Giving Circles
Would you like to change the world but don’t know how to start? Would you like to gain a deeper understanding of a social issue, a particular environment, and its actors? Would you like to make change in a way that is both enjoyable and fulfilling for you and others?
Giving circles are voluntarily organized groups whose members pool their financial resources, collectively decide on the purpose of their support, and often build direct relationships with the causes they support. They combine giving with participatory decision-making, providing an opportunity for members to better understand community needs, support local initiatives, and build networks based on trust and shared values. Giving circles can vary in size, structure, and focus—from informal groups of friends to structures supported by community foundations—but their common goal is to make giving more democratic, inclusive, and community-centered.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
- Because you don’t just donate—you also build relationships.
- Because in addition to your money, you can also give your attention, your questions, and your curiosity.
- Because the experience of collective decision-making strengthens the belief that we have impact—not alone, but together.
A giving circle can be started by a group of friends, a professional community, a local group, or any group organized around a common cause or interest. The Roots and Wings Foundation provides professional support through consultations and workshops to help you carry out the giving circle process as effectively and enjoyably as possible.
INTRODUCING: NADE! – WOMEN GIVING TOGETHER!
We launched our women’s giving circle in December 2022, the first of its kind in Hungary, which provides a space for women to grow closer to one another, better understand the situation of women in Hungary, and make change through giving. The 12-20 women participating in the circle explore opportunities, get to know each other, and experience the collective power of women at monthly meetings. During the 2-3 hour meetings, they gain a more detailed and deeper understanding of the situation of Hungarian women in today’s society by inviting experts and representatives of civil society organizations. At the same time, they also collectively decide on the monthly donations they contribute, distributing the pooled support among women’s causes.
Are you interested in giving circles?
Would you like to join one or start your own?
Contact Julcsi Dés, our foundation’s director!
