Join The Movement: Why Collective Giving Is Changing Philanthropy

Hi, I’m Anna Graves , President of Impact 100 Seattle, a women’s collective giving organization. Now, based on that title, you might think this article is self-serving—and I get it! Of course, I’d love for you to join our group, but honestly, I’d be just as happy if you joined any collective giving organization. Why? Because joining a collective giving group can make your donation and participation snowball into something much greater!

The Rise of Collective Giving

New research from Philanthropy Together shows incredible growth in collective giving across the U.S., now with over 370,000 philanthropists who have collectively donated $3.1 billion to nonprofits over the past 7 years. These numbers represent real change as many collective giving groups bring more diverse voices to philanthropy, create more equitable access to funds, and practice greater community-driven decision-making.?

What Exactly is Collective Giving?

In collective giving, individuals come together to pool their financial resources, time, and/or expertise to make a larger impact than they could when individually donating to a specific nonprofit. It’s a more inclusive, community-driven approach to giving—and it’s making a difference.

For example, at Impact 100 Seattle , we aim to bring together at least 100 women, each donating at least $1,000 to create a $100,000 grant for small, community-based organizations in the Puget Sound region. The donation amount and number of members vary, but most collective giving groups including ours, follow a democratic process, where each member has a vote and can participate in the process of distributing the grants. In addition, collective giving groups are more likely to focus on empowering organizations that support marginalized communities (83%), are locally focused (70%), and provide unrestricted grants (72%).

I am already a significant donor. Why do collective giving?

You might be thinking, “Why not just donate the full $100,000 myself?” Well, if you can, you should AND you should join a collective giving group as well. Why? Because there’s more to collective giving than just money:

• Inspire Others: You might be a seasoned philanthropist, and by joining a group, you become a resource and inspiration for others just starting their journey. This is a way to extend your legacy beyond your immediate circle of influence. For those who are just starting out in philanthropy, learning from donors like yourself and seeing the possibilities is critical.
• Expand Your Network: You’ll meet like-minded people who want to support a cause or a community you care about.?In addition, you will likely get exposure to new organizations that might be flying under the radar of traditional philanthropy.
• Learn & Grow: The philanthropic world is evolving—trust-based philanthropy, equity-focused giving, and participatory grantmaking are just a few trends. Collective giving offers the chance to learn, adapt your strategy, and open your mind to new ways of supporting the community. For those of you who are financially minded, think of this as diversifying your philanthropic investment.

What if You Can’t Give Big?

If your philanthropic donations are not in the 6 digits, collective giving is perfect for you too. In addition to finding a group of likeminded people to learn from and socialize with, collective giving will make your contribution count more:

• Snowball effect: One of our members, Erika Locatelli, loves that her $1,000 donation “snowballs” when combined with others. The pooled resources—money, skills, and volunteer hours—make a much bigger impact than you can by yourself.
• Participate in decision making: In most collective giving groups you will have a vote on how the collective dollars are allocated. In addition you will have opportunities to participate in the grant review process, join the leadership team, or work on a committee.?This is a great opportunity to learn something new, sharpen your skills, and influence the direction of funding.??
• Many options for those just starting out: Collective giving groups often acknowledge that not all members can meet donation thresholds and many offer membership levels and discounted memberships to improve the accessibility of their groups.? At Impact 100 Seattle , we offer “Impactships” --those who share our passion but can’t afford the full donation can join and pay what you can while receiving full member benefits and voting rights. In addition we reserve a board seat for community representatives to ensure diverse voices are part of our decision-making.

Lasting Impact

Collective giving groups can open the door to a life of serving your community. According to the Philanthropy Together research, 63% of members report donating more since joining a group. 60% volunteer more, including board service and other non-monetary support. At Impact 100 Seattle , many of our members have built deep connections with nonprofits they learned about through the granting process. Our members have joined boards and volunteered their time and services to our grantee partners and past grant applicants.

A Growing Movement for Everyone

At Impact 100 Seattle , we’re just one small part of a growing movement that’s democratizing philanthropy. Collective giving empowers diverse groups of people to pool resources and make a bigger impact. It’s a more inclusive, community-driven approach to giving—and it’s making a difference.

So whether you’re Melinda French Gates , Mackenzie Scott, or ‘just a regular person’ looking to make a difference, consider joining a collective giving group. It’s a learning journey that will leave you with a sense of purpose and connection. If you're looking for a group, check out Grapevine’s database of collective giving groups. And if you’re a Puget Sound-based woman who wants to support small, local organizations with unrestricted funds, we’d love to hear from you at Impact 100 Seattle.

Written for Impact 100 Seattle by Anna Graves president and co-founder of Impact 100 Seattle .