Impact, Powered by Giving
Through a giving circle that multiplies the impact of individual donations, the New Philanthropists are helping people in Monroe County discover philanthropy and become involved in their local communities.
Volunteering was an important part of Jackie Macal’s life when she was a college student. Once she graduated and became a middle school English teacher, however, she didn’t have much time available for community service, especially with her evenings devoted to a second job at the Monroe County YMCA. As a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, where she studied nonprofit management, and as a former president of the local chapter of Key Club, a student service organization, she felt frustrated that her stage in life prevented her from giving large amounts of time or money to the causes she believed in.
“I didn’t have time to be involved with the nonprofit sector like I wanted to,” she says, “but I also didn’t have thousands of dollars to give an organization.”
In the summer of 2009, Macal learned about a group of other like-minded professionals in similar situations. Called the New Philanthropists, the team had grown out of a project in the Leadership Bloomington – Monroe County (LBMC) program, a seven-month adult education course focused on community involvement. Jessika Hane, Oliver Winery’s human resources director, was a member of the LBMC group that conceived of the New Philanthropists.
“We wanted to find a way for young professionals to make an impact with their limited dollars,” says Hane, who is now the New Philanthropists’ president. “We realized that by forming a giving circle and pooling resources, we could help people see how small amounts of money could add up.”
The group chose the word “new” rather than “young,” to emphasize that the circle was open to anyone getting started with philanthropy. The “new” concept also refers to the circle’s fresh approach to philanthropy: coordinating smaller donations to build far-reaching and sustainable gifts. “None of us could afford to start a million-dollar endowment,” Hane explains, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together as philanthropists.”
When Macal attended the group’s first call-out meeting, she learned that the group asked for a $200 annual contribution, which could be split among up to four members. In addition to identifying an organization to receive that year’s collective grant, the group would also use the contributions to build an endowment at the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. The group got together each month, and several of the meetings were devoted to site visits to learn more about potential grant recipients.
For Macal, the group met all her needs, offering not only a way to be of service with limited time and resources, but also to connect to others who share her interests.
“The time commitment worked for me, and I was able to go in with some friends to afford the annual contribution. Having studied nonprofits, I knew that $1,000 or $2,000 was going to make a huge difference to a local organization. I was also excited about building the endowment so our contribution would be sustainable,” she says. “Plus, joining the New Philanthropists was a great way to meet people. After I graduated from IU most of my friends left the area, but this group has helped me build a new network.”
In addition to forging relationships with the other New Philanthropists, Macal values the opportunity to learn about local nonprofit agencies. The New Philanthropists are now in their third year, and have recently identified Monroe County Circles Initiative as this year’s grant recipient, where previous recipients were Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and Girls, Inc. Even when an organization is not selected, Macal says that by reading about and visiting the agency, the members can become passionate advocates.
“Now I have greater awareness about the good work that is being done in this town, and I can talk about it and promote it,” she says. “All year, I get to learn about these organizations and what they do. Through the New Philanthropists, I’m also a part of those efforts, which is really rewarding.”