RSVP Today! Membership Kickoff - Thursday, October 12

We look forward to welcoming Many Hands members—past, present, and prospective—at the 2024 Grant Cycle Membership Kickoff. Special guest Mercedes Lemp, executive director of 2022 Impact Grantee My Sister's Place, will join us to provide an update on their work and share her perspective on the impact of Many Hands' grantmaking. You'll also connect with fellow donors, hear the latest on plans for the year ahead, and find out how to get involved!

When: Thursday, October 12 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm | Program begins at 7:00 pm.

Where: Chevy Chase Village Hall | 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD | If you can't make it in person, RSVP to receive the live stream link.

Who: If you're thinking about joining Many Hands or you're already a member, we'd love to see you. Bring a friend!

Please email Jane Paul and Lori Sostowski at membership@manyhandsdc.org with questions about the kickoff or membership.

New! PowerUP! Your Way - November 5-7

Now there are five ways to experience the Philanos national conference, PowerUP! Baltimore, and learn, connect, and celebrate with giving circle members and philanthropic and nonprofit thought leaders from across the country. Attend the full conference at The Four Seasons in Baltimore, November 5-7; participate for a day—Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday; or watch a curated set of presentations with the Virtual PowerUP! Pass.

Click here to explore the options and register. Many Hands members—register with the email linked to your Philanos account to receive the member rate. If you don't see it after entering your email, contact the conference administrator at admin@philanos.org or email Karen Murrell at info@manyhandsdc.org to set up your Philanos account.

Many Hands is proud to be a co-host of PowerUP! Baltimore, the largest gathering of the women's collective giving movement since 2020.

Save the Date! Fall Education Event - Tuesday, November 14

Many Hands members and friends are invited to join us on Tuesday, November 14, for a close look at guaranteed income programs with Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, CEO and executive director of 2022 Partner Grantee Capital Area Asset Builders, and Anne Vor der Bruegge, director of grants and initiatives for the Arlington Community Foundation, which enrolled 200 families in a guaranteed income pilot last fall. The moderated discussion will take place on Zoom from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Look out for an email with more information later this month or email Jane Paul and Lori Sostowski at membership@manyhandsdc.org with questions.

Many Hands will begin accepting applications for the current grant cycle in January 2024. As in the past, grant decisions will be announced in May. In streamlining the grant calendar, we hope to reduce the burden on applicants while leaving ample time for the collaborative, member-driven review process that distinguishes our grantmaking. For details on the new calendar, please visit our website before emailing us at grants@manyhandsdc.org.

We are delighted to welcome two new members to the Many Hands Board of Directors for three-year terms:

Nasim Shojaei has been a Many Hands member since 2020. She has served on the Economic Empowerment, Health, and Housing Committees. Nasim has more than two decades of experience in the investment, accounting, and real estate sectors, including working with high net worth individuals at a boutique asset management firm in Bethesda.

Chrissy Spigel has been a Many Hands member since 2015. She has served on the Economic Empowerment, Education, and Health Committees, as well as the Membership Committee. Chrissy worked at Goodwill Industries of Atlanta before earning a master's degree in special education and going on to teach in both public and private schools.

Many Hands is an all-volunteer organization with a working board of up to 15 members that sets strategy and manages operations. In recruiting directors, we seek to reflect the diversity of our membership and meet our needs for specific skills. Click here to learn more about the current directors and Board responsibilities and qualifications.

Join Philanos on Tuesday, October 10 at 12:00 pm ET for "Funding Feminism: A History of Women Philanthropists Who Changed Women's Lives," with historian Joan Marie Johnson. Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous books and articles on American women's history, race, social reform, education, and philanthropy. Her talk will focus on how affluent women from the late 19th through the mid-20th centuries used philanthropy to advance women’s causes, including education, employment, and the right to vote.

Many Hands members attend Philanos webinars free of charge. Contact Karen Murrell at info@manyhandsdc.org to set up your Philanos account and then click here to register by October 8.

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. EIN: 51-0486987.