Connor, to launch the ORHS 10-Year Class GiveBack Giving Circle. Designed to mark each class’s 10-year reunion, the initiative brings alumni together to collectively fund meaningful campus projects selected by current students. In this conversation, Amy shares what motivated her to start the Giving Circle, why she stepped into a leadership role, and how Grapevine helped turn an idea into a lasting tradition for ORHS.
Meet Amy Doyel
After years of volunteering, serving on nonprofit boards, and engaging with traditional fundraising and grant-making organizations, Amy found her home in collective giving. She is drawn to the way Giving Circles bring together purpose, connection, and people-powered action, an approach to philanthropy she believes represents the future of charitable giving. It is a future she is committed to shaping both personally, alongside her husband Connor, and professionally through her work in the sector.
Professionally, Amy has worked with corporate clients at two universities: her alma mater, Texas A&M University, and, for the past four years, at Harvard Business Impact. Her background in business strategy, adult learning, and leadership development informs her approach to philanthropy, bridging systems thinking with empathy, purpose, and joy.
Today, Amy is committed to expanding Giving Circles and generosity-driven communities, making it easier for everyday people to participate meaningfully in creating change. She is an accomplished Giving Circle launcher who has founded or co-founded four circles, each using a different model. Her work includes co-founding the ORHS 10-Year GiveBack, launching Yoga for A Cause, Harvard 100 For Community Impact*, and the Kāne'ohe Officers' Spouses' Club Giving Circles, and a member of Honolulu Women for Good.
Q&A with Amy Doyel
Q: What inspired you to start an alumni Giving Circle at Oak Ridge High School?
Amy: As alumni of Oak Ridge High School, my husband and I always dreamed of giving back to the school that gave us so much. After attending the We Give Summit hosted by Philanthropy Together and sponsored by Grapevine, I felt inspired to bring that dream closer to reality by leveraging the power of collective giving.
The ORHS 10-Year Class GiveBack model turns a reunion milestone into a shared act of giving while placing trust and leadership in the hands of current students. Each year, student council members gather input from the student body and identify three to five campus gift ideas. The 10-year alumni class then comes together to collectively fund and vote on the option they want to support, turning a reunion milestone into a shared investment in the school’s future.
“I felt inspired to bring that dream closer to reality by leveraging the power of collective giving.”
Q: Why did you choose to lead an alumni Giving Circle for your high school?
Amy: I wanted to create a Giving Circle that empowers others to give together. Our model invites each graduating class to celebrate their 10-year reunion by collectively funding a meaningful campus gift, rather than relying on a single major donor. Students propose gift ideas, and alumni come together to contribute and vote on which project to support. In this model, participation, not the size of an individual gift, drives impact. Leading this initiative felt like a way to start a tradition of shared ownership and student agency in philanthropy.
“Leading this initiative felt like a way to start a tradition of shared ownership and student agency in philanthropy.”
Q: Why did you choose Grapevine to run your Giving Circle, and how has it supported your Giving Circle experience?
Amy: We chose Grapevine because its values align with ours: people-powered, trust-based, and focused on democratized giving. It helps us run our Giving Circle smoothly while turning ideas into action.
Grapevine tools have been especially helpful: Events makes organizing and engaging our members easy, while the “find a charity” feature is robust and seamless for adding nonprofits. Donation cycles give flexibility with contribution amounts and timing, and sharing is simple, helping us reach new people. On top of that, the customer service is fast, kind, and supportive—an often-overlooked but essential part of running a Giving Circle.
“We chose Grapevine because its values align with ours: people-powered, trust-based, and democratized giving.”
Q: What impact has the ORHS 10-Year Class GiveBack Giving Circle had so far?
Amy: This is our first year! We asked for one-time gifts and plan to grow the Giving Circle each year around the 10-year class reunion.
So far, our impact includes:
- A $2,015 non-traditional scholarship for a current student, which can be used for any need.
- Connor and I donated a $20,000 gift through the Giving Circle on behalf of our class to fund an outdoor classroom at the high school, expected to be completed this summer.
Students have also shared that being part of the Giving Circle is helping them see the power of giving back. Many are experiencing, perhaps for the first time, what it feels like to contribute their talents, time, and eventually their treasure to support their school and community.
"Students have also shared that being part of the Giving Circle is helping them see the power of giving back."
Q: What advice would you give to alumni or students considering starting a Giving Circle?
Amy: Start with willingness. Even a small effort can create a big impact when people come together. If you have any connection to a school or community, consider using a Giving Circle model to make giving collective, meaningful, and fun.
Students Reflect on the 10-Year GiveBack Giving Circle
Amy asked five students involved with the project to share their experiences. Their reflections offer a student perspective on what collective giving looks like in practice and how alumni engagement can shape campus life today.
Most meaningful part: “Taking students’ wishes and helping fulfill them. Many times students wish for amenities and events that take a long time to realize. Through this project, we can make larger wishes come true.”
What it taught me: “Philanthropy is a vital way to support our community. It can be in the form of service, donations, and commitment. Alumni provided monetary donations, student council provided time and service, and commitment allowed us to see the project through.”
ORHS Student Council President
Most meaningful part: “Getting to talk with Mrs. Doyel and drafting plans for each initiative.”
What it taught me: “It taught me to fully understand people's needs by thinking deeper than surface level.”ORHS Student Council Vice President
Most meaningful part: “Having the honor to support a community through meaningful service. It opened my eyes to the work needed to give support and the values required to do so.”
What it taught me: “This initiative taught me the importance of kindness and compassion. It showed me how to be a more giving person as a whole.”ORHS Student Council Secretary
Most meaningful part: “Seeing the impact Oak Ridge High School had on past students. Alumni support keeps the school lively and the community connected.”
What it taught me: “I’ve learned the importance of working together to bring change. Collectively, the student council connected with individuals who care about ORHS, and it’s rewarding to give back.”ORHS Class President
Most meaningful part: “Interacting with alumni and students to help make student wishes a reality and improve our school environment.”
What it taught me: “Giving back is one of the best ways to get involved. All the planning and effort was worth it to see the impact.”ORHS Vice President of Communications
Turning Alumni Milestones into Meaningful Community Impact
Through the ORHS 10-Year Class GiveBack Giving Circle, Amy Doyel, Connor, and the students of Oak Ridge High are showing that milestones don’t have to be just personal celebrations, they can be opportunities for collective generosity and lasting community impact. By combining student leadership, alumni engagement, and the power of Giving Circles, they are turning milestones into meaningful change.
Giving Circles for Alumni Groups and Classrooms
Inspired to make your milestone count? Whether it’s a 5-year reunion, a 10-year class celebration, or an alumni group looking to give back together, a Giving Circle makes it easy to transform shared history into collaborative giving. Just like the ORHS 10-Year GiveBack Giving Circle, alumni Giving Circles create space for connection, joy, and lasting community impact.
👉 Start a Giving Circle for your alumni group or high school and turn your milestone into something that matters.
At the same time, Giving Circles are being used in classrooms to introduce philanthropy in a hands-on way. By involving students in collective giving, educators help them practice leadership, values-based decision making, and collaboration.
👉 See how Giving Circles are being used to teach philanthropy in classrooms and explore what’s possible through student-led giving. Read our recent blog: Building the Next Generation of Givers
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