CIRCLES, CONTINUED
Giving circles provide individuals of all means with
Sondra Shaw-Hardy notes in her book, Creating
the opportunity to engage in impactful philanthropy.
A Women’s Giving Circle: The Original Handbook
A $100 gift to charity can quickly turn into $1,000
(Mission Point Press, 2021), that women’s increasing
or more when pooled with others’ gifts. The addition
control of their own finances contributes to the
of zeros or donors to this example shows the
growth of giving circles.
exponential and significant nature of circle giving. Researchers estimate that known U.S. circles have contributed more than $1.29 billion to charity over the past 40 years. They also tell us that those who participate in giving circles are likely to give more in
• What is the right size? • Who will be involved? • What are the group’s key values and interest areas? • Is there a required minimum gift for participation? • How often will you meet?
money and time overall than those who do not; to give proactively more often than reactively; and to be more engaged in civic and political activities than those who are not part of a circle.
The
Ella Nash Society
Joining or creating a women’s giving circle may be one of the most pleasant and meaningful ways to engage in philanthropy. To start one, all that is needed is a group of like-minded people, common
• How will the group identify needs and giving options? • Who will make giving decisions? • How will gifts be conveyed to charity? • Are there existing organizations with which to partner?
interests, and a forum for discussing what the group would like to accomplish and where that might be done. Philanthropy Together (https://philanthropytogether.org) is an excellent resource for further information.
The sense of community that circles foster is one of their most appealing features for many women. A recent survey of active circles found that 70%
To learn how your circle might support
of respondents said that more than half of their
Allegheny students and faculty, contact
membership was female. Further, nearly half of
Melissa Mencotti at giftplan@allegheny.edu
those that reported serving a specific identity were
or by calling (814) 332-5912.
organized by women to support women’s concerns.
Ms. Melissa Mencotti Director of Gift Planning Allegheny College 520 N. Main Street Meadville, PA 16335
Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit No 4123 Pittsburgh PA
Inspiring Women, Informing Philanthropy
This semiannual newsletter, named for M. Ella Nash, Class of 1873, the College’s first female graduate, celebrates women’s philanthropy.
Summer 2021
The Power of Collective Giving
PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION
Girl Power!
sought “to show what a strong and
When Elaine Herrmann Blais and
united behind a common cause,”
Heather Miller joined the Allegheny
said Elaine. They contributed
Class of 1991’s 30th reunion committee
$12,250 for the 2020/21 Annual
last year, they invited close friends
close circle of women can do when
Fund, which touches every aspect
Many hands make light work, goes the saying, and
and educational activities. There are 2,000 known
when collectively reaching for the checkbook as part
circles in the U.S. and countless numbers of informal,
of a giving circle, they also make a big impact on the
unregistered groups.
nonprofit sector.
Informal circles such as Girl Power (see Page 6) grow
Giving circles consist of friends, associates, or others
organically and lack organizational charters, specific
with mutual interests who pool their charitable
giving expectations, and meeting requirements.
dollars and make shared decisions about how
They are small enough that members make funding
their gifts are allocated to charity. Circles are as
decisions as a group. The most formal circles are
unique as the donors who comprise them, varying
large, hierarchical organizations with prominent
in size, members’ giving expectations, formality of
board members, detailed committee structures,
governance, and philanthropic goals. They may be
minimum gift amounts, and representative voting
local, national, or international in scope and mission
on charitable activities. Increasingly, networks of
Dawnmarie Eckenrode Black, Cynthia Chappell
of the College. Elaine said that the women give
Deal, Joanna Gillespie, Deirdre Kosky-Kaupelis,
charitably when inspired and “the friendships we
Laurie Katshir McKiernan, Kelly Lengauer
made at Allegheny, and all that those friendships
Musmanno, Karen Brown Roux, Maura Keogh
have given us … provided that inspiration.” She
Shafer, Jackie Rudolph Smathers and Lauren
added that through a giving circle, “our gift … has
Flannery Thiele to join them in a giving circle —
more impact together than any of us do alone.”
