FAQs
Q: Why did we make changes to our giving circle model?
A: As we head into our ninth year of learning and giving together, it was time for a review and update of our work and our assumptions about our membership and our grantmaking. This year we have been engaged in strategic planning and these changes have come out of that deep work. You can see our new strategic plan here.
Q: Who decided on these changes?
A: Ultimately, the decision was made by our leadership team with the input of our members and community partners. Girlfriends shared their opinions via a survey. Then the Governing Board, Coordinating Council, and at-large members participated in strategic planning, after which we incorporated the feedback of Girlfriends and community partners who responded to the invitation to participate in focus groups.
MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION QUESTIONS
Q: How did you come up with the idea of the different levels of giving?
A: We’ve been trying to figure this out for a while by trying other options like scholarships and the Girlfriends Fund but we learned about the multi-option model of another giving circle that felt more inclusive and transparent. It has worked well for them. By reducing the financial hurdle of membership, we are hoping to create a more diverse community of women at all life stages who can become more informed and engaged philanthropists.
Q: Won’t we have less money to make grants in our community by offering membership for less money?
A: This isn’t what happened at the other giving circle and it isn’t what happened when we offered the Girlfriends Fund the past two years. We trust our Girlfriends to contribute at a level that is meaningful for them because they know the bigger our pool of money, the bigger our grants. We won’t know until membership closes what the actual impact has been in this initial year but we believe it will increase our pool and our membership. We believe we don’t need to be tied to $1000 per woman to make a meaningful impact.
Q: Is there a way to pay more?
A: Yes. If you would like to contribute beyond the $2500 level, we invite you to make an additional charitable gift via the donate button. You can share notes about how you would like to see it used or you can trust us to use it where it’s most needed.
Q: Can we pay installments?
A: Unfortunately, installments create an administrative challenge that our all-volunteer organization isn’t in a position to manage. But membership doesn’t close until April 30, so saving along the way could allow for meaningful participation by then.
Q: Is there a reason there’s nothing lower than $300?
A: There are costs associated with membership (insurance, technology, events) and, as a nonprofit, it isn’t feasible for us to offer a membership for less than $300.
Q: Are giving levels confidential?
A: Yes, as always, only our membership committee has access to each member’s contribution amount and the data that we will use to evaluate the effectiveness of this model won’t be tied to names.
FOCUS AREA QUESTIONS
Q: Why did we change our focus areas and why are there only four now instead of five?
A: Because we have limited funds, we looked at the funding landscape of our region, the needs of our region, and what Girlfriends have chosen to fund over seven years of giving. We then tailored our focus areas to be more clear. This helps nonprofits that won’t find a place to apply and those that will determine how to spend their valuable time. The reduction in focus areas allows us to concentrate our efforts and make more sizeable grants in the areas most aligned with our priorities.
Q: Will we make a grant in each focus area?
A: Yes. We plan to make impact awards and finalist awards in each focus area, as we have done in the past.
Q: Why were women called out regarding economic development? Men often face issues around poverty also.
A: We are centering equity in our work, and women are still part of an underserved community. As a women’s collective giving circle, we find the focus on women in this one focus area to be appropriate and inspiring.
Q: Are we not funding Arts & Culture anymore?
A: Arts education and cultural education are included in Child & Youth Educational Equity and could be accessed via Women’s Economic Empowerment.
Q: Where is health & wellness?
A: This area is incorporated in Housing and Home Stability as well as Women’s Economic Equity and Environmental Equity & Sustainability. Health and wellness is currently a well-funded area by regional health systems and the federal government. We can make a greater impact by focusing our health and wellness dollars in certain underfunded areas.
Q: Is there a place for every nonprofit to apply in our new focus areas?
A: Even with our former focus areas, there was not a place for every nonprofit. We do not pool enough money to fund everything, but we believe that by focusing our funding in certain areas of great need we can make a positive impact. Nearly all nonprofits that have become finalists in our eight years of giving would still have been able to apply.
Q: How will voting for finalists work with these new levels of membership?
A: We believe in parity — one person, one vote — so nothing will change. All members will still get a single vote regardless of their contribution level.
Q: Why have we reinstated an LOI (Letter of Interest) step in our grantmaking process? Can’t any organization apply for a grant?
A: When we open our grantmaking process in late spring, all organizations who believe they are a fit for our giving priorities are welcome to submit a two-page Letter of Interest. We will evaluate all LOIs and invite the 10 most aligned applicants in each focus area to submit a full grant application. This saves significant effort all around, as only organizations that meet our criteria will complete a full application, and our grant review teams will have a more reasonable number of applications to evaluate.
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Email info@ninetyninegirlfriends and we will get back to you, and add it to this list if we think others might hold the same question.