The Beginning
Last week, a group of young people convened to explore assembling a Giving Circle. What’s a Giving Circle, you ask? A Giving Circle is a group of people who get together to give (time, money, etc.), but first discuss what it means to give, what motivates them, and then to choose to whom to allocate funds based on shared values identified by the group. This contrasts from standard allocations committees, because the money donated is usually sourced from the members of the giving circle itself.
Next Steps
In this case, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul is teaming up with the St. Paul Jewish Federation and YALA in order to create a space for younger adults to build a Giving Circle in their own image. Seven folks showed up for a “taste-test” event in which we began diving into the discussion related to the values that motivate us to give, and to determine if there was interest in creating a true Giving Circle. By the end of the evening, folks were so invested in their discussions, they didn’t want the taste-test to end. The session also helped the participants learn about JFS, the Federations, and their missions.
If you’re interested in learning more about this giving circle or would like to get involved, please reach out to Judy Sharken-Simon or Charley Smith.
The first JFS/St. Paul Federation/YALA Giving Circle Cycle will begin in late mid-July, so be sure to let us know sooner than later if you’d like to be involved!
Other Opportunities to Get Involved with Giving Circles
Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Minneapolis also has a Giving Circle. More information on theirs can be found here.
