From attending our workshops here, and listening to giving circle members talk, I think this is one of the greatest benefits they feel from giving through a circle–the personal emotional and intellectual interplay that ensues from negotiating, discussing, persuading and eventually deciding through a group about the best giving decisions.

My sense is that it enriches our giving circle members personally, and also leads to the emergence of the actual “best” recipient for the grant rising to the top…sort of the power of the collective unconscience to unearth the right thing.

I’m currently involved in our Leadership Awards Process–similar to a giving circle in terms of shared grantmaking decision-making–and will let you know if my experience yields this!

All the best, Lisa