Our Her-story

AKA Where We Started/How It’s Going

In 2005, a group of Twin Cities women had a dream: to create an organization that educated Twin Cities women about community needs and then collectively pooled members’ money to meet those needs through yearly grants to community non-profits.

This concept, known as a giving circle, sparked an idea but GIVING WoMN’s founders had much more than that in mind when they drew the blueprint for the organization that became GIVING WoMN.

Our Timeline

“Women of Courage,” working through the Courage Center in Minneapolis, made its first grants to its designated community, the seven counties that surround the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area.
Women of Courage changed its name to GIVING WoMN three years later but didn’t change its goals: to turn generous spirits into effective givers. Since 2006 GIVING WoMN has given yearly grants in the areas of education, social services and health, and planned and hosted educational events to highlight unique needs in the Twin Cities from year to year.
2009: The first annual “Eye Opener” education event took place to deliver relevant education about the most critical and emerging issues nonprofits face. Since then, topics have ranged from early childhood learning and homelessness to senior aging and sex trafficking. Speakers in policy making, research, funding and service speak and bring depth and dimension to the topics every November for members and their guests.
GIVING WoMN has continued to grow and give over the years. In 2014, GW became a Charitable Community Fund, an independent 501(c)(3) entity, under the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. One-hundred percent of our grants go to organizations nominated solely by GIVING WoMN members. Our members continue to help us grow and give each year.
After studying other giving circles around the country, GIVING WoMN offers Tiered Membership levels that gives members flexibility in choosing how to be a member of GW.