NonProfit NewsPod: BDOG's Philanthropy for Everyone - Inside the Impact Collaborative

Jeff Holden: [00:00:00] Welcome to this nonprofit podcast News Pod. This is a dedicated news pod, the third in a series of five, specifically addressing our sacramental region, community Foundation's Big Day of Giving, or B Dog as we've come to know it, right, Kelly? 

Kelly Siefkin: That's right. 

Jeff Holden: I'm joined by Kelly Siefkin, chief Philanthropy Officer with the Community Foundation.

Kelly, welcome. 

Kelly Siefkin: Thank you so much. 

Jeff Holden: This episode, we're talking about something a little bit different. It's the Impact Collaborative, and that's relatively new. I'm not sure I know what it really is. So would you help us understand what is the impact collaborative? 

Kelly Siefkin: Absolutely. The Impact Collaborative is something brand new.

It's actually a giving circle at the foundation, and this is where members make an annual contribution of $300 or about $25 per month. We pool all of those [00:01:00] resources and invest them a great tip that the Foundation has available and at the end of the year, the members of the Impact Collaborative will help determine which nonprofits will receive grants from that pool of funds.

Jeff Holden: Well that's, it's really affordable, so it's an opportunity for somebody to really engage into the philanthropic mode for an annual giving circle, as you say. What are the benefits? What else comes along with that by point of entry maybe versus a, uh, a donor donor-advised fund or something that they're more familiar with, but maybe just haven't been able to participate?

Kelly Siefkin: I think accessibility is the very first point that you bring up. It's really helpful for someone who does not have the resources to start their own charitable fund. Donor-advised fund is really wonderful, but it starts at $10,000, so this sort of giving level is more approachable for for more participants in the community.

It also offers some great social connection opportunities to learn about community issues. A [00:02:00] lot of people who've joined the collaborative are excited to be exposed to more nonprofits and, and the great philanthropic work going on in the community. We also offer shared decision making around grants, so that's really great.

You can have a voice in where those dollars are granted out after the, the funds are grown over time. Plus the impact Collaborative members get to participate in learning opportunities and social events throughout the year. We have a volunteer opportunity, a talking tour with behind the scenes, the opportunity to meet some local philanthropists and see kind of what motivates their giving.

Learn how grant making works. Some local experts. The foundation has been doing this for 43 years, and we have some great insight on how to grant dollars out, and I think a lot of people will really be excited to select exactly where those funds will be used by the end of the year. It's really a great way to learn about and support multiple organizations 

Jeff Holden: and all that comes on just a $300 contribution or that 25 bucks a month you're talking about?

Kelly Siefkin: Absolutely. Absolutely. We're trying to get people exposed and excited about it, and I think a lot of times when [00:03:00] people think about a philanthropist, they think that is something completely out of. Their reach. But every time that you are making a contribution and making that financial gift to a nonprofit organization, you are putting your dollars where your heart is.

And I think that's really important for everyone to realize that it occurs at every single level. We see that every year with Big Day of Giving, and this is another way that you can stay involved at Affordable Price point year round. And 

Jeff Holden: let's not forget that if you are participating this way, you are a philanthropist.

Kelly Siefkin: It's really, really important. I think a lot of people get very hung up in the number of dollars that they sign on a check that would make them feel that they aren't a philanthropist. But everybody with every contribution is a philanthropist. Time, money, your special skillset. There are so many ways. Get involved with the hundreds of nonprofits local in our community.

Jeff Holden: And as we know, we have coming up over 900 for this year's big day of giving. So there's no, there's not gonna be any lack of opportunity that's for certain. 

Kelly Siefkin: That's [00:04:00] right. There's the big day of giving is a great training opportunity and we love to encourage people to dip their toes into philanthropy with Big Day of Giving.

'cause the minimum gift is just $10. So I think there's a plethora of ways for folks to get involved. And Big Day Giving is usually the first step. 

Jeff Holden: So before you get on your. Philanthropic bicycle. This is the way to start with training wheels. 

Kelly Siefkin: Exactly. Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: So how is the impact collaborative tied to big Day of Giving?

Kelly Siefkin: So just like all of the other 900 plus nonprofit organizations. Sacramento Region Community Foundation is raising visibility about the great work occurring in our community. So when donors are selecting organizations to support on Big Day of Giving, and they're adding those donations to the cart, they can also join the Impact Collaborative at the foundation at the exact same time.

Jeff Holden: And then if they want more information. I'm assuming it's the website where, where should they go? 

Kelly Siefkin: Visit sacre cf.org. For more information about the Impact Collaborative, you can always call the [00:05:00] Foundation nine one six, which is 9 1 6 9 2 1 7 7 2 3, and find out about the next opportunity that the Impact Collaborative is hosting in our community.

Jeff Holden: And I will put both of those in the episode notes as well. So it's, it's easy for somebody to grab and get that information. Now, let's say I'm really interested. I get it. I understand what it's all about. What if I wanna do my own giving circle? Can I create something like that? 