with divergent (if any) degrees of staffing and
giving circles such as the Community Investment
Pictured left to right: Heather Miller ’91, Elaine
infrastructure. Circles may center around specific
Network, Impact 100, and Women’s Giving Circle
interpersonal and/or geographic communities, and
International are organizing for even greater
they almost always include some form of social
philanthropic leverage.
affectionately dubbed “Girl Power” — to make a special gift to the College. Girl Power inspired them to make larger individual gifts than usual as they
Herrmann Blais ’91, and Joanna Gillespie ’91
continued on inside flap
CIRCLES, CONTINUED
Giving circles provide individuals of all means with
Sondra Shaw-Hardy notes in her book, Creating
the opportunity to engage in impactful philanthropy.
A Women’s Giving Circle: The Original Handbook
A $100 gift to charity can quickly turn into $1,000
(Mission Point Press, 2021), that women’s increasing
or more when pooled with others’ gifts. The addition
control of their own finances contributes to the
of zeros or donors to this example shows the
growth of giving circles.
exponential and significant nature of circle giving. Researchers estimate that known U.S. circles have contributed more than $1.29 billion to charity over the past 40 years. They also tell us that those who participate in giving circles are likely to give more in
• What is the right size? • Who will be involved? • What are the group’s key values and interest areas? • Is there a required minimum gift for participation? • How often will you meet?
money and time overall than those who do not; to give proactively more often than reactively; and to be more engaged in civic and political activities than those who are not part of a circle.
The
Ella Nash Society
Joining or creating a women’s giving circle may be one of the most pleasant and meaningful ways to engage in philanthropy. To start one, all that is needed is a group of like-minded people, common
• How will the group identify needs and giving options? • Who will make giving decisions? • How will gifts be conveyed to charity? • Are there existing organizations with which to partner?
interests, and a forum for discussing what the group would like to accomplish and where that might be done. Philanthropy Together (https://philanthropytogether.org) is an excellent resource for further information.
The sense of community that circles foster is one of their most appealing features for many women. A recent survey of active circles found that 70%
To learn how your circle might support
of respondents said that more than half of their
Allegheny students and faculty, contact
membership was female. Further, nearly half of
Melissa Mencotti at giftplan@allegheny.edu
those that reported serving a specific identity were
or by calling (814) 332-5912.
organized by women to support women’s concerns.
Ms. Melissa Mencotti Director of Gift Planning Allegheny College 520 N. Main Street Meadville, PA 16335
Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit No 4123 Pittsburgh PA
Inspiring Women, Informing Philanthropy
This semiannual newsletter, named for M. Ella Nash, Class of 1873, the College’s first female graduate, celebrates women’s philanthropy.
Summer 2021
The Power of Collective Giving
PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION
Girl Power!
sought “to show what a strong and
When Elaine Herrmann Blais and
united behind a common cause,”
Heather Miller joined the Allegheny
said Elaine. They contributed
Class of 1991’s 30th reunion committee
$12,250 for the 2020/21 Annual
last year, they invited close friends
close circle of women can do when
Fund, which touches every aspect
Many hands make light work, goes the saying, and
and educational activities. There are 2,000 known
when collectively reaching for the checkbook as part
circles in the U.S. and countless numbers of informal,
of a giving circle, they also make a big impact on the
unregistered groups.
nonprofit sector.
Informal circles such as Girl Power (see Page 6) grow
Giving circles consist of friends, associates, or others
organically and lack organizational charters, specific
with mutual interests who pool their charitable
giving expectations, and meeting requirements.
dollars and make shared decisions about how
They are small enough that members make funding
their gifts are allocated to charity. Circles are as
decisions as a group. The most formal circles are
unique as the donors who comprise them, varying
large, hierarchical organizations with prominent
in size, members’ giving expectations, formality of
board members, detailed committee structures,
governance, and philanthropic goals. They may be
minimum gift amounts, and representative voting
local, national, or international in scope and mission
on charitable activities. Increasingly, networks of
Dawnmarie Eckenrode Black, Cynthia Chappell
of the College. Elaine said that the women give
Deal, Joanna Gillespie, Deirdre Kosky-Kaupelis,
charitably when inspired and “the friendships we
Laurie Katshir McKiernan, Kelly Lengauer
made at Allegheny, and all that those friendships
Musmanno, Karen Brown Roux, Maura Keogh
have given us … provided that inspiration.” She
Shafer, Jackie Rudolph Smathers and Lauren
added that through a giving circle, “our gift … has
Flannery Thiele to join them in a giving circle —
more impact together than any of us do alone.”
