FAQ

The simple answer to this question is anyone! After all, that is exactly what we did about two years ago. My wife and I (tony and felicity dale – see our blogs if you want to know more about us at http://www.Felicitydale.Com and http://www.Tonydale.Com) invited two couples that we knew pretty well to meet with us over a meal and we explored what it might look like for us as owners of companies to be as serious and intentional in our giving as we were in making the money in the first place. We decided over that meal that each couple was comfortable committing $10,000 over the next year into a common fund that all three couples would then agree on before giving the money away.We had fun over the next year getting together about once a quarter and discussing what we could do with the money that was accumulating. We gave to help orphans in third world situations. We gave to hurricane relief in the Philippines. We gave to christian mission projects here and abroad. And in the process we learned about ourselves, about each other, and that we could grow through out interactions with each other into more effective givers.Then we invited some other couples to join us. And before we knew it each of us was effectively leading another “giving circle.” now we are moving into third generation giving circles; meaning that our first little group started three other groups, and those groups are now starting groups.

Anything that you agree on together. No-one is telling you that you can only give to this or that. What is on your heart? What can we learn about what others in the giving circle want to give to? Are there things that we would have never thought about, which are really important to others.In our first giving circle, my wife and I have over the years given much into christian missions and ministry, but little into socially needy areas. We learned so much from the other two couples who were meeting with us through their love of children and their concerns for disaster relief.Elsewhere on this site you will see some of the other projects that current giving circles are involved in supporting.

Go through Waterstone 501(c)(3) public charity as a giving circle. Go here to the Waterstone contact form to get in touch with them.Give directly to the organization or charities if they prefer

Waterstone (http://waterstone.Org) is a large, well established entity that specializes in helping donors have simple and tax deductible ways of distributing gifts to a wide variety of causes. In 2016 alone, they have helped direct over $52,000,000 to charitable causes across America and around the world. Rather than having every giving circle needing to re-invent the wheel, they have helped provide us with a simple and effective way for each giving circle to establish a fund that can then be directed by that specific giving circle into any of the charities that Waterstone has vetted. Any charity can be suggested to Waterstone as an appropriate charity for funds to be allowed to go to. Waterstone has it’s own clearly stated standards for vetting organizations, and also is actively involved in the monitoring of giving funds that are used abroad. Waterstone also provides many services to donors to help them maximize the value of the gifts that they give, and to help with tax and estate planning to accomplish the donor’s goals.

Generosity is not just for the well off! There is a wide acceptance of the fact that giving helps all of us. As was famously said by Jesus more than 2000 years ago, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” giving enlarges all of us. And it seems to open the doors for us to find not only more ways to give, but also increases our capacity to receive. I am not sure how that works, but it has certainly been our experience.With our giving circles, we see two primary patterns of giving that have developed. Some of the giving circles have each member commit a specific amount they want to give through the group. Other giving circles choose instead to all commit to a small percentage of their income, such as 2%. In this way each person is able to give proportionally, based on how much they earn. Either way works well.As you explore this site, you will see stories and hear accounts of the blessing of both approaches. We encourage you to start this journey and see where generosity takes you!