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.<\/p>\n
When Vora returned to Texas, she wanted to bring that \u201cmix of community, purpose, and real impact\u201d back with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vora called her friend Jordan Chismar, also in the Heights, with a question: What if we started a chapter here?<\/p>\n
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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I was scared when we started – I worried Jordan and I would be the only ones who showed up,\u201d Vora says. \u201cBut what I\u2019ve 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Simple, Impactful Model<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people want to give back but don\u2019t know where to start or don\u2019t have the time to commit to regular volunteer work,\u201d Vora says. \u201cWhat makes Gals Who Give so special is that it removes those barriers. It gives women a direct, tangible way to make an impact. We\u2019re pooling our donations and turning what might be a small gesture into something truly transformative for a local nonprofit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What might feel like a fairly modest individual gift can become a $10,000+ check in the hands of a local nonprofit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe member-led part is my favorite,\u201d says Vora. \u201cIt means that any woman in the room can be the spark that changes the course of a nonprofit\u2019s journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s recipient, they randomly select three of the new nominations to be presented to the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPresenters have five minutes or less to share from the heart,\u201d Vora says. \u201cNo slides, no handouts, just real stories about why the nonprofit means something to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce all donations are collected, we host a check presentation where members are invited to hand-deliver the funds and celebrate the recipient,\u201d Vora said. \u201cThat big check moment never gets old!\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the defining features of the group is its local focus – every nonprofit supported must be based in Harris County.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we support local nonprofits, we\u2019re not just making a donation – we\u2019re investing in our neighbors, our schools, and our community\u2019s future,\u201d Vora says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
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\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith our combined fundraising efforts and a lot of willing hands, we made a huge impact,\u201d White said.<\/p>\n
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