Launchpad for Hosts, A Guide
Has your organization ever wanted to host giving circles?
This guide is a tool to push you to envision and ultimately launch your hosted giving circles or strengthen your existing ones.
Evaluation Toolkit for Organizations Hosting Giving Circles
Giving circle research and best practices point to 4 key impact areas you should consider focusing on and tracking including membership demographics, civic engagement and giving metrics, circle relationship with the host organization, and circle aspects that contribute to the circles’ possible successes. Depending on the reasons why you are hosting giving circles, the metrics throughout this toolkit offer suggested questions to serve, in some cases as springboards, in others as templates. This tool’s purpose is to help you think through what you want to track, why, and when.
Making the Case to Host Giving Circles, A Guide
Make the case for giving circles within your organization or community! This document shares the benefits of giving circles, as well as, demographic information of the giving circle ecosystem.
Application Process by Latino Giving Circle Network Example
This is an example of an application process for a giving circle hosted by a community foundation.
Conflict of Interest Statement, An Example
A “Conflict of Interest” form provides a framework for how to deal with any potential conflicts. This helps ensure the discussion and selection process is fair and transparent. Download this example from Latino Community Foundation.
Internal Dashboard for a Community Foundation Host Example
This Dashboard highlights several key metrics associated with the Women’s Giving Alliance, one of Community Foundation for Northeast Florida’s hosted giving circles: membership numbers and growth, grant amounts, expenses, staff time, endowment funds, support service fees, etc. This dashboard is a great example of the insights you can have about your hosted giving circles if you set up the right tracking information and process from the start. What might your own dashboard look like?
Welcome Packet for Giving Circle Participants Example
This “Welcome Packet” from LCF is given out to all new giving circle members and leaders. It has a great overview look at what it takes to be in a giving circle, including a clear year-long overview, roles and expectations for both members and host, and even a glossary. Notice how LCF uses engaging and simple language and beautiful design throughout to capture the energy and vision for their giving circles. A document like this can be a powerful way to showcase the values and mission of your host organization and get new giving circle participants excited about joining.
Operating Agreement Example
This Operating Agreement serves as a contract between the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and the Women’s Giving Alliance, a giving circle housed within the Community Foundation. This contract is an example of a more formal document that goes into every single detail of what is expected from the host and the giving circle and is a great example of how to clearly communicate expectations and responsibilities for both the host and the giving circle.