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The Women's Giving Circle reported last week during its final quarterly luncheon that it has accumulated $550,000 in combined pledges and gifts as it finishes its second year in the community.

The circle is a philanthropic nonprofit, volunteer organization that relies on the annual contribution of money from its members to fund yearly grants for Frederick County nonprofits that help women and children.

Each member gives a minimum of $1,000 for three years, which The Community Foundation of Frederick County Inc., manages and invests in a fund, allowing women's contributions to grow.

Local nonprofits can then submit grant proposal requests for specific projects that benefit women and children in Frederick County. Women's Giving Circle members review and vote upon which grant requests to honor in the spring.

The Women's Giving Circle began two years ago as the brainchild of Karlys Kline of Frederick, a retired businesswoman who wanted to make a difference for women and children in need.

Instead of just asking for money, a giving circle directs money for a specific use in a local nonprofit, Kline said. "You're able to direct the funds better as a group than individually," she noted. "I think women just feel empowered when they're a part of this. They're able to direct their charitable giving," she added.

Organizations that apply for grants have to have a specific plan and purpose for using the money. Once they receive the grant, the nonprofit must report back to the Women's Giving Circle six months later and explain how it is using the funds, Kline added.

This year, 15 organizations from Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County to Advocates for Homeless Families and Heartly House Inc., received grants totaling $5,000 or more.

Heartly House requested grant money to support the operations and maintenance of its emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and to install security and safety lights for the parking area.

But more important than just giving yearly pledges is what Kline calls "connecting the dots" or creating a momentum among women in the community to pool their talents and resources together to make change.

To accomplish this, the Women's Giving Circle hosts quarterly luncheons for members and invited guests to network, share and learn about the different programs the giving circle has helped.

During its final luncheon for the year on Friday, the all-female audience dined at Dutch's Daughter restaurant in Frederick. Above the clinking of silverware and dishes, the women listened to members of Women's Business Network and the Frederick County Commission for Women talk about the benefits of mentoring young women and the groups' specific projects.

Ann Burnside Love, a member of Women's Giving Circle, said she meets women of varied professional backgrounds through the giving circle and credits the success of the organization with the talent Kline has attracted.

Love said Kline approached her with the idea of creating a giving circle two years ago. "She has surrounded herself with people at the top of their game," Love said of Kline.

For some women, making the yearly contribution to the giving circle is not easy, "but it's so important, it grabs you," Love added.