Circle Up: Bay Area Giving Leaders Connect
This week, Santa Rosa Women for Good Board President Alex Hailey attended the Philanthropy Together Circle Up event in San Francisco, joining giving circle leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community changemakers from across the Bay Area for an evening centered around collective giving and community impact.
The event brought together representatives from a wide range of giving circles and philanthropic organizations to share ideas, experiences, and stories about the growing movement of collective philanthropy. Throughout the evening, one message consistently stood out: while giving circles create financial impact for nonprofits and communities, the connection and sense of belonging they foster among members is often just as meaningful. This certainly rings true for Santa Rosa Women for Good.
Leaders from Battery Powered, Latino Community Foundation and Jewish Federation Bay Area with Sara Lomelin of Philanthropy Together
Attendees heard inspiring stories from organizations including Battery Powered, Latino Community Foundation, and Jewish Federation Bay Area about the real-life impact community-driven giving can create. Conversations throughout the evening highlighted how important flexible, community-rooted support can be for nonprofits responding to immediate and evolving needs.
This message strongly aligned with feedback Santa Rosa Women for Good has heard from local nonprofit partners over the years. The grants provided by Santa Rosa Women for Good are intentionally designed to be flexible, allowing organizations to use funds in whatever way best supports their mission and current needs. While we always love hearing stories about the impact of our group’s giving, we intentionally avoid burdensome reporting requirements and paperwork that can sometimes make traditional grant funding feel inaccessible or cumbersome for smaller organizations.
Another key message of the evening was the reminder that philanthropy is accessible to everyone. Collective giving is built on the idea that people do not need to be wealthy to make a meaningful difference. Whether through financial contributions, volunteering, advocacy, professional expertise, or simply showing up for one another, individuals can create lasting change when they come together around shared values and goals.
A meaningful moment of the evening was the opportunity for Alex to connect with Sara Lomelin, whose TED Talk on giving and collective philanthropy helped inspire Alex’s journey toward becoming involved with Santa Rosa Women for Good several years ago. It was a very full circle moment!
As Santa Rosa Women for Good continues to grow, events like Circle Up reaffirm the power of community-centered philanthropy and the importance of creating spaces where people can connect, collaborate, and make an impact together.
Interested in learning more about collective giving or getting involved with Santa Rosa Women for Good? Please reach out or we would love to connect with you at an upcoming event.