Description

Racial Justice Giving Circle

About: This giving circle is at its core a learning platform for those that want to dive deeper into both understanding and also addressing the systemic racism in the U.S. through the lens of the leaders and organizations that are directly addressing specific issues.

This Giving Circle (we'll call it Giving Circle #1 or GC1) is being formed as part of a response by Mappy Hour to directly address our role and relationship to the underlying systems that enable racial injustice in our country. It is one response to the recent murders of Black Americans including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Our goal is to provide a group answer that can serve both as education and action.

Read more: https://mappyhour.org/blog/2020/06/black-lives-matter/

What is a Giving Circle?

A giving circle is a form of "participatory giving." The goal of a Giving Circle is to convene a group of people with shared values so we can pool our resources and make a collective grant. The length and depth of the Giving Circle process also enables us to see ourselves as lifelong funders, to think critically about how we can support change in the world, and to share and learn about important organizations fighting for racial justice.

Individuals each make a financial contribution to participate. The circle as a whole spends weeks assessing and understanding a variety of organizations and how our group grant will enable long term impact. At the end of the process, we as the circle will make one grant based on a group vote.

To be clear: we are not deciding on the worthiness of individual organizations. All of them are equally important and necessary. The goal of the Giving Circle and the process is to figure out where a very specific amount of money – depending on total donations in this scenario – can create the most impact. (We also will not so secretly encourage you all to make additional donations to the organizations that are not officially chosen as the grantee.)

Why Should I Join a Giving Circle?

• You want to not only make a donation but dive deeper into the problems the grantee is addressing
• You want to think critically and learn more about systemic issues (more on this month’s focus below)
• You want to learn more about the leaders and organizations doing the work (or help to share the work of an organization you already love)
• You want to learn more about grant making and or get engaged in long term giving
• You want to meet other cool cats and kittens that share your values

We are also looking for people who would like to join as leaders and facilitators. If you are interested, please email mappyhour@outdoorfest.com. Thanks!