The club has a big name, and like any great organization, has big
ambitions.
The S.G.E., or Social Giving Experience was created by Michael Mills. The concept is simple: Atlantans come
together for networking, dinner and drinks; learn about community issues and
solutions from local charities; and bundle donations for greater impact.
“There’s no minimum or maximum gift,” said Mills. “Hopefully our attendees can leave feeling
good about an organization while motivating the donor to get involved.”
Mills, who many remember from Georgia’s 2010 political race for Secretary
of State, failed to qualify for the runoff.
Voter turnout was low. Yet this
motivated him to work even harder to get the community involved in more than
just politics.
Michael Mills is the president of PR 1776, a business that provides
corporations, non-profits and individual brands with full communication capabilities.
Mills saw a need in the community for
businesses and philanthropic organizations to meet. And meet often.
The Social Giving Experience is based upon the “giving circle” concept,
where people pool their charitable donations and jointly decide what charities
to invest in while also increasing their knowledge of the issues solved by the
recipient.
The concept is new in practice but has its roots in Mutual Aid Societies
and other forms of giving that date back hundreds of years.
“For attendees, it is about having a fun experience, trying food at a
new local restaurant, and the experience of hearing from non-profits,” said
Mills. “Those organizations benefit from
honing their presentation skills and getting valuable feedback (and leads) from
the community.”
S.G.E. recently met at Grindhouse, one of Atlanta’s best boutique burger
restaurants. There, two non-profits
competed for a chance at donations, while refining their pitches.
Many people want to help a non-profit but they don’t know how to begin. Other donors worry that their money is not
making an impact. The S.G.E. meetings
attempt to erase those fears. Audience
members are free to ask questions.
Later, a survey is passed to see which organization was the most
effective.
To get invited to one of the dinners
and hear about how you can help, contact the organization’s web site: http://sgeatl.wix.com
---Ray Macon
Michael Mills of the Social Giving Experience
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