Giving Sum Cocktails with Leaders presented by Ice Miller

Giving Sum is committed to learning from our peers and being inspired to do more. This has helped drive Giving Sum's Cocktails with Leaders presented by Ice Miller series, where community leaders speak to Giving Sum members in an intimate and relaxed environment about civic and philanthropic leadership. Giving Sum limits spots to allow for more meaningful dialogue between 25 to 30 members and our featured speaker. Members have the opportunity to mingle and socialize and talk one-on-one with the presenter. Our guests inspire us to think big and continue to look for ways to enhance our contributions to the community.

Speakers have included and will include:

• Robert Egger, Founder and President of DC Central Kitchen
• Susan Williams, Executive Director of the Indiana Sports Corporation
• Tony Mason, VP of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee
• Anita Day, Founder and Executive Director of Outrun the Sun
• Paul Estridge, Jr., President of Estridge Homes
• Bart Peterson, former Indianapolis Mayor
• Tom Hirons, Principal, Hirons & Co.
• Erin Slater, Executive Director, College Mentor for Kids
• Mike Smith, Executive VP and CFO of Anthem

All-Member Meetings

Giving Sum hosts monthly all-member meetings where members have the chance to meet and network with fellow members as well as learn about needs in the community. Features of all-member meetings include special guest speakers, experiential learning opportunities and fun, engaging simulation exercises. Every meeting is designed to create awareness for causes and organizations in our community. To keep meetings lively and more interesting, Giving Sum empowers members to organize and plan five of the meetings based on their Affinity Group focus area (Arts and Culture, Environment, Education, Health and Human Service and Community and Economic Development). This assures a well-balanced list of topics throughout the year.

Grants Process

Given Sum engages members in a grant process designed to empower the members and allow them to decide how to best allocate Giving Sum's resources.  Throughout the year, all members select their preferred Affinity Group:

Affinity Groups

• Arts and Culture
• Environment
• Education
• Health and Human Service
• Community and Economic Development

Some members select the group they are most passionate towards and know much about, while other members select a group they are not as familiar with but want to learn more. These groups then meet separately to discuss their area of focus and plan their all-member meeting activity.  Affinity Groups are designed to help fellow members better understand the particular topic and how it impacts the community.

Each Affinity Group is encouraged to reach out to eligible organizations to encourage them to apply for our grant. During the actual grant process, members will review proposals specific to their group and vote for their top three to five applicants. Once the top applicants are selected ,the Affinity Groups arrange site visits for face-to-face interviews with the organizations. Following the site visits, each Affinity Group selects one finalist. The five finalists then make a presentation to the entire membership at which time members can ask question to each of the presenters. Following the finalist presentation, all eligible members cast their vote for the winner and the grant recipient is selected.