The Landscape of Giving Circles/Collective Giving Groups in the U.S (original) (raw)

To address these questions, we gathered data in two steps: First, we created a database of GCs based on secondary data from previous studies and a web-based search to document existing GCs. Then, we surveyed GCs using the database contacts. The survey included questions about operations, structure, and composition of GCs. A total of 358 GCs responded to the survey, giving us a response rate of 33 percent of active GCs in our database. A summary of our key findings is below. Number, Age, and Location of GCs We found a significant expansion of the number of GCs. Our research identified 1,087 independently run and currently active GCs, along with 525 GC chapters that are part of different GC networks and programs. The number of GCs has more than tripled since the last landscape study, conducted in 2007 by Jessica Bearman for the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (now the United Philanthropy Forum). About half of the GCs were formed since 2010. GCs are found in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We also identified 13 nationwide GCs and nine that are organized online. Composition of GCs We estimate that GCs have engaged at least 150,000 people since their inception. The average number of members is 116, the median number is 50, and the most common number of members is 100. Our findings suggest that GCs are engaging more people overall, and more people on average per group, than was found in previous studies. Compared to previous research, the number of identity-based groups is also growing. At the same time, while there is diversity across groups, there is not a great deal of diversity within groups. We found that about 60 percent of GCs are formed around a particular identity. Consistent with past research by Bearman and by Rutnik and Bearman, women's GCs remain the most common type (48.5 percent of our database) and women continue to be the majority of participants in GCs. However, there has been growth in the number of men-only GCs and ones organized by LGBTQ groups. We found 45 men-only groups and 24 LGBTQ groups. The number of GCs has more than tripled since the last landscape study.