FAQ

Giving circles, a rapidly growing phenomenon in the United States over the past 10 years, usually start with key individuals bringing together a group of like-minded members who share a desire to learn about community needs and enhance their own giving potential by joining a community of givers. Each donor has an equal voice in the collaborative decision making. Members celebrate their accomplishments, enjoy fellowship, and experience deeper meaning and satisfaction from their philanthropy.
Historically, women living in and around Georgetown have played a key role in the creation and operation of many local agencies that address critical community needs. In March of 2009 a small group of local women joined together as the nucleus of what is now a growing woman’s giving circle, Seeds of Strength. The development of this organization is a means for individual women to magnify the power of their philanthropy by joining together to raise money and give grants to non-profit agencies at a level larger than any single donor could contribute.

The executive committee of Seeds of Strength is called the Guidling Circle. It is comprised of 15 to 25 members in good standing. Members are officers, committee chairs and members at large. It is responsible for the leadership and affairs of Seeds of Strength. Guiding Circle terms are for one year, beginning at the start of the fiscal year. (January 1).

We welcome women of all ages from diverse backgrounds who want to participate in a group whose mission is to improve the lives of others in the greater Georgetown area.
The only requirement for membership is a contribution and one can join by completing and mailing the SOS membership form. The minimum annual contribution is $1,000.

Please contact our Membership Chair, Christine Hightower, for further information.

100% of your contribution is tax deductible.

Contributions are used to fund grants. Each member gets a vote in the selection of grantees. The number of grants given depends on the number of SOS members. Grants will be given from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000. Through serving on committees and participating in site visits, SOS members have numerous opportunities to be involved in the grants decision-making process.

Members may chose to contribute an additional amount to the annual membership for operational expenses such as printing, postage, website management and other miscellaneous expenses. Any additional contribution is appreciated.

Your commitment is for one year and membership renews annually on a calendar basis.

We ask members to send their renewals by December 31st of each year.

• By check: make the check out to the Chisholm Trails Communities Foundation,with Seeds of Strength or SOS membership appearing in the memo line.
• By transfer from a charitable fund that you already have set-up with Chisholm Trails Communities Foundation.
• By gift of stock transfer. (contact the Foundation @ 512 863-4186 for details)
• By credit card.

Dues may be paid semi-annually, quarterly or monthly; however, they must be paid in full by Decebmer 31 prior to the Spring voting event. Ex: You attend the September Luncheon and decide to join. At that point, you can pay $500 and another $500 by December 31st. You will then be eligible to vote that Spring for the grants that will be awarded in June. Then, beginning in January, you can make payments of $83.33/mo., $250/quarter, $500 semi-annually, or wait until that December to make one payment of $1,000. You can change your payment schedule each year, if you wish.

Seeds of Strength has a number of group memberships available, equal to 10% of the total number of members from the previous year. Groups can be up to four women. Their membership must be under one name, i.e. the Sunshine Girls, and they must come to consensus selecting the non profits they want to award funding, as they will have one vote. We encourage members of groups to become individual members after two years.

There are three annual meetings:

• Annual membership luncheon in September
• May meeting to vote on grant recipients and elect Guiding Circle leadership for the next year.
• June reception to meet grantees and award checks.

Yes. All member meetings and events are open to guests with the exception of the voting meeting. Please plan to accompany your guest to the meeting.

Membership and Outreach
Secures current and future years’ membership of the Giving Circle

Grants
The committee starts the smooth and effective process for issuing grant funds to nonprofit organizations and presents candidates for funding awards to the general membership. Site visits are also coordinated by this committee.

Communications
Organize, prepare and disseminate information supporting the Giving Circle’s goals.

Events
The committee organizes all Seeds of Strength events.

Nominating
Annually presents a slate of officers and the proposed Guiding Circle membership for the year.

Contact the committee chair. We welcome you to attend a committee meeting before making a decision about joining.

It is not a requirement but everyone is encouraged to serve on a committee. It is a great way to get involved and meet other members.

Because committee meetings are for the purpose of conducting SOS committee and member business, they do not generally include guests. However, prospective members are welcome and encouraged to attend a committee meeting at the invitation of an SOS member.

Circle members are involved in all aspects of the decision-making process associated with grants awarded by Seeds of Strength. The Grant Committee solicits grant proposals and reviews grant proposals received to determine finalists. Site visits are open to any member and are conducted with all grant finalists. Information on all finalists is presented to the full membership for their approval and vote to determine grantees.

Participation on the Grants Committee and/or participation in site visits to grant finalists.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) is typically sent out in November; grant applications are due the first week in January. Once finalists are determined, site visits are conducted March through April. The Grants Committee presents recommendations to the full membership for a vote at the May general meeting, and grants are awarded soon thereafter.  See calendar for specific dates.

Seeds of Strength will post notices in local newspapers, local nonprofit listserves and on our web site.

The first year we gave $55,000 to the following non-profits:

Boys and Girls Club
Backpack Buddies
WC4C
CASA of WilCo
R.O.C.K.

The 2010-2011 year we awarded $91,000 to the following recipients:

The Georgetown Project
Backpack Buddies
Hope Alliance
Annunciation Maternity Home
CASA of WilCo
Exceptional Georgetown Alliance
WBC Opportunities

Seeds of Strength is a donor advised fund of the Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation.
What does this mean to our members?

• Our funds are managed and distributed by the Foundation, which gives us legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the community
• As our fiscal agent, the Communities Foundation’s general liability and directors and officers insurance policies cover the activities of the giving circle
• Distribution of grants is done on the basis of our democratic selection of grantees, while avoiding the expense of establishing a foundation
• SOS receives the advantage of tax-exempt status so that 100% of your donation is tax-deductible
• SOS receives the benefit of administrative support so that our contributions go directly to the nonprofit, without the expense of costly overhead
• What this means is that 100% of your contribution goes directly to improving the lives of people in Georgetown.