Welcome to the Giving Circle!
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. - Maya Angelou
Are you looking for a new way to make a difference?
The Giving Circle is way for people to bring their time, talent and resources together to support solutions to issues they care about. By joining with others in learning and giving - each donor can experience the impact of making a larger gift. Multiply the change!
The topic for the 2011-2012 grant cycle is Access to the Arts for Everyone. The Circle is particularly interested in programs that make a difference for people with other wise limited experience / participation of arts programing including people with disabilities, and others.
Mission statement
The Nonprofit Network Giving Circle seeks to educate ourselves regarding the needs of our community in order to provide funding to organizations committed to helping Clark County residents in all life stages lead healthy, self -sufficient lives.
How does a Giving Circle work?
The Circle meets monthly (almost!) to learn about community issues from local experts, review grant proposals and interview nonprofit organizations that have applied for funding. A group decision is then made on how to distribute the pooled funds. We get together the fourth Thursday of most months, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meetings are open to visitors! We get to know each other, welcome new members, and learn about how to make a difference in the place where we live. The focus is on giving, learning, fun. Download an overview and grants history here.
Givingcircle_overview_color.pdf Givingcircle_grants_color.pdf
Member Donations
Each voting Circle Member contributes $250 for the grant funding pool. Not into a monthly meeting? Be a part of the change by making a donation of any amount as a Circle Friend. Donations can be made any time before the April ‘final count’ of funds available to grant for the year.
• A Membership Fee of $25 is an unrestricted contribution to be used towards Nonprofit Network costs including materials, bank fees, etc.
• This contribution is $10 for renewing members.
• This donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
• Your entire $250 grant fund donation will go to the funding pool and is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
• Even if making your donation later in the year, we ask that you make the $25 or $10 registration donation in October or November.
• Nonprofit Network administrative time is donated.
Nonprofit staff & board members are welcome to participate as members. Our conflict of interest policy states that they are ineligible to vote on decisions directly affecting their organization.
Donate
Make your membership or friend donations ONLINE HERE or mail a check payable to Nonprofit Network Giving Circle Fund, Nonprofit Network SWWA, P.O. Box 822379, Vancouver WA 98682.
Schedule 2011-2012
Meetings are open to members and prospective members. It’s best to confirm that the schedule is accurate as weather or events sometimes cause a change.
Applicant organizations may be invited to an interview, but otherwise are not generally invited to attend meetings.
Meetings are held at Innovative Services NW on the fourth Thursday of the month (except for holiday months) from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
• October 27th: Kick Off!
• November 10th: Guiding Circle Meeting (all Members are invited).
• December 8th: Christmas Social at the Grant House Restaurant, 1101 Officers Row, Vancouver
• January 26th: Groups that have applied for funding make a presentation to the Giving Circle.
• February 23rd: Groups that have applied for funding make a presentation to the Giving Circle.
• March 22nd: Groups that have applied for funding make a presentation to the Giving Circle.
• April 26th: Groups that have applied for funding make a presentation to the Giving Circle.
• May 24th: Discussion of the applications and voting
• June 28th: The Party where we give the organizations checks for their programs!
• July tbd: Retreat for Giving Circle Members to evaluate the year and make plans for the next grant cycle.
Hope to see you! Please contact us for more information. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 360.735.7110.
Grants 2011
Homeless and Housing Total Awarded is $10,650
Janus Youth Programs
To assist homeless youth with securing identifications or birth certificates; bus passes for work, school, etc. and to occasionally provide a young person with a job interview outfit or such needs.
Southwest Washington Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Creating an assistance fund for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind people seeking assistance with emergency housing, food, clothing, on a temporary basis.
Vida’s Ark – The Lighthouse Community Center
Provides young teen families, often homeless or living in low-income housing, with material resources, community resource referrals, and diverse educational opportunities offering a safe haven to large numbers of homeless and impoverished teen families.
YWCA Clark County
The Transportation for Survivors Escaping Domestic Violence project provides C-Tran bus tickets, gas vouchers, and cab fare for residents of the Safe Choice Shelter. Having limited or no transportation in a time of crises can mean the difference between surviving and thriving or returning home to the abuser.
Grants 2008
Topic: Teens in Transition l Total Awarded $10,145
Janus Youth Programs.
Circle funding provided homeless teens with clothing, transportation, art therapy supplies books & videos at three Clark County shelters or outreach locations.
OPTIONS Youth Program
Funds provided food, ID cards, driver’s license & food handler test fees, work tools, boots, uniforms, transportation, housing, and other essentials for homeless youth with sig¬nificant mental health diagnosis.
Columbia River Mental Health Services
A new pregnancy avoidance experience of ‘babies’ requiring 24-hour care was included as a possible element of treatment in working with youth w/ mental health concerns, and other significant issues.
Silver Buckle Equestrian Center
Clients are youth at risk referred for equine therapy by Juvenile Justice, foster care or oth¬er social services. Also funding for a scholarship is for youth-in-need
Grants 2010
Topic Clark County’s vulnerable elderly population. Total awarded $10,040
CDM Services Community Partnership Initiative
The funds will be used to provide funds for hard costs then matched with in-kind donations of volunteer labor leveraging the grant to provide for the needs of vulnerable seniors. Needs to be met include modifications and repairs of homes, specialized and therapeutic furniture or similar concerns not covered by any other provider.
Children’s Home Society Clark County Kinship Care Coalition
Funding of a 10-week class series for grandparents raising grandchildren (and other kinship caregivers). Grandparents are isolated by the challenges, time constraints, financial, health, transportation hardships they encounter as they move back into the world of raising young children.
Community Housing Resource Center Senior Housing and Financial Counseling
The overarching goal of the program is to improve the housing stability and financial security of low-income seniors in the area who are struggling in the current economic climate. Some may avoid foreclosure by securing loan modifications; others may secure a reverse mortgage or initiate a debt management plan.
Human Services Council Sponsor-A-Ride
The goal of the project is to provide efficient transportation services to meet the needs of seniors getting to medical appointments, social activities, shopping trips, senior centers & meal sites. Transportation options are determined based on the client’s needs and can include door-to-door
curb transport, transportation chaperone, and training on how to use the transit system.
Grants 2009
Topic: early childhood programs. Total awarded: $11,000
Children’s Center
Coaches Program
Funding for materials to make (& assist families in making) specialized treatment and training materials for preschool children affected by methamphetamines.
Columbia River Mental Health Services
Happy Healthy Families
Grant funding for purchase of “Love and Logic” updated visual and auditory training materials including corresponding workbooks, with the remaining funds towards the purchase of experiential therapeutic equipment for infants and toddlers.
Educational Services District 112 – Child Care & Family Services
Early Childhood Lending Library Improvement Project
For purchase software and related items that will allow access to the childcare provider library catalog online.
Washington State University Foundation
“Play School”: At Home At School Early Literacy and Early Grades Transitions Project
In support of a pilot program to further increase kindergarten readiness among very low income children funds will purchase educational manipulatives, books, toys and a mobile unit for use at WSU Vancouver, shelters and housing facilities. Funds will also provide a match for staff time in creating and implementing a program to assist children and their parents in ‘playing school’.
