When Molehills Really Are Mountains

Anyone who's struggled to make ends meet knows how big an unexpected bump in the road can be—the morning the car doesn't start, the fumble that cracks a phone screen, the new job that comes with a dress code, the costly certification that blocks a needed promotion. For people with strong support networks or emergency savings, life's surprise application fees, security deposits, or price jumps may be frustrating, but they can be overcome. For others, the road bumps can be overwhelming. When the resources are there, these challenges are molehills. When the resources aren't there, the same challenges can be mountains.

Right now, the resources aren't there for a lot of people, including many in our community. As we shared in our recent Story on the State of South Sound Nonprofits, most local nonprofits are experiencing rising demand for their services this year, which indicates people are struggling. The Federal Reserve Board's recent Economic Well-Being of US Households in 2024 report found that 37% of Americans continue to lack the savings to cover a $400 surprise expense, and nearly half live paycheck to paycheck—numbers that have held steady for three years. If the cost of necessities like housing, groceries, childcare, health care, and energy keep rising faster than most worker's wages, this trend will continue to affect people in our community.

The Beauty of Working Together

If you could be part of something that helps right-size these challenges for a neighbor—shrink someone's mountain down to a molehill—would you? What if making that difference was also an opportunity to deepen your friendships, connect with others in your community, and have fun doing it? For people in the Next Right Step Giving Circle, the answer is a wholehearted yes.

The Next Right Step (NRS) traces its roots back to 2016 when a group of women from Zonta Club of Olympia decided to try flipping the grantmaking process upside down. Instead of asking nonprofits to apply for funding, they'd work directly with trusted community nonprofit partners who knew where help was most needed. In 2023, The Next Right Step of Zonta became an independent giving circle hosted by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. While Zonta continues to support the circle as a key sponsor and partner, becoming an independent giving circle has expanded the circle, giving them a broader community focus and appeal.

Today, the Next Right Step embraces a three-way partnership. NRS supporters donate, the Community Foundation manages donations and grants, and Family Education and Support Services (FESS) connects the funding to local women. Thurston County women who meet NRS guidelines can apply through FESS for expenses up to $750, which are paid directly to vendors or agencies, helping with essentials like car repairs, work uniforms, or unexpected bills that might otherwise derail stability. FESS invoices the Community Foundation for reimbursement from the NRS fund and shares heartwarming stories back with the circle, so contributors can see the difference their giving makes in the community.

Having capable trusted partners with the expertise to handle different parts has streamlined the process and made it efficient. Instead of forming committees or putting in lots of volunteer hours, circle contributors get to focus on what drew them there in the first place: connection, community, and the simple act of taking the next right step together.

Boy, Do We Gab!

The Next Right Step Giving Circle delights in shrinking mountains to molehills. They've served 330+ women and counting, providing over $113K in funding for small but critical things. When asked to reflect on memorable stories from her time with the giving circle, Maggie Hollinger recalled the smallest thing (literally) the fund has covered. "One time, all it took was a key fob," Maggie shared, recounting how the fund helped a woman leaving a domestic violence situation pay for a key fob so she could gain the use of her car—and with it, her independence. Former Community Foundation board member Mary Williams, who is also part of NRS, recalled a similar story about a time when the giving circle grant helped a single mom regain her driver's license and obtain copies of her children's birth certificates, allowing them to secure housing.

Stories like these anchor the group's quarterly gatherings, where givers share a meal, enjoy a short program, and hear updates on the fund's impact. These gatherings, which often take place at someone's home or at ASHHO Cultural Community Center in Tumwater, are joyful occasions. In addition to hearing about the difference the circle's contributions are making for others, the gatherings are a time to catch up, make new friends, and laugh together. Or, as Mary Williams put it, "Boy, do we gab!"

This, too, is a way the Next Right Step Giving Circle is making a difference. As Maggie shared, it's not unusual at these gatherings to "meet someone new who knows three other people you know." In a time when political polarization and weakened social ties are straining our South Sound communities, these kinds of connections matter more than ever. As Eric Liu reminded us at our Community Conversation in May, "Community is a choice. It's not just defined by geography, it's created through relationships, action, and a shared willingness to show up."

The Rise and Benefits of Collective Giving

The Next Right Step Giving Circle is a local example of a growing global trend with deep historical roots, known as collective giving (a term for pooling financial and other resources to meet shared community needs). Forms of collective giving can be found throughout history and across many cultures—from mutual aid societies to burial funds to barn raisings.

In recent years, many people have turned—or returned—to collective giving in the face of pressing community needs. A 2023 report by the Johnson Center, Colmena Consulting, and Philanthropy Together found that, "Between 2017 and 2023,nearly 4,000 collective giving groups mobilized approximately 370,000 philanthropists to donate more than $3.1 billion—indicating remarkable growth in both participation and total monetary donations since the last major study of collective giving was published..."

Collective giving allows everyone to be a philanthropist, backing the Community Foundation's long-held belief that philanthropy is for everyone! Collective giving is also largely women-led, based in trust and relationships, democratic, and focused on community well-being and empowerment. Among other giving trends, this one stands out as a particularly hopeful one. It reflects a widespread longing for community and connection and a growing understanding that we need each other to face our challenges. We are more powerful together than anyone can be alone.

As the Next Right Step demonstrates well, giving circles also create strong social ties and ripple effects that go beyond the money. These ripple effects include benefits for local economies. Our President and CEO, Mindie Reule, recently joined Thurston Economic Development Council's Michael Cade to write a blog post on the importance of community in economic development, sharing that, "strong communities create the conditions for economic growth, and thriving economies generate resources that support community well-being."

You—Yes, You—Are Invited

Giving circles like Next Right Step are proof that when we come together, even modest contributions can add up to something powerful—changing lives, strengthening community, and deepening our own connections along the way.

The Next Right Step Giving Circle welcomes everyone and loves it when new people join. Contributors give $1,000 annually, and guests are always welcome at their quarterly gatherings. If this inspires you, we invite you to explore joining the circle. Visit their website to request an invitation, learn more, or give.

Or, if you'd like to explore starting a new giving circle—or another fund type that reflects your passion—you can reach out to our Philanthropy & Communications Officer, Mary Lam-Witcher, at mary@thecommunityfoundation.com or by phone at 360.705.3340.

Everyone has something to give, and together, we can make a lasting difference for our South Sound communities.