BWGC Events

How to Get Involved Throughout the Year

We want our members to have options for how they want to be involved. Different times of the year may be better than others to invest, connect, and inspire.

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Upcoming Events - Registration Open! 

BWGC Fall Social  |  In Person

Wednesday, September 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM
Location: Inca Social, 2670 Avenir Pl Vienna, VA 22180
Open to all BWGC Members and Guests - $10 per person

We are excited to connect with you for an informal evening in a terrific venue, Inca Social, a Latin kitchen and craft beer offering social seating with a lively atmosphere. Appetizers and the first drink are provided and their additional menu and cash bar is available. We hope that you can join us and please invite prospective members!
REGISTER

Your Seat at the Table: Pathways to Board Service  |  Virtual
Wednesday, September 24, 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Register for an engaging conversation on how your passion and skills can shape the future of a cause you care about. Join our panel of seasoned board members, Jen Dalton, Cherlyln Harley LeBon, Katie Nelson, and Meera Pillai, as they share their personal journeys, practical tips, and ways to navigate a path to board service with the goal of making a lasting impact in your community. This free event is open to BWGC guests.

REGISTER 

We need your help to review grants!

Reading the applications and hearing about the remarkable work being done by organizations in our area is an incredibly rewarding experience.  Please sign up to participate in either or both of the following ways: 

1. Evaluate a subset of submissions and participate in discussions to select the top grantees to move forward
2. Hear oral presentations from the top grantees in a Shark Tank style event and select the final grantee slate for BWGC membership vote.

To sign up, email co-chairs Amee Shah and Neerja Jain (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

September 30 - Renewal Deadline
Consider renewing early to help the Grants Committee estimate the available grant funding for 2025. Contribute by September 30 to be part of the 2025 grants pool and have a say in selecting the finalists to receive awards.
RENEW 

2025 Raise the Region Gala - October 17

Attend CFNOVA's Raise the Region Gala and enjoy the evening with BWGC Members. Indicate in “notes” that you’d like to be placed at a BWGC table.
REGISTER

 

Business Women's Giving Circle Holiday Social  |  In Person
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 pm
Celebrate and network with BWGC members, grantees, and guests as we come together for our annual holiday event wrapping up another successful year of giving.
Appetizers and beverages
Business casual attire

REGISTER

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Past Events

BWGC Grantee Celebration
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 evening event
Business Women's Giving Circle member donations made it possible for BWGC to grant $75,000 to five nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia. Members and guests came together to celebrate the work of these incredible organizations and their leaders - Boolean Girl, Pink Space Theory, Space of Her Own, Sustainability Matters, Year Up: Talent for Tomorrow Alliance.

BWGC Grantee Engagement: Talent for Tomorrow Alliance, 2nd Annual Multiplying Potential Luncheon
Thursday, March 13 lunchtime event
BWGC members celebrated Talent for Tomorrow Alliance’s commitment to collectively provide greater educational and career opportunities for young people in our community. A panel discussed the value of an ecosystem approach to address youth challenges and explored how collaboration within the nonprofit sector could impact more young people in our community.

BWGC Grantee Engagement: G.R.E.A.T. Math Minds Field Trip to Micron
Friday, March 14 morning event
BWGC members were invited to the G.R.E.A.T. Math Minds field trip to Micron where the girls learned about Dr. Kim Burnett’s journey from elementary school to Micron, how to build a circuit, that Micron’s Manassas campus builds chips for cars, and that 3500 chips are needed for just 1 car!

BWGC Education Event: Inspiring Action Through Math - "Counted Out" Documentary Screening and Discussion
Friday, March 14 evening event
BWGC hosted a local premiere of “Counted Out,” a new hard-hitting documentary that shines a light on math as the foundation of democracy and economic opportunity. The documentary’s personal stories revealed how math shapes our daily lives in ways we may not even realize. During the post-screening discussion, attendees emphasized the need for an educational shift to one that prioritizes real-world problem-solving and teaching students, not just material. Key action items from the discussion included:

• encouraging others to watch the film 
• sharing our personal stories of overcoming challenges
• boosting student confidence through creative teacher training
• creating math camp for adults making math engaging and rewarding
• demonstrating how math and data literacy is important to our daily lives
• developing accessible math education kits
• bridging generational learning gaps with diverse learning resources
• support nonprofits that build confidence in math learning

Tuesday, March 25 daytime hybrid event
This event provided insight on their research and findings around Creating Safe, Supportive Futures for Northern Virginia’s Youth

BWGC Spring Education Event: "Developing and Using AI Responsibly for Social Good"  
Wednesday, April 2 lunchtime event
BWGC members, guests and grantees came together virtually for a panel developed and moderated by Nanci Schimizzi. Panelists Julia Stamm, Ph.D., Founder of She Shapes AI, Swathi Young, AI/ML Strategy Architect & Technology Innovator, and Rachel Gutierrez, Processes and Partnerships Lead, She Shapes AI, shared why they began working on AI ethics, gender equity, responsible use of AI and the potential of AI if done right.  To continue exploration of this topic: recording and links suggested by the panelists

• Event recording
• She Shapes AI
• AI
• AI
• Women Defining AI
• com Article "How to Make Sure that Diversity in AI Works"by Swathi Young
• Discover AI in Daily Life- Google's Applied Digital Skills provides teacher resources and are one of many resources available through searches and reputable sources
• Women in AI
• Dr Julia Stamm, Founder & CEO, She Shapes AI, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Rachel Gutierrez, Processes and Partnerships Lead, She Shapes AI, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Swathi Young, AI/ML Strategy Architect & Technology Innovator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

BWGC Grantee Engagement: Pink Space Theory's STEAM Night
Friday, April 25 evening event
BWGC conducted an activity for the G.R.E.A.T. Math Minds participants where they learned about probability in a unique and fun way.

