December 2022 Newsletter
MANY HANDS UPDATES
Join the Collective Giving Movement with Many Hands
Join Many Hands this year and become part of the most vibrant force in modern philanthropy--collective giving! In the US alone, the number of giving circles has more than tripled since 2007, and together they have moved $1.3 billion into their communities. At Many Hands, we are proud to have invested more than $2.5 million in outstanding community-based organizations. That funding has helped provide a better shot to many neighbors who have experienced systemic disadvantage, as Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CEO and executive director of 2022 grantee Capital Area Asset Builders, explains.
As a Many Hands member, you will join a community of more than 250 donors annually who pool their time, talent, and treasure to make high-impact grants to nonprofits serving and empowering DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need. Many Hands is an all-volunteer organization, and many members value the opportunity to serve on a grantmaking committee or to leverage their skills in areas like governance, finance, and communications. However, the majority of members return year after year simply because they know that a gift to Many Hands is one of the best ways around to have a significant, positive impact on thoughtfully selected, smaller, local nonprofits.

If you're ready to deepen the power of your giving, we invite you to join Many Hands with a gift of $1,000 or more ($500 for members under 35). Members who join by December 31 (December 15 if making a gift of securities) are eligible to serve on a Focus Area Committee. (See below for details.) All members are eligible to vote for the organization that will receive the 2023 $100,000 Impact Grant. In addition, we welcome non-membership gifts at any level.

To learn more about membership, visit our website or email Mary Kwak at membership@manyhandsdc.org. If you have questions about making your gift, please contact Margaret Vassilikos at treasurer@manyhandsdc.org.
MEMBERS' CORNER
Focus Area Committees Forming in January
Beginning in late January, the four Focus Area Committees (FACs) will review all grant applications meeting Many Hands' eligibility criteria. Each FAC will ultimately select one grantee, and a membership vote will determine which of the four receives the 2023 $100,000 Impact Grant. Meeting information for this year's FACs appears below.

If you are interested in serving on a FAC for this grant cycle, please complete your membership gift by December 31 (December 15 if you are making a gift of securities) and look out for an email on January 9 announcing the opening of the signup process. For more information about FAC signups and other policies, click here or contact Charis Keitelman at grants@manyhandsdc.org.
Economic Empowerment Committee
When: Wednesday, 8:30 am-10:00 am
Where: Zoom

Education Committee
When: Tuesday, 9:15 am-10:45 am
Where: Bethesda, MD
Health Committee
When: Thursday, 8:30 am-10:00 am
Where: Chevy Chase, MD

Housing Committee
When: Wednesday, 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Where: Zoom
FACs 101 - Sunday, January 8
Maybe you're thinking about serving on a Focus Area Committee and would like a better sense of what that involves. Or maybe you've already served on a FAC and have questions about how trust-based philanthropy is shaping Many Hands' approach. Or maybe you'd just like to meet some of the people leading this year's application review teams! Then join us on Zoom on Sunday, January 8 at 3:00 pm to learn all about the 2023 FAC process with Grants Co-Chair Charis Keitelman. Following the presentation, there will be time for general Q&A and breakout groups where you can learn more about each focus area. This event is for members only. Bring your questions!
FIELD NOTES
Grantmaking Across the DC Region
The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG) provides a snapshot of local grantmaking in the latest edition of Our Region, Our Giving. WRAG, a membership organization comprising more than 100 of the area's leading foundations and corporate giving programs, surveyed both members and non-members in 2020 and 2021. Nearly half of respondents were small organizations, with 0-5 paid employees, and total giving per organization ranged between $10,000 and $72 million in 2021.

The survey found that nearly three-quarters of funders supported work benefiting children and families and two-thirds funded education programs. In contrast, under 30% of funders supported work related to criminal justice, immigration, or the environment. WRAG also reported that 77% of those surveyed provided general operating support and just over half made multi-year grants. In addition, a majority of funders have simplified their application processes and reduced reporting requirements, reflecting growing interest in trust-based philanthropy and support for racial equity and justice in grantmaking. Click here to see the full report.
 Many Hands leverages the power of collective giving to support nonprofits serving and empowering Washington, DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need. Many Hands is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN: 51-0486987.