More and more, women are taking an active role in deciding how their philanthropic dollars are spent. One way local Jewish women can do that is by joining the Circle of Chai.
The Circle of Chai is a women’s giving circle established last year under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Women’s Division. A giving circle allows donors to leverage their assets by pooling their contributions to achieve a greater impact. Those that are democratically arranged, such as Circle of Chai, give donors equal voice in deciding where their contributions go. In the process, donors connect with one another and with their community.
For the second consecutive year the Circle of Chair is being co-chaired by Susan Gersh and Cindy Liebenthal. Last year 21 women participated.
Gersh is involved because she believes it is important for women to become empowered in deciding where their money should go.
“Being a part of Circle of Chai gives them ownership,” she said.
Liebenthal said that this giving circle provides its members with social, educational and philanthropic opportunities. From the beginning she has been enthusiastic about it.
“I love bringing together a diverse group of people,” Liebenthal said.
Many of those in the circle did not have much previous involvement with Federation programs.
“I get a good feeling about introducing them to all the good things Federation does. I feel really good about being with a group of women who are intelligent and want to do good things,” Liebenthal continued.
Deborah Bretton Granoff, Federation’s director of special projects, said the Circle of Chai asks that women who join the group make a minimum commitment of $180 “over and above whatever their annual gift to Women’s Division is.”
The first meeting was held in December 2010 and the group concluded its inaugural session this past June. Last year’s focus was on women and children in need. Four meetings were held last year and proposals were received from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Jewish Family Services.
After all the proposals were presented, the members reviewed all the proposals and unanimously decided to approve the Jewish Agency’s proposal for Emotional Therapy for Orphaned Ethiopian Immigrants who are now living in Israel. The circle presented a grant in the amount of $5,000 to the Jewish Agency for the program.
“Although the women made a minimum commitment of $180, most of them decided to put in a few more dollars in order to bring the total to $5,000,” Granoff explained.
“Their participation made a significant difference in the lives of three orphaned Ethiopian children in Israel,” she continued.
Gersh and Liebenthal said the group, which will have its first meeting on Dec. 15, is expanding this year.
“All but two from our original group are returning,” Liebenthal said.
The pair said they received excellent feedback from those who were involved last year, especially about the educational aspect.
“For many in the group what was presented was new information. Others were more familiar and it reinforced what they already knew,” Liebenthal said.
The co-chairs believe everyone felt good about being able to have a voice in where their funds should be sent.
“We had unanimous support for the proposal we chose,” Liebenthal said.
“There is something about a giving circle that really draws me in. It’s so personal and we get to choose where our money goes,” Gersh added.
Liebenthal said this coming year’s giving circle will double in size.
“We wanted to expand to fund more projects. With our increased numbers we expect to triple that. Last year we funded one project, this year we should be able to fund three. That’s very exciting,” she said.
Besides having a larger group, Granoff said the format will change a little this year. Because they plan to fund more than one proposal, each session will have one focus. At the end of the presentations made at that session, a funding decision will be made.
Only the focus for the first session has been determined. It will be feeding the hungry. As was the case last year as well, all proposals will come from Federation’s partner-supported agencies.
“We’ll look at proposals from our partners in Bulgaria/Romania, Israel, probably the Gezer region, and locally here in Kansas City,” Granoff said.
The members of the circle will help determine the focus of the remaining sessions for the 2011-12 year. Areas to be considered could include enhancing Jewish life through education, fighting poverty or caring for the indigent elderly.
“We’re hopeful we’ll have about $3,600 after each of these meetings in order to fund,” Granoff said.
Anyone interested in joining the Circle of Chai or who would like more information may contact Granoff at 913-327-8106 or .