One powerful aspect of giving is that it's something people can do together. Just take a look at this Western North Carolina giving circle (a group of people who pool together their time, talent and/or treasure for a cause they all support).

"Mountain-area women award $235,000 in grants" (The Philanthropy Journal)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - By working together and pooling their resources, a group of 259 women in Western North Carolina was able to funnel $235,000 to mountain-area nonprofits serving women and girls.

The Women for Women giving circle, a program of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, awarded four grants during its sixth annual grant cycle.

"Women for Women is meeting real needs in our communities," Elizabeth Brazas, president of the foundation, said in a statement. "Especially during this period of recovery, we are proud that Women for Women is making these big grants that will have a profound impact on women's lives.

Each member of the Women for Women giving circle, which was created in 2005, agrees to donate $1,100 a year for three years, with $1,000 of that going into a grantmaking pool and $100 covering the foundation's administrative costs.

Since its inception, Women for Women has awarded a total of $1.2 million in grants.

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Food-for-thought: If you and your friends formed a giving circle, what cause would you support? Leave your comments below!