Discover how Women Giving Together grew from eight women to a million-dollar giving circle supporting Delaware County (OH) nonprofits.Are you curious how local communities are transforming philanthropy and addressing urgent nonprofit needs, even with limited resources? This episode brings you face-to-face with Sue Mahler, co-founder of Women Giving Together, to reveal the step-by-step strategies that turned a small group of passionate women into a million-dollar force for good.Sue shares her journey from school advocacy to nonprofit leadership, how Women Giving Together launched and scaled, and why focusing flexible resources on community needs can catalyze change far beyond what’s possible alone.What you’ll learn in this episode:The origins and explosive growth of Women Giving Together, from 8 to 65+ women and $1 million in grantsHow giving circles operate, evaluate grant applications, and maintain transparency and focus as they growThe importance of strategic partnerships like the Delaware County Foundation for financial management and community connectionsTips for starting your own giving circle or joining an existing one, including alternative models and easy entry pointsReal-world impact stories, like how one site visit led to a $100,000+ capital campaign for a local free storeLooking to amplify your marketing with powerful community stories, or searching for sustainable fundraising ideas? Listen now and get inspired to lead change in your own backyard.Ready to learn, give, or launch your own impact circle?Connect with Women Giving Together by emailing womengivingtogether@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.5 Frequently Asked Questions about Women Giving TogetherWhat is Women Giving Together? Women Giving Together is a collective giving circle in Delaware County, Ohio, comprised of 65+ women who pool annual donations to fund grants for local nonprofits.How do the group’s grantmaking and review process work? Members meet annually to decide focus areas, review nonprofit applications, conduct site visits, and use an objective evaluation system to award funds.How is Women Giving Together structured financially? The circle operates as a donor-advised fund with the Delaware County Foundation, ensuring financial protection, investment, and efficient grant disbursement without needing their own nonprofit status.Can anyone join Women Giving Together or attend events? Anyone with a kind, giving heart can apply for membership by emailing the group. There’s no pressure—members can participate as much or as little as they wish, and prospective members are invited to attend meetings and events.What advice does Women Giving Together offer to others wanting to start a giving circle? Find and learn from existing giving circles before starting your own—there are multiple models, and connecting with experienced groups saves time and strengthens success.If you like this episode, please let us know. We appreciate the feed back, and your support of offset costs of producing the podcast!https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information provided in these interviews is for general informational pu