The Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County (WGCCC), a program of Cumberland Community Foundation, gathered community leaders, giving circle members, elected officials and nonprofit partners at its 8th Community Awareness Scorecard Breakfast on March 6 at Highland Presbyterian Church to celebrate the release of its 2024–2025 Community Awareness Scorecard and to highlight a significant milestone: more than $1 million in total grantmaking since its founding.

The biennial scorecard provides a comprehensive overview of the focus areas supported by the Circle’s grantmaking, including health, child abuse, housing insecurity, childcare insecurity, foster care, food insecurity, human trafficking, adult literacy and child literacy.

The data provides a snapshot of how issues affecting women and children in Cumberland County, NC compare to statewide statistics and is intended to inform collaborative solutions and strategic investment.

Since its inception, the Women’s Giving Circle has published these scorecards to inform\ decision-making in its grants process. The commitment to research and data has been central to the Circle’s mission from the beginning.

“As we began thinking about making grants back then, we knew that we needed to keep our members informed about critical areas of need in our community impacting women and children so we could set up the first funding areas of focus,” said Patty Collie, one of the founding members of the Women’s Giving Circle in a press release. 

This year, the WGCCC is celebrating a cumulative $1 million in grants to the community since inception in 2008. These investments support programs that address critical needs and create pathways for long-term stability and opportunity for women and children in Cumberland County.

During the event, attendees heard highlights from the scorecard and reflected on the tangible difference WGC grants have made in the community. Presenters outlined funding priorities, community needs addressed, and the measurable progress achieved through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.

“It is an honor to gather with our community to celebrate such an exciting milestone. The work of the giving circle would not be possible without the commitment from each member” expressed Women’s Giving Circle Chair, Debbie Best in a press release.

The Women’s Giving Circle operates through a collective giving model, where members pool their contributions to make strategic, high-impact grants. By combining resources and engaging members in the grantmaking process, WGC strengthens both women’s philanthropy and leadership within the community.

The 2024–2025 Scorecard is available to view online at www.cumberlandcf.org.

For more information about becoming a member of the Women’s Giving Circle, please

contact Cumberland Community Foundation at 910-483-4449 or womensgivingcircle@gmail.com, or visit www.cumberlandcf.org.