Giving Circles are changing the landscape of philanthropy and diversifying what it means to be a philanthropist. They are a form of participatory grantmaking that enables individuals to come together to multiply their impact, build community and engage more deeply with a specific issue area. Over the last two decades, this practice has exploded in popularity, growing in numbers of more than 2,000 circles with 150,000+ people participating in giving an estimated $1.3 billion in grants. The Global Philanthropy Forum is collaborating with the Network of Engaged International Donors (NEID) Global and Moore Philanthropy to promote a Giving Circle centered around economic justice. We are hosting six virtual opportunities, from December 2022 to June 2023, for you to join us in strategizing for equity and impact in this new era of giving.

At this particular moment in history those of us investing globally must better understand and explore what it would take to realize the dismantling of unequal systems that oppress not only individuals but whole communities. We must better understand how the roots of capitalism, finance and power have shaped our work within the broader global community and what can be done to shift systems. During our time together we will learn from grantee partners, community leaders and donor colleagues about the strategies, tactics and solutions they have found the most successful, and the next steps we can take in order to make economic justice a reality.

Because we cannot explore economic justice without looking at race and class, we will hear from leaders who have unpacked the complexities of this work, particularly in the space of economic mobility. We will learn more about the wealth gap and its impact, particularly on women and their families. As the population of young people increases globally, we must consider how we prepare for their well-being as they move into the employment sector. Finally, while many don't often consider issues of safety (both physical and psychological), we will explore what it means to work in an environment that allows one to thrive, as well as the connecting barriers that prevent economic mobility, including a lack of access, and disparate investments in social entrepreneurs. The Giving Circle provides an exciting and safe space to learn how we might invest in a way that centers the most vulnerable, yet has the potential to create far-reaching impact.

Each circle member will seed the grant pool with a $1200 contribution. By combining resources, the giving circle community will multiply the impact of their own capital to the community changemakers the circle will invest in together.