with divergent (if any) degrees of staffing and
giving circles such as the Community Investment
Pictured left to right: Heather Miller ’91, Elaine
infrastructure. Circles may center around specific
Network, Impact 100, and Women’s Giving Circle
interpersonal and/or geographic communities, and
International are organizing for even greater
they almost always include some form of social
philanthropic leverage.
affectionately dubbed “Girl Power” — to make a special gift to the College. Girl Power inspired them to make larger individual gifts than usual as they
Herrmann Blais ’91, and Joanna Gillespie ’91
continued on inside flap
SPOTLIGHT
Philanthropy Is Not a Scary Word Most of us would quickly answer “no” if asked if we were a philanthropist. We think of the Madame C.J. Walkers, Melinda Gates, and MacKenzie Scotts of the world — super affluent women who have made extraordinary charitable gifts — as philanthropists, but ourselves? No way. Yet philanthropy encompasses all voluntary gifts of time, talent, and treasure on behalf of the common good. “It’s not a million-dollar word,” said Allegheny Trustee Jennifer Daurora ’99 as she described what philanthropy means to her. “You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.” She knows of what she speaks.
“ You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.”
After graduation, Jennifer worked for an information management company for several years, and then joined McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores, where she represented the third generation
of her family’s business, ultimately serving as COO. Jennifer quickly established herself as a rising professional in her hometown and has received the Pittsburgh Business Times’ “Business Women First” and “Fast Tracker” awards; Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 Under 40” award; and was named one of “Pittsburgh’s Finest.” She is a 2003 member of the Entrepreneurial Fellows Class at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. Jennifer joined PNC Bank as a vice president in business banking in 2019 after making the difficult decision to close the family business in 2018 in the face of competition from larger grocers, home-meal delivery kits, and food sourced online. Finding blessings even in challenges, Jennifer is delighted to be at PNC, where she is able to fulfill her long-held commitment to empowering women. She is involved with the bank’s Women’s Business Development Program, which helps provide women with the necessary tools to lead their companies and serve their communities, and she co-chairs a committee of “Women Connect” whose mission is to support the personal growth and development of PNC employees. Jennifer has also served on the board of visitors
Jennifer has been putting her leadership skills to work for Allegheny since her student days, where she notably presided over the Panhellenic Council, worked in admissions and as a freshman seminar assistant, and participated in a variety of student organizations. She has been a Volunteer in Service to Allegheny (VISA) assisting with student recruitment efforts and has helped to organize each of
trustee of the College in 2013 and currently serves on its executive board. Jennifer is also a member of the Board of Visitors at the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics at Allegheny. With a degree in economics and a career in business, Jennifer describes her charitable endeavors as investments. She began investing in the College as a senior and has provided annual financial
for The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University since 2015. Beyond her work in Pittsburgh, Jennifer holds space for two organizations that are inextricably part of her life: her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and Allegheny. Jennifer volunteered as a regional province officer for Alpha Chi after graduation and served as a vice president of its national governing board (2012–2020). She believes that sisterhood truly is powerful, noting that “the transformative power of that experience for women can be really fantastic, particularly the educational and leadership opportunities.”
