FAQ

A giving circle is any group of people getting together for the purpose of pooling their donations and giving all or a portion of it to a deserving non-profit program or organization.

The Los Angeles Women’s Giving Circle researches and funds programs that benefit the development and well being of young women the greater Los Angeles area. The group has an emphasis on collective effort for charitable giving.

Individual members of LAWGC research non- profit organizations that interest them. They present their findings at the scheduled meetings. Speakers from the non-profits are invited to the meetings as the possible list of grantees is narrowed down. The members vote in October. The donation(s) are presented to the recipients in November.

Please view the CALENDAR link on this website.

LAWGC members in good standing vote in October.

Membership is open to all women who wish to further our mission and goals by providing the required financial support as set out by the Board. There are three levels of membership:

• Single Membership
  A single member is required to give an annual contribution plus an administration fee. A “single member” is entitled to one vote.
• Shared Membership
  Two members can share the annual contribution but each member pays the administrative fee. They are entitled to one vote between them.
• Junior Membership
  A junior member must be under 36 years old. She is required to pay half of the single membership donation plus the annual administrative fee. Junior members are entitled to one vote.

Yes, the annual contribution is tax deductible. You will receive a letter documenting it for your taxes.

The meetings are held in members’ homes. There are sign up sheets at the meetings requesting hosts. Please check the calendar for the dates.

Our meetings usually begin at 7:00 p.m. and are adjourned around 9:00 p.m. A light dinner is served.

Yes. The only requirement for membership is that you make the annual contribution and administrative fee. The level of participation beyond that is up to you. As with everything else we do in our lives, the more time and effort we put forth, the more we are rewarded and feel a part of the collective whole.

Giving Circles are becoming a new and increasingly popular way to participate in philanthropy. Sitting at home writing a check doesn’t inspire the same level of excitement and passion as does getting together with a group of people, and making a greater impact with your donation dollars.

No. The founders decided that the LAWGC will rely exclusively on the pooled donations of its members.

Yes. Send an email to address on our “Contact Us” page requesting to be placed on our email list.

The LAWGC may not be “unique” or “different” than other giving circles in our area. There is room in our city for many giving circles! The Founders started this group to offer a way for like-minded women to meet other women for the purpose of friendship, fun, education, and the “feel-good” aspect of philanthropy and making a difference. It has been our goal to put a cohesive group together for the express purpose of pooling our donations to benefit young women in the greater Los Angeles area. We have already done the “work” putting the giving circle together—we have created the bylaws, become incorporated, opened a bank account, procured a tax identification number, and have recently applied for non-profit status, 501(C)(3). When you join the LAWGC we will be ready to begin the process of learning about our community’s non-profit organizations. We sincerely hope that the goals of the Los Angeles Women’s Giving Circle, Inc. mesh with your goals at this time in your life. We look forward to working with you in the near future.