Mailee Walker, chair, and I spoke about the Asian Mosaic Fund. Although it’s a giving circle focused on the issues of new Asian immigrants, she’s found that people outside of that minority community are interested in supporting them. They started with 40 members and even though they are supporting their local community, they only meet twice per year and conduct much of their communication and voting virtually. We also talk a bit about the difference between giving time and giving money.
There was a problem with the recording about half way through, so unfortunately, we won’t get to hear her advice to people wanting to start a giving circle. One of the things she mentioned during that portion was that a person starting a giving circle shouldn’t feel like it needs to last forever. A giving circle can last for as long or as little time as necessary and appropriate, and when a giving circle comes to a close, you can still feel great knowing that they money donated went to good causes and probably would not have been donated otherwise. I liked that idea because it relieves a lot of pressure!
Location: Philadelphia
Founded: 2009
Members: 40
Website: www.asianmosaicfund.org/home
Interview length: 11:12
Clicking on the interview will play the audio in your browser, or you can right click to download the mp3 to your computer: Asian Mosaic Fund Interview
Do you have group outings with your members?