Catonsville Women's Giving Circle Is Growing

In just two years, the Catonsville Women's Giving Circle has grown from 38 women to more than 60 and still growing.

The group is still open for membership and attracted a crowd of 62 at its second meeting of the year at the on Wednesday night.

In its first year, the organization to six non-profits in the Catonsville community.

Women in the organization have their sights set high for 2012, with a plan to distribute more grants and also provide other resources to women and non-profits in the community.

"We're learning to walk. We're trying to figure things out. We have a lot of energy and we have a lot of volunteers," group president Joan Plisko said.

Membership is $250 a year with the money going toward the grants and minor administrative costs.

Women's giving circles are growing in popularity, members said at Wednesday's meeting. In the region, there are giving circles in Howard County, Annapolis and Baltimore city. At a recent networking event for women's giving circles in Annapolis, there were 15 women's giving circles in the region that had more than $5 million in assets.

The organization distributed grants in the fall of last year and they expect to do so again.

Organizers also plan to offer workshops on topics such as women and money, and a primer for serving on a non-profit or foundation board.

At Wednesday's meeting, Jeff Richardson, executive director of Mosaic Community Services, which is a non-profit behavioral health organization, discussed the needs in the mental health community.

Mosaic offers services to more than 1,000 people in the Catonsville community, Richardson said. Like many non-profits, the organization has seen its state and federal funding cut while its client base has increased.

"The demand is so huge while the resources have never been more challenged," he said.

Mosaic is an example of the type of organization the Women's Giving Circle can help through the grant program, organizers said.

To find out more information about the Women's Giving Circle, go to the group's website. You can also email the organization at catonsvillegiving@gmail.com