For these women, philanthropy means giving their own money to help others

Earlier this year, hundreds of women pooled their money, each giving $1,000 to make a difference in the Portland community.

Next week they'll give it away.

All $400,000.

And then they'll start again for next year.

Three nonprofit organizations each will get $100,000. Eight others will receive either $20,000 or $12,200.

The benefactors are Portland's Ninety-nine Girlfriends, a philanthropic volunteer organization that began three years ago with 100 members. It continues growing each year, all through word of mouth, said Deborah Edward, the group's co-founder.

The idea formed when Edward was at a party with other Portland women after moving here from Austin, Texas, where she worked with managers of nonprofits, to start a new job in an unrelated field.

She and another woman began talking about the need for nonprofits to have better financial plans. Edward suggested getting women together who would pledge money to help create a fund to help the groups.

"She agreed," Edward said. "We went into the other room of the house and told the other women at the party what we wanted to do. They all wanted to be a part of it."

When Edward learned that other such giving circles were operating across the United States, she turned for advice to the Women's Collective Giving Grantmakers Network, a group of 55 independent giving circles.

The local women eventually contacted Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington, which became the fiscal sponsor for Ninety-nine Girlfriends allowing it to get a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

"That first year, in 2016, we had 100 women," Edward said. "Last year, it was 253. This year, 401. Friends invited friends to join. The average grant from a foundation in Portland is about $5,000. It's not easy for a nonprofit to get a loan or build a cash reserve."

While attention is focused on foundations with hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to use for grants, small groups are an increasingly important model for raising money.

In Northeast Portland, for example, four nonprofits worked with residents of the Cully Neighborhood to raise $60,000 – small dollar by small dollar – as part of a push to buy an abandoned strip club, an eyesore, that was for sale.

"We used that money as leverage," said Jess Faunt, communication and development coordinator for Verde, a non-profit focused on serving low-income communities of color. "The project received more funding from large foundations after we showed this was a project the community supported."

Earlier this year, 60 volunteers with Ninety-nine Girlfriends reviewed 142 applications from area nonprofits. In November, they chose 15 agencies proposals that were submitted to the entire group, which then decided the winners.

"We're a very flat organization," Edward said. "Everyone has an equal voice."

She said members range between ages 40 and 60, but every year they select three women under 35 who pledge to give $100, hoping to teach them about the group and the mission.

This year's winners are:

-- $100,000 to August Wilson Red Door Project's Evolve: Using Theatre to Impact Public Safety in Portland. The group has produced two plays that explore race relations between communities of color and police.

-- $100,000 to KairosPDX's Transformational Education for Tomorrow's Leaders. The group provides consulting and services to family to family, friends and others who service low-income youths and youths of color.

-- $100,000 to Red Lodge Transition Services' Healing the Sacred Hoop. The Native American group develops culturally focused programs to help women released from jail, prison or treatment facilities.