Nation's First Hmong Women's Giving Circle Launched in Minnesota

The Women's Foundation of Minnesota celebrated the launch of the nation's first Hmong Women's Giving Circle on July 29.

The Hmong Women's Giving Circle (HWGC) is comprised of 20 Hmong women and girls who will raise funds and invest it in their community. The giving circle's mission is to promote philanthropy within the community, to encourage activism and create social change for Hmong women and girls throughout Minnesota.

"It is well-known that the Hmong community is extremely charitable, however, we do not join mainstream philanthropic institutions. Our monetary gifts are given during weddings, funerals, times of hardship and religious faith," said Mala Thao, a founder of the HWGC and community asset builder and operations manager for the Women's Foundation. "We formed the giving circle to create a bridge between the Hmong community and an institution like the Women's Foundation. The giving circle is a vehicle for the Hmong community to think of their philanthropy as investing in one's own community."

A giving circle is started by a group of people who care about a particular issue or concern. Members deposit money into a group fund administered by the Women's Foundation. Collectively, members recommend charitable grants to projects that will advance their cause.

"The Hmong Women's Giving Circle is a terrific model of developing philanthropy with, by and for women underrepresented in traditional philanthropy," said Lee Roper-Batker, president of the Women's Foundation. "This cutting-edge group of women is leading the way, and philanthropic institutions across the nation are watching."

In addition to support from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, HWGC is also supported by the Women's Funding Network Venture Fund, designed to grow and broaden women's philanthropy across the nation. The giving circle will start with small investments and evaluate its impact. This year the giving circle plans to award $15,000 in social change grants to organizations serving Hmong women and girls.

top