Six C’s of Women’s Giving
Given as Board Moment of Inspiration by Susan Smith (Summer 2024, reprinted)
At IWCF’s May 2024 Board Meeting, Susan shared some key messages from the 2009 Women’s Giving Circle: Reflection From The Founders. The study includes interviews with 18 women founders of giving circles. Many of the giving circle founders reported that the basis for creating their circles were the six C’s of women’s giving: create, change, commit, connect, collaborate, and celebrate. These still represent the vision and membership of IWCF today.
- Create new solutions to problems; be entrepreneurial through their philanthropy.
- Change things for the better; make a difference.
- Commit through volunteerism to the organizations and institutions whose vision they share; often give to organizations to which they have volunteered.
- Connect with the human face their gift affects; build a partnership with people connected with the project they fund.
- Collaborate with others – often other women – as part of a larger effort; seek to avoid duplication, competition and waste.
- Celebrate – have fun together; celebrate their accomplishments; enjoy the deeper meaning and satisfaction of their philanthropy.
Here are four new “C’s” for us to consider…increased capacity enables women to:
- Take control of their lives, their finances, and their philanthropy.
- Gain confidence to become philanthropic leaders.
- Have the courage to challenge the old ways of doing things and take risks with their giving to bring about change.