her class reunions. Jennifer served on the Alumni Council for six years, including a one-year term as president, and was a member of the Timothy Alden Council Executive Committee, helping to raise funds for the College’s Annual Fund. She was named a
contributions ever since. Her early gifts came in $10 payments and increased in frequency and value as her income grew. “Sometimes it’s easier for you to invest your time, which is great, but I think that as you’re able to invest monetarily, it’s also important to make that switch, if you can,” she said. After
reflecting on the kind of impact that she hoped to make, Jennifer asked herself, “Can I make a couple of small sacrifices to help a student in need? To help change their life?” Jennifer found that contributing to Allegheny on a monthly basis works best for her family and she treats the payments as budget expenses. In fact, she has contributed to the college every month since July 2001 through an electronic fund transfer from her bank. She found that gifts that might otherwise seem impossible may be feasible when given incrementally. As a case in point, Jennifer and her husband, Lenny Chan, funded their first Annual Fund Grant at Allegheny this year with a monthly contribution of $417. These $5,000 grants are applied directly to students’ tuition bills and serve the dual purpose of providing financial aid and helping to teach recipients about the role that philanthropy plays at Allegheny. Benefactors’ names appear on students’ tuition bills showing a $5,000 deduction from the balance due. This helps students to understand that there are living donors who are, at that very moment, vested in their success. (Donors retain full control over what information is shared with students.) Read more about the program here:
https://sites.allegheny.edu/ annualgiving/annual/alleghenyannual-fund-grant-program/ Allegheny is a primary focus of Jennifer’s philanthropy because she believes in giving back and leaving things a little better than before. She said that she is still gaining
from her Allegheny experience and added that “there is a lifting of spirit that happens” when she returns to speak with students or to attend trustee meetings because of her many relationships and the opportunities that she has had, and continues to have, through the College. Jennifer wishes this
experience for everyone and said in closing, “I would say to those people who haven’t been engaged with the College, ‘It’s not too late to rekindle those connections and to make new ones.’ I’ve never met an Alleghenian who didn’t want to help someone else.” You see, you, too, may be a philanthropist.
Planning Tip
To see the annual impact of monthly giving at different levels and to set up a recurring donation to Allegheny, visit https://sites.allegheny.edu/alumni/payment-options/
An online Allegheny community where you can... Connect with Fellow Gators. Offer or receive career advice. Post or explore job & internship opportunities. Build Your Allegheny Network.
Join today: https://gator2gator.allegheny.edu
SPOTLIGHT
Philanthropy Is Not a Scary Word Most of us would quickly answer “no” if asked if we were a philanthropist. We think of the Madame C.J. Walkers, Melinda Gates, and MacKenzie Scotts of the world — super affluent women who have made extraordinary charitable gifts — as philanthropists, but ourselves? No way. Yet philanthropy encompasses all voluntary gifts of time, talent, and treasure on behalf of the common good. “It’s not a million-dollar word,” said Allegheny Trustee Jennifer Daurora ’99 as she described what philanthropy means to her. “You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.” She knows of what she speaks.
“ You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.”
After graduation, Jennifer worked for an information management company for several years, and then joined McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores, where she represented the third generation
of her family’s business, ultimately serving as COO. Jennifer quickly established herself as a rising professional in her hometown and has received the Pittsburgh Business Times’ “Business Women First” and “Fast Tracker” awards; Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 Under 40” award; and was named one of “Pittsburgh’s Finest.” She is a 2003 member of the Entrepreneurial Fellows Class at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. Jennifer joined PNC Bank as a vice president in business banking in 2019 after making the difficult decision to close the family business in 2018 in the face of competition from larger grocers, home-meal delivery kits, and food sourced online. Finding blessings even in challenges, Jennifer is delighted to be at PNC, where she is able to fulfill her long-held commitment to empowering women. She is involved with the bank’s Women’s Business Development Program, which helps provide women with the necessary tools to lead their companies and serve their communities, and she co-chairs a committee of “Women Connect” whose mission is to support the personal growth and development of PNC employees. Jennifer has also served on the board of visitors
Jennifer has been putting her leadership skills to work for Allegheny since her student days, where she notably presided over the Panhellenic Council, worked in admissions and as a freshman seminar assistant, and participated in a variety of student organizations. She has been a Volunteer in Service to Allegheny (VISA) assisting with student recruitment efforts and has helped to organize each of
trustee of the College in 2013 and currently serves on its executive board. Jennifer is also a member of the Board of Visitors at the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics at Allegheny. With a degree in economics and a career in business, Jennifer describes her charitable endeavors as investments. She began investing in the College as a senior and has provided annual financial
for The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University since 2015. Beyond her work in Pittsburgh, Jennifer holds space for two organizations that are inextricably part of her life: her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and Allegheny. Jennifer volunteered as a regional province officer for Alpha Chi after graduation and served as a vice president of its national governing board (2012–2020). She believes that sisterhood truly is powerful, noting that “the transformative power of that experience for women can be really fantastic, particularly the educational and leadership opportunities.”
