WGC Opens Applications for Social and/or Racial Justice Grant
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The circle has a minimum annual contribution of $120; this can be paid, monthly, quarterly or one payment.
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If you have questions or would like to talk to other members we can connect you. The circle does not do fundraising, we like to say we do member raising. Collectively we have the power to address community needs. For more information visit: womensgivingcirclemissoula.org.
The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County is accepting applications for its 2020 grant cycle. This cycle will focus on organizations that are addressing social and/or racial justice issues in our community. The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County engages women with diverse backgrounds with varying wealth levels to build community and grow philanthropy.
“Our members vote to decide the focus of each cycle; this cycle social and/or racial justice was the chosen topic. This past May we gave an emergency grant to a frontline organization helping our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ said Nikki Robb, Program Manager at the Missoula Community Foundation. “Social and racial justice are at the center of local and national conversations this summer and we are thrilled to benefit a local nonprofit addressing these important issues in our community.”
The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County, formed in 2018, is a diverse, dynamic and generous group of women engaged in an exciting venture of strategic philanthropy. The Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County empowers women and non-binary people to be leaders in philanthropy and inspires collaborative giving to create positive change in our community. Every member, whether they give $10 per month or $1,000, has the opportunity to learn about community needs, hear how nonprofit organizations address those needs, and make decisions on how to give collective funds for maximum community impact. Our voices, too often muted in traditional philanthropy, are amplified by working together, so we can invest collective dollars for change. The WGC of Missoula County is a program of the Missoula Community Foundation.
The mission of the Women’s Giving Circle is to inspire collaborative giving to strengthen our community. Their vision is a community where all gifts have value, all members have a voice and all Missoula County benefits.
Last year, the Women’s Giving Circle awarded a $10,000 grant with contributions from 70 women to Free Cycles to hire a staff person to manage their Build-A-Bike program. The Build-A-Bike Program helps with every aspect of what it takes to build and maintain a bicycle. After taking a Bike Well class and volunteering 4 hours of your time, a staff member or volunteer will work with you to build your dream bike. Learn more about the Free Cycles and the Build-A-Bike Program HERE.
“I am grateful to be a part of a group of women who are open to new ideas, who challenge my thinking, who build consensus, and who invest in our community quite literally. Their passion, commitment and generosity magnify my own. We give together, we decide together, and together we are changing our community for the better.” – Molly Stockdale, Giving Circle Member and Executive Director at Traveler’s Connection.
Requests for funding should clearly demonstrate how funds will be used to address social and/or racial justice issues. They circle also has values that guide their grant-making decisions, community, equity, and opportunity. The application period will open September 1st and applications are due on October 1st. The grant will be awarded on Giving Tuesday, December 1st.
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Learn more about being a part of the Women’s Giving Circle Missoula at Womensgivingcirclemissoula.org, via our Facebook Page or by contacting info@womensgivingcirclemissoula.org or #406-926-2846.
