High Impact Giving ... Imagine donating $60,000 to a nonprofit devoted to helping people. This amount could really make a difference in people's lives. This level of giving, though, is beyond most people’s capabilities.

Now imagine ... 100 people who give $600 each per year into a pooled fund. They make a whopping $60,000 donation to a single project. Now that’s giving with impact, giving that can change the world. That’s what giving circles can do.

Consider This ... $600 per year works out to only $50 per month.

• Buying coffee at Starbucks on your way to work every day costs at least $50/ month.
• Going out for lunch twice per week costs at least $100/ month.
• Going out for dinner twice per month costs about $50. Add wine and that doubles.

Diverting $50 per month to a giving circle is easy for most people. You won’t even miss it!

Free to Fly Giving Circle ... High Impact Giving

The Free to Fly Giving Circle is a group of people who combine their charitable donations into a pooled fund and decide collectively where to donate it. Why? So that their giving will have more impact.

Each year the members of the giving circle:

• help choose the project that will receive the circle's donation (1 vote per member). In 2009, the giving circle is supporting the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation helping survivors of sexual terrorism in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For more information about sexual violence in the DRC, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation's work, click here.
• vote on the amount of the minimum annual financial contribution. In 2009, the minimum is $600 CAD per person*.
• attend learning, discussion, planning and social networking events.
• participate in additional fundraising activities for the selected giving project, if desired.

*Donations are made payable to the recipient organization which will issue charitable donation receipts for tax purposes.

Giving circles have many benefits. They're:

• effective ... Directing a large pool of money to a pressing need can have a greater impact than making small, individual donations.
• rewarding ... It’s highly satisfying to participate in improving the world in an impactful, innovative and insightful way.
• enriching ... Members have opportunities for stimulating learning, real-world decision-making and meaningful discussion about global issues and needs.
• engaging ... Participants are more knowledgable, thoughtful, focused, strategic, and effective in their personal giving.
• community-building ... Donors accomplish more, learn more, make better decisions, and have more fun when they give together.

The Free to Fly Giving Circle operates under the umbrella of Fullstop. All projects undertaken by the Free to Fly Giving Circle are compatible with the vision, mission and values of Fullstop.

Join the Free to Fly Giving Circle and support the Stephen Lewis Foundation's work in the DRC.

Download the Free to Fly Giving Circle brochure.

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Free to Fly Giving Circle
Donations in 2009: $14,000
(as of 14 Feb/09)