For American charitable donors who have participated in giving collectives, their
involvement both reflects and reinforces the social connectedness that drives
charitable giving. Giving circles attract greater numbers of women and people
affiliated with minority groups, especially African American and Asian/Pacific Islander
communities. In addition to helping create and strengthen social and communal
connections, they also provide members the ability to engage in meaningful work
with others, make new friends and colleagues, and retain more control over the
destination of their donations. Their more democratic approach to philanthropy can
be especially meaningful to donors who feel that more traditional forms of organized
philanthropy do not sufficiently empower them (or worse, marginalize them).
Positioned between individual or household giving and established foundation-based
grantmaking, giving collectives represent an important philanthropic asset class,
whose impact on donors and beneficiaries continues to shape charity in America today.

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