her class reunions. Jennifer served on the Alumni Council for six years, including a one-year term as president, and was a member of the Timothy Alden Council Executive Committee, helping to raise funds for the College’s Annual Fund. She was named a
contributions ever since. Her early gifts came in $10 payments and increased in frequency and value as her income grew. “Sometimes it’s easier for you to invest your time, which is great, but I think that as you’re able to invest monetarily, it’s also important to make that switch, if you can,” she said. After
reflecting on the kind of impact that she hoped to make, Jennifer asked herself, “Can I make a couple of small sacrifices to help a student in need? To help change their life?” Jennifer found that contributing to Allegheny on a monthly basis works best for her family and she treats the payments as budget expenses. In fact, she has contributed to the college every month since July 2001 through an electronic fund transfer from her bank. She found that gifts that might otherwise seem impossible may be feasible when given incrementally. As a case in point, Jennifer and her husband, Lenny Chan, funded their first Annual Fund Grant at Allegheny this year with a monthly contribution of $417. These $5,000 grants are applied directly to students’ tuition bills and serve the dual purpose of providing financial aid and helping to teach recipients about the role that philanthropy plays at Allegheny. Benefactors’ names appear on students’ tuition bills showing a $5,000 deduction from the balance due. This helps students to understand that there are living donors who are, at that very moment, vested in their success. (Donors retain full control over what information is shared with students.) Read more about the program here:
https://sites.allegheny.edu/ annualgiving/annual/alleghenyannual-fund-grant-program/ Allegheny is a primary focus of Jennifer’s philanthropy because she believes in giving back and leaving things a little better than before. She said that she is still gaining
from her Allegheny experience and added that “there is a lifting of spirit that happens” when she returns to speak with students or to attend trustee meetings because of her many relationships and the opportunities that she has had, and continues to have, through the College. Jennifer wishes this
experience for everyone and said in closing, “I would say to those people who haven’t been engaged with the College, ‘It’s not too late to rekindle those connections and to make new ones.’ I’ve never met an Alleghenian who didn’t want to help someone else.” You see, you, too, may be a philanthropist.
Planning Tip
To see the annual impact of monthly giving at different levels and to set up a recurring donation to Allegheny, visit https://sites.allegheny.edu/alumni/payment-options/
An online Allegheny community where you can... Connect with Fellow Gators. Offer or receive career advice. Post or explore job & internship opportunities. Build Your Allegheny Network.
Join today: https://gator2gator.allegheny.edu
SPOTLIGHT
Philanthropy Is Not a Scary Word Most of us would quickly answer “no” if asked if we were a philanthropist. We think of the Madame C.J. Walkers, Melinda Gates, and MacKenzie Scotts of the world — super affluent women who have made extraordinary charitable gifts — as philanthropists, but ourselves? No way. Yet philanthropy encompasses all voluntary gifts of time, talent, and treasure on behalf of the common good. “It’s not a million-dollar word,” said Allegheny Trustee Jennifer Daurora ’99 as she described what philanthropy means to her. “You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.” She knows of what she speaks.
“ You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a great impact.”
