EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – It seems fitting that during the season of giving, a little more information about Giving Circles is shared. Giving Circles are collective philanthropic programs that bring a group of people with shared values together to collectively discuss and decide where to make a pooled gift.

Collective giving harnesses the power of community, enabling you to pool resources and support causes that matter most to you. Not only does this approach increase the reach and effectiveness of your donations, but it also strengthens bonds within the community, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. Giving circles support with their dollars, but also build awareness, volunteerism and more. Usually, a giving circle involves a “membership” which comes with an incentive, like a vote. So, why go at it alone, when you can amplify your impact exponentially by giving together? Embrace the power of collective action and watch as your generosity transforms lives and creates lasting change.

At the El Dorado Community Foundation, there are four giving circles that serve the county. One of these circles focuses on serving South Shore of Tahoe nonprofits through grants, and a second focuses on creating scholarships for high school seniors pursuing higher education, including those at South Tahoe High.

First, the Tahoe Women’s Community Fund: a giving circle that allows membership dollars to be used for a competitive grant cycle for nonprofits who serve the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. TWCF also builds awareness of local nonprofits and the amazing work they do in our community. Anyone can join TWCF for $125 or more (this is their “membership”), and all members have an equal vote on which nonprofit applications to support annually. This past year, Tahoe Women’s Community Fund hit a milestone … in its 11th year of giving, this giving circle of over 200 members reached the $1 million mark of money given to nonprofits on the
South Shore of Tahoe for all the amazing projects and programs that they run.

The second giving circle is the Scholarship Giving Circle. This giving circle is also open for anyone to join (for $40 or more), and when they join, they choose the high school that they would like their membership dollars to support. These membership dollars collectively create scholarships for seniors at the different high schools to apply for. The Scholarship Giving Circle supports seniors who are pursuing higher education at El Dorado High School, Union Mine High School, Ponderosa High School, Oak Ridge High School, Golden Sierra High School, and South Tahoe High School. Last year, over $6,000 was raised for South Tahoe High School alone, and members voted to give out six $1,000 scholarships to 6 amazing seniors at South
Tahoe High School who were pursuing higher education (members evaluated applications to choose recipients). It allows each of us to be part of helping a young adult fund their dream of a higher education with as little as a $ 40 donation.

For both giving circles, 100% of member donations are used for the grnts and scholarships as there are sponsors who cover the operational costs like credit card fees. If you are interested in learning more or being a part of one or both giving circles, please check out the following links.

Make your giving more impactful…join a GIVING CIRCLE today.

By Kathy Haven, Co-Founder of TWCF & Scholarship Giving Circle
Director of Grants, Programs & Impact
El Dorado Community Foundation