Giving Circles engage donors in global philanthropy, connecting people in the U.S. who have a desire to learn and give to exceptional community organizations in the developing world.

Giving Circle members first determine a region and/or issue area of interest. Through a series of meetings, members learn about International Development and Grantmaking, as well as hear expert speakers, discuss specialized curriculum, and review a portfolio of projects related to the group’s interest area(s). Ultimately, members are led through a series of sensus making activities as they review grant proposals from FSD’s international community-based partners and make a collaborative decision about what project(s) to fund. Grants are awarded to the partner organizations and administered by FSD’s US and International staff. Circle members receive ongoing reports on the progress of their funded projects. Click here to download a one page flier on the Giving Circles Model >>

FSD offers three types of Giving Circles

FSD Hosted Giving Circles are open to individuals located in the San Francisco Bay Area. These circles are facilitated by FSD staff and a community host.

Distance Giving Circles are for individuals outside of the San Francisco the Bay Area. These circles allow community hosts to start and run their own circle with FSD providing remote support through our Giving Circle Toolkit and group conference calls.

Traveling Giving Circles take 12-15 donors to a specific country for a two to three week tour that encompasses visits to FSD Partner Organizations in-need of project funding, education about local issues and grant making, sightseeing, and cultural experiences. At the end of the tour participants decide how they will allocate their pooled funds.

Current Giving Circles:

Youth Giving Circle: Bay Area 2012 | Donate to this Circle >>

Circle for Social Equity: New York 2012-2013 | Donate to this Circle >>

Change Brings Change | Bay Area 2012 | Donate to this Circle >>