Giving circles have been praised for their potential to democratize philanthropy. But thinking more ambitiously, can they play a role in democratizing democracy itself? That is, can they encourage organizations promoting social change and equity?

In an online survey commissioned by Philanthropy Together, the Social Justice Giving Circle Project (SJGCP) heard from more than 60 people this winter. Representing 56 giving circles, these respondents shared their approaches to social justice giving and provided a snapshot of where the movements for giving circles and social justice currently intersect.

Coordinated by Joelle Asaro Berman, Seiji Carpenter, Lijia Gong, and Mario Lugay, the SJGCP is a new effort, in partnership with Philanthropy Together, aimed at building a framework for giving circles that want to do more to uphold social justice values and be accountable to movement leaders.

From December 2020 to March 2021, the coordinators received online survey responses from a total of 67 respondents (55 of which completed the survey in its entirety). Drawing on the survey responses, the researchers compiled findings surrounding the noticeable gaps — and potential opportunities — between social justice movements and giving circles.

As the first research project ever to examine the connections between giving circles and social justice, the results from this project reveal two critical opportunities for the field:

  1. The actual definitions of the term “social justice” and “social justice giving circle” are still open to wide interpretation. There is plenty of room — and desire — for developing greater shared understanding; and
     
  2. There is a general lack of learning and best practice resources available for organizations self-identifying as “social justice giving circles.”

Based on these findings, the Social Justice Giving Circle Project raises the exciting question: how much further can these giving circles go with access to training, resources, and an overall cultural shift about how givers view themselves in the ecosystem of changemaking?

Read the full article about giving circles by Maggie May at Johnson Center.