Giving circles, which tripled in the United States from 2007-2017, help introduce new and increasingly diverse donors into the world of philanthropy. As giving circles continue to grow more popular, two reports from WPI and the Collective Giving Research Group provide a deeper understanding of how this women-driven model of giving is evolving and influencing the philanthropic sector.

The first report, Giving Circle Membership: How Collective Giving Impacts Donors, looks at how giving circle participation influences members and explores how established members differ from new ones. Key findings include:

• Newer giving circle members tend to be more diverse in terms of age, income and race.
• Newer members join giving circles for the opportunity to engage more deeply on a cause or issue; more established members cite the ability to leverage gifts and “fun” as primary reasons for participation.
• The report affirms previous research that giving circle members give more, give more strategically and proactively, give to a wider array of organizations, volunteer more, and are more likely to engage in civic activity.