To the Editor:
Ben Gose and Rasheeda Childress’ recent article “Everyday Donors Want to Give. Here’s how to Find Them” (July 9) overlooks a trend in grassroots philanthropy that should be part of any conversation about everyday donors: the rise of giving circles.
Giving circles, where individuals pool small-dollar donations to support causes, have exploded in popularity. Both the number of giving circles and the amount of people who participate in them have nearly tripled between 2017 and 2023. During that time period, roughly 4,000 groups with 370,000 members in the United States contributed more than $3 billion, according to new research from the organization I lead, Philanthropy Together, and the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Participation in giving circles is expected to double in the next five years.
Some forward-thinking nonprofits have established their own giving circles, which may boost donations and provide participants with a sense of tangible impact. These initiatives could also help address the decline in charitable giving attributed to income inequality, social isolation, and a lack of trust in institutions.
Giving circle members also report an increased belief that their voices matter and that they can better engage with dissenting opinions, according to the Philanthropy Together report. This shows how collective giving can counteract declining donation trends by fostering community engagement.
More nonprofits need to recognize the power of collective giving to strengthen grassroots philanthropy.
Sara Lomelin
CEO
Philanthropy Together
