How to Start Your Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle
- Nonprofit Learning Lab
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
This is a guest blog by Grapevine.
The Power of Community-Driven Giving
Building a strong donor community takes more than just fundraising—it’s about creating lasting connections. Many donors want to do more than give; they want to engage, collaborate, and see their impact firsthand. Nonprofit-Led Giving Circles provide a space where donors feel connected—not just to your mission, but to each other. By fostering meaningful relationships, your nonprofit can build a committed community of supporters who stay engaged for years.
Giving Circles are one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy, bringing together groups of donors who pool their contributions to create a greater impact. Traditionally, Giving Circles are donor-led, formed by individuals who collectively decide where to give. But nonprofits don’t have to wait for donors to take the initiative—they can launch their own Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle to drive engagement and long-term giving.
Why Start a Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle?
A Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle allows your organization to take the lead in securing unrestricted funding, turning one-time donors into recurring supporters, and expanding your donor network as members invite their friends and colleagues. Unlike grants or major gifts, Giving Circle donations can be used where they’re needed most. And with Grapevine handling donation processing, your team can focus on engagement rather than administration.
With nearly 4,000 Giving Circles mobilizing 370,000+ donors and contributing over $3.1 billion in just five years, this model has proven to be a powerful fundraising tool. While traditional fundraising efforts focus on one-way communication, Nonprofit-Led Giving Circles foster real donor-to-donor connections, strengthening commitment and increasing retention. Giving Circle Members typically stay engaged for an average of 7.5 years—far longer than most one-time donors (Johnson Center for Philanthropy), given that the average retention rate for first-time donors is only 13.8% (Fundraising Effectiveness Project 2024 Q3 Quarterly Benchmark Report).
A Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle can complement or even replace a recurring donor program. If you already have one, adding a Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle introduces a community-driven aspect, deepening relationships and boosting retention. If you don’t, it’s an easy way to build sustainable recurring support with flexible giving options while fostering deeper donor involvement.
Success Stories: Nonprofits Thriving with Giving Circles
Many nonprofits have already seen success with Nonprofit-Led Giving Circles, like FABSCRAP, which launched the FAB Friends Giving Circle to build a committed donor community. In just a year, they’ve grown to 54 members and raised over $9,025 for sustainability initiatives, featuring their Giving Circle prominently on their website to attract new supporters. And Mercy Corps, which launched the Mercy Corps’ Women & Climate Fund in July 2021 and has raised nearly $200,000 from 20 members to support women changemakers around the world.
How to Launch a Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle on Grapevine
Starting a Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle on Grapevine is simple, free, and requires minimal administrative effort:
Set Up & Customize – Create a free account, add your nonprofit’s mission, invite board members, customize giving frequency, and post a welcome message.
Invite Donors & Supporters – Leverage direct invitations, email campaigns, social media, and events to build momentum.
Engage & Grow Your Community – Share impact updates, encourage members to invite their networks, welcome member input and ideas, host exclusive events, and recognize top contributors.
Common Questions Answered:
What if I don’t have a large donor base yet? No problem! Nonprofit-Led Giving Circles naturally grow from a small base as you encourage members to invite friends.
How much time does it take? We recommend spending a few hours per month on engaging your Giving Circle members after you’ve gotten it up and running.
If my donors already give monthly, why add a Giving Circle? A Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle creates a sense of community, leading to stronger retention and deeper involvement from those monthly recurring donors.
A Nonprofit-Led Giving Circle is more than just another fundraising tactic—it’s a powerful way to build an engaged, committed donor community. By taking the lead, your nonprofit can harness the power of collective giving to drive sustainable impact and long-term financial support.
Starting is easy and completely free on Grapevine.