A Profile of the Women’s Giving Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “giving circle”?

A giving circle is a group of individuals who pool their dollars and together decide where to give their money, while learning about philanthropy and their community.

What do you do?

Our mission is to inspire the women of Northeast Florida to be strategic philanthropists and to improve the lives of women and girls through collective giving. Toward that end, we make grants in four fields of interest determined by our membership, based on research commissioned by WGA and funding partners during the organization’s first year of existence. We also see ourselves as a learning organization, becoming knowledgeable about critical issues facing women and girls and using that knowledge to add value to the community.

How does one join?

By making a $1,500 annual gift to the Women’s Giving Alliance.

What is the term of membership?

Annual. A member may join and make her gift any time during the year. The pool of money available for grants in the current year is determined on April 30. If the gift is made by April 30, her gift will be included in the grant pool for the current year; if made after April 30, the gift will become part of the grant pool for the following year.

What is “strategic philanthropy”?

Philanthropy is strategic when its goal is to leverage a greater impact than is possible through the actual dollars or time invested. This requires an effort to address a problem’s root causes, rather than trying to relieve its symptoms, and to support comprehensive solutions that will make a lasting difference for entire target populations.

The following are some of the ways WGA practices strategic philanthropy:

  • Collective giving creates a larger grant pool so that individual members have a greater impact on critical issues.
  • WGA’s leaders and committee members delve deeper into issues and, together, ask thoughtful questions about how WGA canhave the greatest impact in our community.
  • The Grants Committee focuses on key initiatives in order to make a lasting difference for target populations, while encouraging community partners to apply creative solutions to critical needs of women and girls.
  • The Grants Committee monitors outcomes of individual programs WGA supports and tracks impact in focus areas over time. This information guides WGA’s future grantmaking and also helps our community partners develop more effective solutions to problems facing women and girls.
  • WGA fosters collaboration among its community partners and facilitates shared learning among agencies serving women and girls in Northeast Florida.
  • The Education Committee provides programs that explore issues affecting women and girls—the Get Smart series—and others that comprise the Education Spotlight series. These focus on specific WGA-funded projects so that members can learn how their dollars are making a difference in our community.

What is the money used for?

Of the $1,500 annual contribution, $1,000 goes directly into the Strategic Focus Grant Pool for allocation to community agencies as recommended by the Women’s Giving Alliance Grants Committee, with ratification of members and approval of the Board of Directors of The Community Foundation. Grants are made to improve the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida in four fields of interest: Pre-K to 12 Public Education, Economic Empowerment, Mental and Physical Health, and Violence and Crime Intervention and Prevention. In a given year, the focus of WGA grantmaking varies, in accordance with strategic objectives.

Another $350 of each member’s gift goes to the Women’s Giving Alliance Endowment Fund and $150 to cover administrative costs. A percentage of the interest on the endowment (based on the spending policies of The Community Foundation) is setaside in January of each year for the Small Grants Pool (currently referred to as “Discretionary Grants”).

Small grants—up to $5,000—are madeon a competitive basis. Applications are submitted electronically, following guidelines and a schedule posted on WGA’s website.

May I make my own decision about how my money is used?

Gifts to the Women’s Giving Alliance are pooled and used according to the decisions of the members as a group.

Is my gift tax deductible?

Yes, a gift to the Women’s Giving Alliance is a charitable contribution and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If I choose to serve on the Grants Committee, for example, how much of my time

will it take?

The Grants Committee has 3 teams: Community Research, Decision, and Evaluation.. The time commitment varies.. The entire Grants Committee meets for orientation at the beginning of the grant cycle, but individual teams have their own work schedules for the rest of the year. Community Research Team members visit agencies and meet with other team members to discuss findings. This could involve up to 6 meetings, typically running 1½ to 2 hours each. The Decision Team has the most significant time commitment. Members meet about 6 times, usually for 1½ hours per meeting, and also spend time on their own reviewing proposals from potential grantees. The Evaluation Team meets with the entire Grants Committee once for orientation and once as a group for training. Subequently, teams of two visit grantees to assess the status of programs and activities funded by WGA; this usually involves 2 visits a year.

What volunteer opportunities are available?

A WGA member’s participation may range from simply writing her check and, if she chooses, attending educational events, an annual social, and/or twice-yearly membership meetings, to full engagement in the work of the organization.

Depending on her interest and availability, she may participate in one of WGA’s standing committees: Membership, Education, Finance, Communication, Grants. Each committee offers unique opportunities to contribute existing expertise and/or to learn new skills, as well as to get to know other members in a relatively small setting. Leadership positions require a greater commitment of time and energy than membership in a committee but also provide an opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of WGA, as well as to participate more directly in its operations.

Why do you have an endowment?

Endowments are synonymous with longevity. They are the gift that keeps giving. Founding members of the Women's Giving Alliance felt that it was important to create an endowment to help the organization realize its mission and vision in perpetuity. WGA's Women's Endowment Fund creates a permanent legacy for women and girls in Northeast Florida.While the principal continues to grow, a portion of the endowment income is added each year to the grant pool.

Why only women and girls?

WGA has limited dollars, and our desire is to focus our energy and resources where we believe they can have the most impact. When women are responsible, functioning, caring, educated, concerned mothers and family members, they have a major positive effect on their family and community success—and girls are the next generation’s mothers.

What is WGA’s relationship to The Community Foundation in Jacksonville?

The Women's Giving Alliance operates as an initiative of The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, the oldest community foundation in Florida. The Foundation provides staff support and funding for WGA as part of its mission to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community.

WGA FAQ May 11, 2009 1