Kelly Siefkin: You absolutely can, and that's what we're hoping that the Impact Collaborative does is inspires more people to engage in our community.

So at Sacramento Region Community Foundation, we offer nine different types of charitable funds, donor advised funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, but we also offer giving Circle funds and. Bring together a group of like-minded individuals to grant out dollars. So several groups actually host giving circles at the foundation.

You bring the individuals together, we handle all the [00:06:00] administration. We have groups that come together on a certain mission category or on a certain geography. Whether that's you belong to a book club or a running group, they're typically, um, individuals that are already congregating together and the foundation can offer support to them on the philanthropic side through a giving circle.

I'd love to share just two quick examples, if I may. Oh, please. We have APIs Rise. That is a giving circle that was founded over 10 years ago. That came about really in an effort to raise awareness about all of the great Asian and Pacific Islander mission serving organizations in the community so anybody can join.

It was started by a group of individuals, but now anybody can join with a contribution. They get a vote at the end of the year where they'd like their gifts to go. They've been granting tens of thousands of dollars. It's really incredible to see the power of philanthropy together. And then I'd also like to share YOLO 100 women plus women who Care in [00:07:00] Yolo County.

A wonderful collection of ladies get together, learn about nonprofits in the community, and with those contributions are voting on where they'd like their dollars to be most impactful. So. Anybody can form a giving circle and impact. Collaborative is a nice trial run to see if you'd like to do that with your friends or family.

Jeff Holden: Is there a a minimum number of people or a maximum number of people in that particular giving circle 

Kelly Siefkin: to open it? There's a max of 20 just founding members, but there's no Max 'cause the giving circle is yours. The foundation's providing really the administration, but you are creating what other ever types of gatherings you'd like, all of the different giving circles that the foundation operates.

Run it however they would like, whether that's meetings or social events, whatever the case is, we facilitate the dollars in the investment to grow and granting out that's our responsibility. So some of the giving circles are huge and some [00:08:00] are very tiny. It's completely up to you. 

Jeff Holden: I love that. So I could do, you know, back to my analogy of the cycling, I could do a, a bicycling giving circle for a group of people that are into cycling.

Kelly Siefkin: We would love that. And you're welcome to keep the granting very focused and just help bicycle focused organizations with your grants. Or it can be every member could bring a different idea to the table. And when you vote the one with the most votes, get some of the dollars that year. You can organize it any way you'd like.

Jeff Holden: Okay. Or health and wellness or you name it. 

Kelly Siefkin: Sure. Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: I love that. I think that's a great concept. What a fun way to go too, because you have like-minded people in the same space looking at organizations that they wanna participate with. 

Kelly Siefkin: You got it. 

Jeff Holden: Alright, so next question seems to be logical. Is the impact collaborative wrapped around Big Day of Giving, or can I join inside or outside of the framework of Big Day of Giving?

Kelly Siefkin: Impact Collaborative is year round. Membership is [00:09:00] actually annual in nature, so anyone can join at any time, and that's what's really helpful. It's not just through Big Day of Giving, but like all of the other nonprofits in town, big Day of Giving allows us to put a spotlight on one activity. So you're welcome to join the Impact Collaborative on Big Day of Giving, but if the day after it excites you, or you wanna do it for your birthday.

Or another time is an appropriate fit for you, just reach out to the foundation and we'll get you involved. 

Jeff Holden: And again, to be clear, you said this is an annual event, so that contribution is annual. It's not in perpetuity that year would then anticipate all those funds. 

Kelly Siefkin: Exactly. So whenever you're joining either in a lump sum by joining a membership of $300 or the $25 monthly contribution, all of the dollars raised through the time of the granting will be utilized to grant out with some supplemental dollars from the foundation as well.

We'll be able to be able to be granted out, and then we'll continue to garner dollar. So we're ready for next year. [00:10:00] 

Jeff Holden: What an exciting way to get involved. I love that. 

Kelly Siefkin: Thank you. 

Jeff Holden: And so everything gets fired up. It gets kicked off with big day. You giving, you get in tune with it all. You grab your friends, whatever your social circle is, give it a name, call it something, and that's your giving circle.

I. 

Kelly Siefkin: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: Well, that's what we want and 

Kelly Siefkin: we, we really love that giving circles not only bring people together, but they bring ideas together. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, 

Kelly Siefkin: you may be in a bicycling group and you all have, share that in common. We might support various nonprofit organizations and you'll learn through giving circle who others support and that might excite you to learn about ways you can engage as well.

Jeff Holden: Kelly, I love what's happening with so many different opportunities for people to engage from the minimum contribution this year to giving circles the Impact Collaborative. One more time. Where should they go to learn more about it? 

Kelly Siefkin: Visit sac re cf.org and live for Impact Collaborative. 

Jeff Holden: Awesome. Thank you so much.

I appreciate your time [00:11:00] and we will learn more as we continue to get to that website and set up our. Impact collaborative groups in giving circles. Thanks for listening. If you like our program, please subscribe. Give us a positive review and share with someone you know. This nonprofit podcast News Pod is a production of Hear Me Now Studio.