After graduation, Jennifer worked for an information management company for several years, and then joined McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores, where she represented the third generation
of her family’s business, ultimately serving as COO. Jennifer quickly established herself as a rising professional in her hometown and has received the Pittsburgh Business Times’ “Business Women First” and “Fast Tracker” awards; Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 Under 40” award; and was named one of “Pittsburgh’s Finest.” She is a 2003 member of the Entrepreneurial Fellows Class at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. Jennifer joined PNC Bank as a vice president in business banking in 2019 after making the difficult decision to close the family business in 2018 in the face of competition from larger grocers, home-meal delivery kits, and food sourced online. Finding blessings even in challenges, Jennifer is delighted to be at PNC, where she is able to fulfill her long-held commitment to empowering women. She is involved with the bank’s Women’s Business Development Program, which helps provide women with the necessary tools to lead their companies and serve their communities, and she co-chairs a committee of “Women Connect” whose mission is to support the personal growth and development of PNC employees. Jennifer has also served on the board of visitors
Jennifer has been putting her leadership skills to work for Allegheny since her student days, where she notably presided over the Panhellenic Council, worked in admissions and as a freshman seminar assistant, and participated in a variety of student organizations. She has been a Volunteer in Service to Allegheny (VISA) assisting with student recruitment efforts and has helped to organize each of
trustee of the College in 2013 and currently serves on its executive board. Jennifer is also a member of the Board of Visitors at the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics at Allegheny. With a degree in economics and a career in business, Jennifer describes her charitable endeavors as investments. She began investing in the College as a senior and has provided annual financial
for The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University since 2015. Beyond her work in Pittsburgh, Jennifer holds space for two organizations that are inextricably part of her life: her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and Allegheny. Jennifer volunteered as a regional province officer for Alpha Chi after graduation and served as a vice president of its national governing board (2012–2020). She believes that sisterhood truly is powerful, noting that “the transformative power of that experience for women can be really fantastic, particularly the educational and leadership opportunities.”
her class reunions. Jennifer served on the Alumni Council for six years, including a one-year term as president, and was a member of the Timothy Alden Council Executive Committee, helping to raise funds for the College’s Annual Fund. She was named a
contributions ever since. Her early gifts came in $10 payments and increased in frequency and value as her income grew. “Sometimes it’s easier for you to invest your time, which is great, but I think that as you’re able to invest monetarily, it’s also important to make that switch, if you can,” she said. After
reflecting on the kind of impact that she hoped to make, Jennifer asked herself, “Can I make a couple of small sacrifices to help a student in need? To help change their life?” Jennifer found that contributing to Allegheny on a monthly basis works best for her family and she treats the payments as budget expenses. In fact, she has contributed to the college every month since July 2001 through an electronic fund transfer from her bank. She found that gifts that might otherwise seem impossible may be feasible when given incrementally. As a case in point, Jennifer and her husband, Lenny Chan, funded their first Annual Fund Grant at Allegheny this year with a monthly contribution of $417. These $5,000 grants are applied directly to students’ tuition bills and serve the dual purpose of providing financial aid and helping to teach recipients about the role that philanthropy plays at Allegheny. Benefactors’ names appear on students’ tuition bills showing a $5,000 deduction from the balance due. This helps students to understand that there are living donors who are, at that very moment, vested in their success. (Donors retain full control over what information is shared with students.) Read more about the program here:
https://sites.allegheny.edu/ annualgiving/annual/alleghenyannual-fund-grant-program/ Allegheny is a primary focus of Jennifer’s philanthropy because she believes in giving back and leaving things a little better than before. She said that she is still gaining
from her Allegheny experience and added that “there is a lifting of spirit that happens” when she returns to speak with students or to attend trustee meetings because of her many relationships and the opportunities that she has had, and continues to have, through the College. Jennifer wishes this
experience for everyone and said in closing, “I would say to those people who haven’t been engaged with the College, ‘It’s not too late to rekindle those connections and to make new ones.’ I’ve never met an Alleghenian who didn’t want to help someone else.” You see, you, too, may be a philanthropist.
Planning Tip
To see the annual impact of monthly giving at different levels and to set up a recurring donation to Allegheny, visit https://sites.allegheny.edu/alumni/payment-options/
An online Allegheny community where you can... Connect with Fellow Gators. Offer or receive career advice. Post or explore job & internship opportunities. Build Your Allegheny Network.
Join today: https://gator2gator.allegheny.edu
CIRCLES, CONTINUED
Giving circles provide individuals of all means with
Sondra Shaw-Hardy notes in her book, Creating
the opportunity to engage in impactful philanthropy.