BWGC Social: Meera Pillai’s Dinner Outing
Thursday, May 15 evening event
Using our new BWGC social group on LinkedIn, Meera invited members to a pop-up dinner of networking and engagement.



BWGC Social: New Member Coffee
Tuesday, May 27 evening event
What a great way to start the day with BWGC members getting to know one another.

 

BWGC Grantee Engagement: Sustainability Matters Walk on the W&OD
Saturday, June 7 morning event
BWGC members joined Sustainability Matters’ walk on the W&OD to celebrate National Trails Day and learned about native plants and why they are so important to our native wildlife. An added benefit was learning about the history of the trail and of one of Reston’s historic sites.

BWGC Summer Social at Good Spirit Farm
Saturday, June 14 afternoon event
BWGC members and guests were treated to a guided wine tasting of award winning wines at BWGC member, Luanne Gutermuth, and her husband’s winery.

BWGC Social: New Member Coffee
Thursday, August 7 morning event
What a great way to start the day with BWGC members getting to know one another. 

BWGC Spring Education Event: The Power of Giving: Making an Impact through BWGC and Beyond
Thursday, August 20 morning event
Members and guests came together for a meaningful networking breakfast focused on community and giving. The event included a mid-year update on our strategic plan, insight on the needs in our community and how CFNOVA and community organizations like Northern Virginia Family Services are addressing these needs. Resources were provided to understand the numerous ways to maximize personal charitable giving.WeW

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Strategic Planning

Member Input through one-on-one conversations and coffees
May, June, July

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Partner Collaboration 

SIM Capital Area: Women's Group Networking Reception 
Wednesday, March 12 evening event
BWGC members were invited to the reception celebrating Women's History Month! 

EduTutorVA Fourth Annual Gala
Tuesday, April 8 evening event
A few BWGC members and partners attended this event for an opportunity to network and learn about metrics and outcomes of building the future workforce

Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) Celebration of Service
Friday, May 9 evening event
BWGC members were invited to celebrate NVFS’ 100 year commitment to ensuring every person in our community has the access, support, and resources they need to reach their full potential

CircleUp DMV – Stronger Together: Supporting Community-Based Nonprofits in a Time of Crisis
Wednesday, May 14 evening event
BWGC was proud to be a co-host with Philanthropy Together and nearly a dozen area giving circles and philanthropy-supporting organizations. As a result of participation, a strong giving circle network was shaped around some of the take-aways:

• play an important role beyond funding by providing a platform to help nonprofits reach individual donors.
• elevate organizations that don't receive a grant but that we've researched and really admire
• invite people outside of our circles to meet grant applicants that were not selected
• host "house parties" around a theme (e.g., education, immigration) to help donors with particular interests connect with smaller nonprofits they may not already know.

NVFS Back2School Drive
Wednesday, July 23 afternoon event
Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) created a BWGC volunteer opportunity to support NVFS' Annual Back2School Drive. Members and our guests participated in sorting, counting, and collecting school supplies for local children in need.

Partner Collaboration: STEM for Her – Lead Her Forward
Wednesday, July 30 evening event
BWGC members came together for discussion and networking around the topic of "what's next for girls in STEM.” Conversations with their youth leadership council was one highlight of the event.

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Business Women’s Giving Circle - https://www.cfnova.org/news-and-stories/press-releases/bwgc-2024-grants

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View a slideshow of photos from Business Women's Giving Circle events.

Annual Calendar	What to Expect
February	We have our Annual Grantee Celebration where members can meet our grantees and learn about how they make an impact. Members also can meet new members and build relationships with the BWGC community.
March	We host pop-up events as possible with our members throughout the year.
April	We host a STEM focused education event to provide BWGC members a window into the STEM landscape for girls and young women.
May, June, & July	We have our membership drive and focus on sharing the impact we have made to date at a BWGC event.
September	Grants committee releases grant application and develops reviewing subcommittee.  Education event focused on professional development topics.
October	Application review subcommittee begins review process and selects semi-finalists to present at a "Shark Tank" pitch event where members can ask questions and understand their funding requests.
November	We nominate members for the Steering Committee.  Semi-Finalists present at Shark Tank where members can hear their pitches and vote on finalists and determine grant amounts. Holiday Pop Up event for members and grantees.
December	The slate of Finalists is voted on by all members and shared with the applicants. The Finalists are announced via a press release.

Questions?
Please contact Gabrielle Webster, Director of Donor Relations.
703 347 7419   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Contact the BWGC Volunteer-led Steering Committee
with questions about engaging with this group.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.