Eastside women pool their resources for charities

Giving Chicks has discovered that when it comes to raising money, the pen is mightier than candy bars, raffle tickets and auctions.

Since February, the group has dispersed more than $7,000 to local and international charities. And its founder, Rose Klein, says it has only just begun.

Before Giving Chicks, Klein tried several charities on for size. None seemed to fit. She helped in soup kitchens, but with a career and family, such a weekly hands-on commitment didn't work. She participates in building-industry charity projects with her husband, a homebuilder, but she wanted something of her own. She could give money, but like many would-be donors, she worried about her cash underwriting administration and fundraising costs.

And Klein wanted to do something that touched her heart.

Then a year ago, the Kirkland woman read about "giving circles" — groups that meet monthly and pool their charity donations. Klein liked that idea. So she invited a few friends to an organizational meeting in February. Eleven women gathered in her family room to hammer out the parameters.

"It is almost too easy," Klein said. "We meet, listen to a presentation, vote and write checks. In an hour or so, we raise several hundred dollars."

Friends at the first meeting recruited others. Now the group has grown to 50 members. Most are Eastsiders, but a few live in Seattle and one lives in San Francisco. Originally they called themselves the Twelve Gifts Giving Circle, based on a gift a month. But Klein started calling them the Giving Chicks for e-mail messages. The name stuck.

The setup is simple.

There are no dues. Short meetings are held in members' homes. Each month, one person researches possible charities and presents at least two options. The charities can be local, national or international, but the money must be used to help women and children. The charities should have administration fees of no more than 10 to 15 percent of their budget.

After the presentation, there's a brief discussion. Then the women pick the charity of the night by a hand vote. They each write a $20 check to the charity.

Members who can't be at the meeting are still expected to contribute.

"I wish everyone could come to the meetings because it is more energizing," Klein said. "But I'm happy to take their checks."

As the women have exercised their checkbooks, they've gotten more confident in giving their time, too.

When a local family shelter had a flood in the basement, some Giving Chicks gathered replacement household and clothing items.

Most recently, Lynn Sanborn recruited members to help with the Shriners-sponsored Shoes from Santa. They met at a local store at 6:30 a.m. and helped needy children pick out new shoes. Member Karen Shepherd was so enthused by the project that she collected new toothbrushes to give to each child.

Shepherd was the presenter at the Giving Chicks December meeting. She loved both charities she described — Doctors Without Borders and Northwest Children's Fund.

The 33 women struggled over the decision but eventually picked Doctors Without Borders. Shepherd suggested members also support Northwest Children's Fund by attending the group's annual auction. Sometimes the charity that missed the nod one month will get it the following meeting.

"I feel like I've made a difference, just $20 at a time," Klein said. "I'm also more aware. I've learned about groups that I didn't know existed before."

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com