Many Hands was founded in 2003 by a group of seven local women—Susie Berenson, Sydney Bath, Ana Collins, Regina Hall, Leslie Lawley, Betsy Marmet, and Madeleine Said—who were inspired by the Impact 100 model, which brought together 100 women, each donating $1,000, to make a grant of $100,000 to a local nonprofit. Many Hands was granted 501(c)3 status in early 2004 and made its first $100,000 grant that year to Our Place DC, a nonprofit that helped women who had been in the criminal justice system obtain housing and other services. Two other organizations—Mary’s Center, which provides healthcare, education, and social services to low-income Washington-area residents, and Heads Up, a provider of out-of-school-time programs for low-income students in DC—each received $4,000.
From 2004 to 2012, Many Hands made biennial grants in three areas: education, health, and housing. Two years later, job readiness (later redefined as economic empowerment) became the fourth focus area. In 2016, recognizing both the scope of the challenges facing the region and the depth of philanthropic interest in the community, the Board decided to raise funds and make grants annually. Since then, the grant fund has grown to over $300,000 each year, supporting an annual Impact Grant of $100,000 and three Partner Grants averaging $70,000 each.
2016 also saw the the formation of the Membership Committee, with the goal of organizing education events open to the community. These popular panel discussions and book events, on topics such as mass incarceration, post-COVID challenges in DC schools, and guaranteed income programs, provide valuable opportunities to deepen member learning and spotlight Many Hands grantees. The Membership Committee is also committed to diversifying Many Hands’ donors and volunteers. Based on its recommendations, in 2018, the Board created the Young Member program, which makes Many Hands more accessible for members under 35; in 2023, this initiative was joined by the Many Hands Many Voices pilot, which offers a 50% membership contribution waiver to members 35 and older.
In 2024, Many Hands celebrated its 20th anniversary by publicly launching the Fund for the Future, a board-designated endowment that will enhance organizational sustainability by supporting Many Hands’ operating expenses. As we look to the future, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our contributors and partners and strongly committed to continuing to grow and evolve to better support our mission.
In the News
Kathleen Day, “More donors turning to grass-roots charities,” The Seattle Post, December 10, 2006.
Interview with Susie Berenson, All About Giving Circles, 2012.