Many Hands

We were thrilled to celebrate Many Hands’ 20th anniversary last night at Hogan Lovells with members, friends, and grantees. In this short video, released at the event, founding board members share what they set out to achieve and grantees talk about the difference Many Hands has made for their work. Video production by ShareLiveVideo.

Do you want to understand more about nonprofit finances? Whether you plan to participate in a Many Hands focus area committee or just want to make informed decisions about your personal giving, it's always good practice to conduct a basic review of a nonprofit's finances. Sound daunting? An upcoming Finance 101 session is designed to demystify financial information and answer questions. You don't need a CPA—just Zoom in for this informative session! WHEN: Thursday, December 12, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm WHERE: On Zoom WHO: We welcome anyone interested in this important topic to join us. RSVP: manyhandsdc.org/events Please email [email protected] with questions.

TONIGHT! Join Many Hands for a thought-provoking conversation about how schools, employers, governments, and nonprofits can prepare local youth for college and career success. Robert B. Schwartz, professor emeritus at @harvardeducation and co-lead of the Pathways to Prosperity Network, and Erin Bibo, vice president of strategic initiatives at CityWorks DC, will share what they've learned about what works--and what doesn't--from decades of experience in research and the field. There's still time to register for this Zoom event, which starts at 6:00 pm, at manyhandsdc.org/events. This event is open to all. Invite a friend!

We're proud to see 2019 Partner Grantee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Prince George's County recognized for helping youth and young adults like Kaps Kapende pursue their dreams and for supporting Thrive Prince George's, a two-year, $4 million pilot that is the first #guaranteedincome program exclusively serving residents of Prince George's County.

We want to make it easy for you to support Many Hands and strengthen local nonprofits. Choose one of our three membership options for full access to Many Hands benefits, including the opportunity to participate in grantmaking, or support our grants with a non-membership gift. Membership options: ? DISCOVER COLLECTIVE GIVING: Donors under 35 are invited to become part of the future of collective giving at Many Hands with an annual membership gift of $300. ? SUPPORT COLLECTIVE GIVING: Donors 35 and older are invited to support collective giving through Many Hands with an annual membership gift of $1,000 or more. ? MANY HANDS MANY VOICES: If cost is a barrier to membership, we offer a waiver of 50% of the minimum membership gift to donors 35 and older who live or work in our service area and plan to participate actively in Many Hands. Find out more at manyhandsdc.org/membership or email us at [email protected]. Ready to give? Go to https://lnkd.in/dHmmSFQ! #collectivegiving #collectiveimpact #impactdc #givingtogether #manyhands #manyhandsdc

Don't just take our word for it! Reporting on the latest landscape study of collective giving, Axios concludes that "giving circles are the fastest-growing form of philanthropy right now." The number of giving circles and participants tripled between 2007 and 2016—and tripled again between 2016 and 2023. Currently, there are about 4,000 collective giving groups in the US; together, they gave away more than $3 billion between 2019 and 2023. Giving circles’ practices differ from the “top-down” philanthropy of billionaire-funded foundations. Collective giving groups are more likely to center equity in their grant decisions, prioritize giving to community-based organizations, and invest in place-based philanthropy. Many giving circles have also embraced trust-based philanthropy, an approach that seeks to shift power away from funders toward front-line nonprofits. In short, giving circles provide “a glimpse of what a democratic egalitarian philanthropy looks like.” In addition, giving circle members report that participating in collective giving results in significant improvement in their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Being part of a giving circle enhances feelings of belonging, purpose, and connection to community; fosters bonds within groups and across communities; and promotes civic engagement. Many Hands members have enjoyed these benefits for 20 years. To find out how you can become a member and participate in our grantmaking, visit us at manyhandsdc.org/membership or email us at [email protected]. To learn more about the collective giving movement, read the Axios article at https://lnkd.in/eVtn5mWj or download the landscape study from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Colmena Consulting, and Philanthropy Together at https://lnkd.in/gzaHJQwT #nationalphilanthropyday #nationalphilanthropyday2024 #givingcircles #collectivegiving #givingtogether #philanosaffiliate

Are you a Virginia resident interested in learning more about Many Hands? If so, please join Virginia Many Hands members on Sunday, December 8 for an afternoon of connections, refreshments, and a discussion about the power of collective giving. We welcome both current and prospective members to join us at this event. To receive the invitation and updates, or to share this opportunity with friends or colleagues, please email us at [email protected]. #givingcircles #collectivegiving #givingtogether

We’re looking forward to hosting this important conversation next Thursday. Register to receive the link at manyhandsdc.org/events!

This past May, Many Hands members awarded a $69,000 Partner Grant to Together We Bake (TWB), whose mission is to provide comprehensive workforce and personal development training to help women facing barriers to employment gain self-confidence, transferable workforce skills, and invaluable hands-on experience. Since then, ten women graduated from the spring cohort in June, representing an 83% completion rate, and eight of the ten passed the ServSafe exam. Six are already employed. TWB also recently celebrated the graduation of their summer Spanish-speaking cohort. Nine women graduated (100% program completion rate); seven of the nine passed the ServSafe exam; and three are already employed. In addition, TWB was able to offer childcare for the first time through a collaboration with The Child & Family Network Centers. Many thanks to TWB co-founder and executive director Stephanie Wright and Many Hands member and TWB liaison Sidny Oshinsky for sharing this update! #givingcircles #collectivegiving #workforcedevelopment #empoweringwomen #togetherwebake

Don't miss our conversation next week about preparing youth for college and career success! Our speakers are: Robert B. Schwartz, co-founder of the Pathways to Prosperity Network, a network of K-12 and postsecondary education leaders, policymakers, and employers that develops college and career pathways to expand economic opportunity for young people and meet regional talent needs. Erin Bibo, vice president, strategic initiatives at CityWorks DC, whose mission is to dramatically improve the early career outcomes of DC youth and young adults of color by creating innovative programs and by mobilizing employers, educators, and city leaders to create a local, diverse talent pipeline. Bring your questions about what works--and what doesn't--and how schools, employers, governments, and nonprofits can best support local youth. WHEN: Thursday, November 21 at 6:00 pm WHERE: On Zoom WHO: This event is open to all RSVP: manyhandsdc.org/events QUESTIONS? Contact us at [email protected]