2024 Changemaker Challenge - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Join us virtually to view the LIVE 2024 Changemaker Challenge event at The Collective Encore on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 pm
- The Changemaker Challenge 2024 is a social innovation competition to highlight and award ideas in Howard County where we will give out $100K!
- The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and Community Foundation of Howard County are igniting and recognizing new and continued innovation in our community with the Changemaker Challenge. Think “Shark Tank” for social change!
- This biennial event awards funding for project ideas that promise to make a difference in Howard County.
- One, $10k award will go to a project geared toward women and girls or pitched by a woman!
- Register here to watch the event virtually live from The Collective Encore on May 7!
- Learn more here.
2024 We Give Summit - May 7-9, 2024
Join the WGC at the Philanthropy Together:
We Give Summit: A Celebration of Collective Giving
Learn more and join us!
We Give Summit: A Celebration of Collective Giving
- We Give Summit, powered by Philanthropy Together, is the place for giving circle members, community leaders, philanthropy experts, and social impact newcomers to come together, forge new bonds, strengthen our work towards community change, and celebrate!
- Across three days, members of collective giving groups, community leaders, philanthropy experts, and social impact newcomers from around the world will gather virtually to connect and learn from one another.
- The WGC has been a partner of Philanthropy Together since their inception and we have participated in all past We Give Summits - the networking, learning, sharing, and connecting is invaluable!
- And, the WGC is a proud sponsor of the 2024 We Give Summit.
Learn more and join us!
2024 Listen to Your Mother Live Event - Saturday, May 11, 2024
Join us at the 2024 Listen to Your Mother Live Event!
- The WGC is excited to support this exciting live event in Howard County.
- The LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER live production takes an audience on a well-crafted 60-minute journey of diverse true stories about motherhood—being a mom, having a mom, losing a mom, finding a mom—as many interpretations on the theme of mothering as you can imagine.
- From hilarious and heartwarming, to emotionally intense and profound, LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER entertains, energizes, brings community together and leaves everyone feeling a little less alone and a little more understood.
- The May 11, 2024 event is the first for Howard County, and the producers are sharing proceeds with WGC partner JustLiving Advocacy, which supports single-mother households aimed at bridging them to the workforce, allowing for self-sustaining living.
- We will be collecting Feminine Hygiene Products at the event!
- Tickets are $20 - get tickets here!
WGC's 2024 Big Give - Monday, May 13 and Monday, May 20, 2024
Over 50 women joined the WGC's Big Give 2024!
- The Big Give 2024 is designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community.
- It will be a fun, fast-paced, "pop-up" giving circle learning and giving experience.
- Individuals and/or teams of up to 4 women were invited to participate: $1,200, 1 vote.
- Big Give Members each contributed $1,200. (1 vote)
- And, teams of up to 4 women have been formed who have collectively given $1,200 as a team. (1 vote per team)
- Big Give members will meet twice: first on Monday, May 13 and then on Monday, May 20 to learn about philanthropy and discuss and determine the nonprofits with a demonstrated focus on women, girls, and their families in Howard County that will be funded.
- WGC's Big Give 2024 grantee partners will be announced on May 20!
- Registration for the Big Give 2024 closed on April 15. Registration for the WGC's Big Give 2025 will open on May 21, 2024.
Community Foundation of Howard County's 2024 Spring Party - Thursday, May 16, 2024
Join the WGC at the Community Foundation's 2024 Spring Party!
The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo) will host its annual Spring Party on Thursday, May 16. The Spring Party will again be on the grounds of The Apple Ford Center at Athol Manor in Columbia from 5-8 p.m. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Did you know the WGC is a fund of the Community Foundation? We are! And, we are excited to support the foundation by bartending from 5-6 p.m. Plan to visit us!
With a tasty variety of food trucks, raw bar, wine, local beer and Sobar zero-alcohol offerings served by guest bartenders (us!), live music and party tents, the event is a local rite of spring. Featuring a guest list of community leaders and foundation friends, the Spring Party continues to be the networking event of the season in Howard County. This event will be held outside on the grounds around historic Athol Manor. Business casual and lawn party chic attire are recommended, but please dress appropriately for the weather. We hope you can join us - see you there!
The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo) will host its annual Spring Party on Thursday, May 16. The Spring Party will again be on the grounds of The Apple Ford Center at Athol Manor in Columbia from 5-8 p.m. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Did you know the WGC is a fund of the Community Foundation? We are! And, we are excited to support the foundation by bartending from 5-6 p.m. Plan to visit us!
With a tasty variety of food trucks, raw bar, wine, local beer and Sobar zero-alcohol offerings served by guest bartenders (us!), live music and party tents, the event is a local rite of spring. Featuring a guest list of community leaders and foundation friends, the Spring Party continues to be the networking event of the season in Howard County. This event will be held outside on the grounds around historic Athol Manor. Business casual and lawn party chic attire are recommended, but please dress appropriately for the weather. We hope you can join us - see you there!
WGC's Feminine Hygiene Product Drive - Ongoing Throughout 2024
The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is hosting a year-long Feminine Hygiene product drive in 2024. We are focusing on this issue because it's a need that is easily and often overlooked. Did you know ...
We are collecting donated products on a regular basis at all 6 Howard County Library Branches, Howard Community College, several local businesses, and soon we will partner with the Columbia Association. And, we are collecting funds to purchase products - all are distributed to the Community Action Council/Howard County Food bank, and Columbia Community Care to provide to women and girls in our community. Learn more and give here!
- 29% of girls miss school due to lack of supplies needed.
- 39% cannot provide period products for themselves.
- Some are forced to use towels and plastic instead of proper supplies.
We are collecting donated products on a regular basis at all 6 Howard County Library Branches, Howard Community College, several local businesses, and soon we will partner with the Columbia Association. And, we are collecting funds to purchase products - all are distributed to the Community Action Council/Howard County Food bank, and Columbia Community Care to provide to women and girls in our community. Learn more and give here!
WGC’s events support our mission of creating a community of philanthropists and are designed for women around the issues we focus on through our membership and development. We bring women together to learn about issues impacting women and girls in our community, and pool our dollars to fund programs that address those issues so we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone.
The WGC hosts events that fall under four categories:
The WGC hosts events that fall under four categories:
- Giving: We engage women, and at times their families, in opportunities to give to the community in a variety of ways.
- Learning: We engage women in events to learn about philanthropy and the various issues and nonprofits that we fund.
- Networking: We bring our members and others together to learn about the WGC and how to get involved, or further engaged in our work.
- Celebrating: We bring our members and others together to celebrate women’s philanthropy and our collective giving.
We look forward to getting together again in person as we can. Please follow WGC efforts through the WGC's eNewsletter and by following the WGC on social media to stay connected - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also read the latest on what WGC is doing on our website, and specifically our blog.
Photo, Audio and Video Notification
By participating in an event, effort or program of the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, there will most likely be pictures taken and/or audio and video recording taking place. By attending you agree to be photographed, recorded, and filmed. And, you agree to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any photos, recording or filming of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose by the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, including for use on websites, social media, news and promotion.
By participating in an event, effort or program of the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, there will most likely be pictures taken and/or audio and video recording taking place. By attending you agree to be photographed, recorded, and filmed. And, you agree to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any photos, recording or filming of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose by the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, including for use on websites, social media, news and promotion.