A Trust giving circle that nurtures the grassroots - The New York Community Trust

February 12, 2018 | By The New York Community Trust

A Trust giving circle that nurtures the grassroots

They gather four times a year in one another’s homes to decide which of the small nonprofits they’ve visited will get grants. Deborah McManus, one of the three founding members of WellMet Philanthropy, takes no credit for organizing this group of donors: “I read an article about women getting together, pooling their money, and giving it away. It just sounded like a wonderful idea.”

All the women were philanthropists before, “but we weren’t hands-on,” adds Deborah. “We decided that we wanted to support very small groups, and often passionate grassroots leaders, where our grants, which range from $5,000 to $20,000, would make a difference,” says Rose-Lee. “We’re often their first grant.” They set up their fund in The Trust in 1999 and created their own process for grantmaking. “We get our ideas from reading articles, talking with friends, listening to nonprofit leaders. Each member brings suggestions to the group, having done the research and made site visits,” says Deborah. They’ve come to our briefings, including one on how to read a nonprofit’s informational tax return. Visit WellMet Philanthropy’s website to join them or learn more.