A Women’s Giving Circle: The Original Handbook
A $100 gift to charity can quickly turn into $1,000
(Mission Point Press, 2021), that women’s increasing
or more when pooled with others’ gifts. The addition
control of their own finances contributes to the
of zeros or donors to this example shows the
growth of giving circles.
exponential and significant nature of circle giving. Researchers estimate that known U.S. circles have contributed more than $1.29 billion to charity over the past 40 years. They also tell us that those who participate in giving circles are likely to give more in
• What is the right size? • Who will be involved? • What are the group’s key values and interest areas? • Is there a required minimum gift for participation? • How often will you meet?
money and time overall than those who do not; to give proactively more often than reactively; and to be more engaged in civic and political activities than those who are not part of a circle.
The
Ella Nash Society
Joining or creating a women’s giving circle may be one of the most pleasant and meaningful ways to engage in philanthropy. To start one, all that is needed is a group of like-minded people, common
• How will the group identify needs and giving options? • Who will make giving decisions? • How will gifts be conveyed to charity? • Are there existing organizations with which to partner?
interests, and a forum for discussing what the group would like to accomplish and where that might be done. Philanthropy Together (https://philanthropytogether.org) is an excellent resource for further information.
The sense of community that circles foster is one of their most appealing features for many women. A recent survey of active circles found that 70%
To learn how your circle might support
of respondents said that more than half of their
Allegheny students and faculty, contact
membership was female. Further, nearly half of
Melissa Mencotti at giftplan@allegheny.edu
those that reported serving a specific identity were
or by calling (814) 332-5912.
organized by women to support women’s concerns.
Ms. Melissa Mencotti Director of Gift Planning Allegheny College 520 N. Main Street Meadville, PA 16335
Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit No 4123 Pittsburgh PA
Inspiring Women, Informing Philanthropy
This semiannual newsletter, named for M. Ella Nash, Class of 1873, the College’s first female graduate, celebrates women’s philanthropy.
Summer 2021
The Power of Collective Giving
PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION
Girl Power!
sought “to show what a strong and
When Elaine Herrmann Blais and
united behind a common cause,”
Heather Miller joined the Allegheny
said Elaine. They contributed
Class of 1991’s 30th reunion committee
$12,250 for the 2020/21 Annual
last year, they invited close friends
close circle of women can do when
Fund, which touches every aspect
Many hands make light work, goes the saying, and
and educational activities. There are 2,000 known
when collectively reaching for the checkbook as part
circles in the U.S. and countless numbers of informal,
of a giving circle, they also make a big impact on the
unregistered groups.
nonprofit sector.
Informal circles such as Girl Power (see Page 6) grow
Giving circles consist of friends, associates, or others
organically and lack organizational charters, specific
with mutual interests who pool their charitable
giving expectations, and meeting requirements.
dollars and make shared decisions about how
They are small enough that members make funding
their gifts are allocated to charity. Circles are as
decisions as a group. The most formal circles are
unique as the donors who comprise them, varying
large, hierarchical organizations with prominent
in size, members’ giving expectations, formality of
board members, detailed committee structures,
governance, and philanthropic goals. They may be
minimum gift amounts, and representative voting
local, national, or international in scope and mission
on charitable activities. Increasingly, networks of
Dawnmarie Eckenrode Black, Cynthia Chappell
of the College. Elaine said that the women give
Deal, Joanna Gillespie, Deirdre Kosky-Kaupelis,
charitably when inspired and “the friendships we
Laurie Katshir McKiernan, Kelly Lengauer
made at Allegheny, and all that those friendships
Musmanno, Karen Brown Roux, Maura Keogh
have given us … provided that inspiration.” She
Shafer, Jackie Rudolph Smathers and Lauren
added that through a giving circle, “our gift … has
Flannery Thiele to join them in a giving circle —
more impact together than any of us do alone.”
with divergent (if any) degrees of staffing and
giving circles such as the Community Investment
Pictured left to right: Heather Miller ’91, Elaine
infrastructure. Circles may center around specific
Network, Impact 100, and Women’s Giving Circle
interpersonal and/or geographic communities, and
International are organizing for even greater
they almost always include some form of social
philanthropic leverage.
affectionately dubbed “Girl Power” — to make a special gift to the College. Girl Power inspired them to make larger individual gifts than usual as they
Herrmann Blais ’91, and Joanna Gillespie ’91
continued on inside flap
