collective giving is a means of "maximizing our capacity to change the community." BCF began in 2004 as a small "giving circle" of young black professionals contributing $250 apiece per year* that went toward making small grants to selected nonprofits. But, says Watson, the group began seeking ways to be "more impactful" in its giving. "Too often, we think of philanthropy as coming from someone who is able to give large amounts of money," Watson says. "It's broader in scope than that. Philanthropy is a tool for systematic change, and everybody has some capacity to contribute. Few of us are wealthy, but almost everyone can give something. Philanthropy is inclusive of anybody who wants to make a difference in their community." In its first round of grantmaking, in the summer of 2005, BCF awarded a total of$10,000 to four projects. Soon afterward, the organization received grants from the Ford Foundation -- one of the world's leading foundations for social change -- and the Community Foundation, through which it created a donor-advised fund to house its assets. Over time, BCF also began to narrow its focus in a process not unlike what the Community Foundation was going through. "They've evolved as we have," Kate Nielsen says of BCF. "They saw the value of being more focused, and it has made their vision even more dynamic." After deciding to maximize its resources on larger grants, BCF awarded $30,000 over three years to the McWane Center. Those funds are facilitating a partnership between