Giving2Grow: Nonprofit supports groups that fight childhood food insecurity
Nonprofit supports groups that fight childhood hunger
In 2011, a group of friends from Mt. Lebanon got into a conversation about Giving Circles, where people pool money and donate to a cause.
The philanthropically minded women, led by founder Jennifer McDowell, decided to tackle childhood food insecurity.
In December 2013, they launched Giving2Grow, a nonprofit that provides grants to grassroots organizations across Southwestern Pennsylvania fighting childhood food insecurity.
Thirteen years later, their mission continues.
To date, the all-volunteer G2G has awarded more than $691,000 in grants to organizations in seven counties in the region, including Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.
In its first year, Giving2Grow distributed $25,000 to local nonprofits that fed children; last year, the group awarded more than $127,000 in grants through its giving-circle method.
“Especially now, with SNAP benefits being reduced, the price of food going up, and a lot of other challenges, it’s really affecting families,” said Coleen Vuono, a Donora native and Mt. Lebanon resident who sits on the board of directors and has been a part of the organization since 2023. “We want to make sure that we’re helping organizations that are feeding children. Our focus is on children.”
Each nonprofit that is selected receives a grant of up to $10,000, and can reapply for two additional years.
One of Giving2Grow’s first grants went to Rainbow Kitchen and Kids Cafe, feeding hungry children after school in the Homestead area.
In subsequent years, it has funded LeMoyne Community Center, Food Helpers’ LittleMoochi Healthy Habits program, Fayette County Community Action Agency’s Let’s Get Cooking program, South Hills Interfaith Movement programs, and Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle, among others.
A G2G committee reviews applications, and another committee conducts on-site visits to the nonprofits seeking grants. The grants are awarded at the end of each year following a vote by all of the G2G members.
Giving2Grow is committed to growing its membership – the more members there are, the greater the number of organizations they can help, Vuono said.
At its first meeting back in 2013, 28 people attended. Today, the group has grown to include more than 180 members from area counties.
“In the years that we’ve been doing this, especially in last couple of years our organization has really grown. It was this well-kept secret, but we don’t want to be a secret. The more members there are, the more good we can do,” she said.
Last year, she noted, because of the number of G2G participants, the group was able to award each nonprofit more than $11,000.
“I feel strongly about nonprofits because I believe they do what government or business can’t or won’t do,” said Vuono. “What these organizations do is wonderful. It’s inspiring.”
For more information about Giving2Grow, including membership opportunities and a list of past grant recipients, visit Giving2Grow.org.