A global giving circle, the philanthropic equivalent of a book club, is a group of donors who pool their time, talent and resources to learn and make international grants together. This page lists our current public giving circle programs. Please contact us if you would like to start a global giving circle of your own!

Summer Giving Circle on the Global Economic Crisis

At a time where the news of the day leaves us feeling overwhelmed about the global economic crisis, The Clarence Foundation is offering a new giving circle where a group of concerned individuals will come together to help make a difference around the world.

Although there has been much media coverage about bank failures and the crisis on Wall Street, much less attention has been paid to the impact of the global economic crisis on those living in the world’s most resource-deprived countries. The Clarence Foundation’s 2009 summer giving circle program will study the impact of the current economic crisis in this broader context and provide opportunities to alleviate the suffering caused by the crisis while advancing long-term sustainable solutions.

Giving circle members will hear from experts who will address the longstanding global economic problems recently exacerbated by the crisis as well as solutions that are being advanced at the local level. Participants will be provided a portfolio of projects from grassroots organizations around the world that have been successful in promoting sustainable economic development during difficult times. Members of the giving circle will then collectively decide how to disburse their pooled funds among these worthy initiatives in a way that can make the greatest possible impact.

The giving circle will have an accelerated timeframe, meeting six times between June and September 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can get involved in a variety of ways: Active giving circle members will be asked to attend the majority of in-person meetings and contribute or raise $2,000 to the giving circle pool. The Clarence Foundation has some funds available (and we're raising more) to provide matching funds for those who would like to participate but may have difficulty raising the full amount. (An individual would only need to contribute $1,000.)

If you can’t join the circle, there are other ways to get involved and support these important initiatives. Donations of any size can be contributed to the giving circle pool to increase the overall impact. We also welcome sponsors who can fund others to participate on their behalf. With the launch of our new website (coming in May), those who contribute to the circle will now be able to follow the circle’s progress online as well! For more information on how you can get involved, please contact us.

The Traveling Giving Circle: Meaningful Global Travel

We are currently in the process of planning our next Traveling Giving Circle, which will take place in the winter of 2009-2010. Please contact us if you would like to be notified when the next program is announced.

To learn more about The Traveling Giving Circle experience, we invite you to watch a short documentary film about the 2007 trip to Kenya. Also click below to read recently published articles about the program:

Giving Circles Going Global: Foreign Travel Enriches Philanthropic Experience
New Options for Collective Giving
Finding Hope in Africa
Global Giving: The Traveling Giving Circle to Kenya
Assisting Kenya's Grassroots Organizations

Global Sojourns Giving Circle

The Global Sojourns Giving Circle is held via teleconference with its members spread throughout the United States. Its objective is to help participants pool their time, talent and financial resources to improve the lives of children and conserve wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa. Members make a direct, positive impact while learning about issues in the region, connecting personally with the projects, and forming community with other members. The projects currently supported by the circle are located in Livingstone, Zambia. The focus is on assisting care takers of economically vulnerable children (due to parents suffering or having died from AIDS) with income generating projects so they can afford to send these children to school. The next grantmaking cycle will begin in February 2009. For more information, please contact us.


Corporate Program Information