How Giving Circles Benefit and Empower Woman Leaders

Being a woman in the workforce can be challenging. In the startup sector, women founders can struggle to create work-life balance for themselves and get funding compared to their male counterparts. In 2022, only 1.9% of VC dollars were invested in women-founded start-ups. When it comes to corporate jobs and physical labor, women on average earn less than men in all industries and are underrepresented in high-earning positions.

Considering these challenges, it’s important for women leaders to have the chance to gather together and support each other by sharing their knowledge, networks, and opportunities. Having a space to share their feelings, celebrate their wins and lament their losses with understanding and acceptance can be a valuable lifeline for women.

Giving Circles bring people together around a common community or cause, allowing members the opportunity to connect as well as give back. They can offer women a unique space to share and feel seen without judgment.

What are some of the ways that Giving Circles are particularly beneficial to women?

Giving Circles offer women the chance to network with like-minded people, expanding their professional and social circles. As part of a Giving Circle, members will meet with the rest of the group at the end of each donation cycle, but can also join together for social events to get to know one another and the particular issues in their community. Through the Giving Circle, members can learn about nonprofits doing good in their area and local volunteer opportunities. This can help women become more informed philanthropists and pillars of their communities.

Giving Circles empower women with new leadership opportunities. Anyone can become a Giving Circle Founder or Leader, and this gives women the chance to become a leader of a like-minded group. Additionally, Giving Circles give women the opportunity to give back to the issues that matter most to them, empowering them to make a change in society. Especially for community-based groups, members can directly see the impact they’re making by donating to charities doing good in their local area.

As groups that are created with the purpose of giving back, Giving Circles are often founded for the sake of helping underrepresented groups. This is particularly important for women because while women and girls are in the top 3 categories that Giving Circles give to, they still receive less than 2% of total philanthropic funding. Giving Circles allow women to gather together and give to causes that benefit women specifically. For example, the Grapevine Giving Circle Women Fighting for Women’s Rights was created to give women a way to help address inequality and fight for women’s reproductive rights. The Grapevine Giving Circle Women in Tech for Gender Equality brings women in tech together to give back to nonprofits that support women’s health, education, and rights. Giving Circles are an important vehicle for women to give to causes that move women forward in society.

Ready to join a giving circle or start one of your own? Click below to get started on Grapevine today!