Heights resident Brit Vora first found out about Gals Who Give when she and her husband lived in Denver. The group, with a handful of chapters across the country, unites women to make a visible impact in their communities by pooling donations in support of local charities each quarter.
When Vora returned to Texas, she wanted to bring that “mix of community, purpose, and real impact” back with her.
Vora called her friend Jordan Chismar, also in the Heights, with a question: What if we started a chapter here?
The first meeting of the Harris County chapter of Gals Who Give was held in February 2020, just weeks before the world shut down due to COVID-19. But even a pandemic couldn’t stop their momentum. For nearly two years, they hosted virtual events, and through it all, the group continued to grow. What started as $1,200 raised at that initial gathering has now nearly multiplied tenfold this year.
“Honestly, I was scared when we started – I worried Jordan and I would be the only ones who showed up,” Vora says. “But what I’ve learned is that people are hungry to give back. They just need a door to walk through – and it turns out, we could be that door.”
A Simple, Impactful Model
Gals Who Give operates on a quarterly, member-led model that makes philanthropy feel both accessible and powerful. The idea is simple: gather once a quarter for one hour, each member or team gives $100, and the group collectively chooses a local nonprofit to support.
“A lot of people want to give back but don’t know where to start or don’t have the time to commit to regular volunteer work,” Vora says. “What makes Gals Who Give so special is that it removes those barriers. It gives women a direct, tangible way to make an impact. We’re pooling our donations and turning what might be a small gesture into something truly transformative for a local nonprofit.”
What might feel like a fairly modest individual gift can become a $10,000+ check in the hands of a local nonprofit.
“The member-led part is my favorite,” says Vora. “It means that any woman in the room can be the spark that changes the course of a nonprofit’s journey.”
The quarterly events are intentionally low-key and welcoming. Women arrive around 6:30 p.m. to visit over drinks and snacks. The official event kicks off at 7 p.m.
Any member can nominate a local nonprofit to receive funds. Past recipients include Oak Forest Foster Closet, Cure JM Foundation, and GiGi’s Playhouse Houston. After the group hears a brief update from the previous quarter’s recipient, they randomly select three of the new nominations to be presented to the group.
“Presenters have five minutes or less to share from the heart,” Vora says. “No slides, no handouts, just real stories about why the nonprofit means something to them.”
After hearing presentations, members vote and donate $100 each to the chosen nonprofit. Online giving stays open before and after the event to include all members.
“Once all donations are collected, we host a check presentation where members are invited to hand-deliver the funds and celebrate the recipient,” Vora said. “That big check moment never gets old!”
One of the defining features of the group is its local focus – every nonprofit supported must be based in Harris County.
“When we support local nonprofits, we’re not just making a donation – we’re investing in our neighbors, our schools, and our community’s future,” Vora says.
Gals Who Give, a group of everyday women seeking to make a difference in their community, made a $10,500 donation to Helms Elementary earlier this year for classroom updates. (Submitted photo)
Earlier this year, Helms Elementary PTO asked for help renovating their Structured Learning Classroom for special needs students. The Harris County chapter of Gals Who Give responded with a $10,500 check, but the support didn’t stop there.
Member Hannah White, who also serves as a pastor at Village Heights, helped rally volunteers and coordinate additional resources. Village Heights stretched the original donation by combining it with an amount set aside by the Helms PTA and contributing nearly $10,000 of their own funds for materials, supplies, and labor.
“With our combined fundraising efforts and a lot of willing hands, we made a huge impact,” White said.
Gals Who Give Harris County helped transform this classroom at Helms Elementary into a cheerful, welcoming space. (Village Heights Facebook photo)
Building Community and Lasting Connections
Donations are important but so are the connections between members.
“People find new volunteer opportunities, connect their nonprofits with new supporters, or link up with professionals who can help take their mission further,” Vora says. “In many ways, it’s also a unique kind of networking – one rooted in generosity and shared purpose.”
The chapter is part of The Giving Family network, which includes Gals Who Give and Guys Who Give across the U.S. and Canada. Together, they’ve raised more than $2.5 million across 27 chapters.
As for the vision in Harris County?
“We want every woman in Harris County to know about Gals Who Give,” says Vora. “We want to be known not just for giving – but for sparking change, building bridges, and helping everyday women become changemakers.”
The Harris County chapter of Gals Who Give will hold its next meeting on Aug. 12, 2025. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting running from 7-8 p.m. The event will take place at Steel Door Realty, located at 249 W 19th Street, Suite C, Houston.
For more information, visit galswhogive.org/chapters/harris-county-tx.html, or follow Gals Who Give on Facebook and @galswhogive_harriscounty on Instagram.