Women’s History Month: Tiffany Circle Members Support Red Cross Mission with Time and Talent

The American Red Cross has harnessed the compassion and determination of women to deliver its lifesaving mission since Clara Barton founded the organization in 1881. The Red Cross Tiffany Circle has continued this legacy for almost two decades as a community of women leaders which has evolved into a philanthropic powerhouse that recognizes the ability of women to move as a collective to meet the local needs of their communities.

Tiffany Circle members support the Red Cross through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure by engaging and embracing women locally, nationally and internationally. Their hard work has led to exceptional achievements in the last fiscal year. Specifically, Tiffany Circle:

• Grew their membership to 1,215 members and retained nearly 90% of membership
• Achieved an annual revenue of $22.98M (85% over goal)
• Exceeded their goal of $11.9M in revenue influenced by members by 204%, with $36.2M
• Increased volunteerism, with 351 members recording and tracking over 32,200 hours

Tiffany Circle members help drive the work of the Red Cross in many ways, as blood donors, volunteers and financial supporters. In the past year, Tiffany Circle members have:

SICKLE CELL INITIATIVE Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S., and regular blood transfusions are critical to manage the disease’s extreme pain and life-threatening complications. To help ensure patients have the blood products they need, the American Red Cross is working with partners in the Black community through the Sickle Cell Initiative to increase the number of blood donors who are Black.

After hearing moving stories of patients and families impacted by sickle cell disease at a recent Tiffany Circle Summit, almost 90 generous Tiffany Circle members and friends invested more than $1.3 million in support of the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative. Their generosity will help the Red Cross engage the next generation of blood donors, develop meaningful partnerships with Black community leaders and organizations, and continue to conduct specialized testing, typing and matching for potential sickle cell matches from first-time blood donors who identify as African American or multiracial.

DISASTER RELIEF When wildfires spread rapidly across Maui, Hawaii Board Chair and Tiffany Circle member Maya Rogers put forth a $100,000 challenge to inspire giving from Board and Tiffany Circle members nationwide. As of November 30, 2023, nearly $100,000 was able to be invested in Disaster Relief.

Wisconsin Tiffany Circle member Jane Nesbitt deployed to Maui in September 2023. A nurse, she has been a Red Cross disaster volunteer for more than 10 years. It was the first time she had deployed to a community affected by wildfires, and Maui happened to be where she and her husband honeymooned. “The days were long,” Nesbitt said. “But it was so satisfying to give assistance to those needing food, shelter or just a listening ear.”

Tiffany Circle member Megan Erk led the National Incident Command Team on the ground in Hawaii. For Erk, this deployment hit especially close to home as she is a former Maui resident and her kids grew up on the shores of Lahaina.

GOALS FOR THE FUTURE As part of a two-year strategic plan, the Tiffany Circle will work with division and region leaders to achieve the following goals by June 30, 2025.

• Grow membership to 1,350 members ─ currently made up of 1,255 members

• Increase year-over-year blue sky (non-disaster) direct revenue

• Expand the power of member influence by driving additional revenue

• Increase Tiffany Circle members’ volunteer engagement

The Tiffany Circle had its beginnings in 2006 when Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, the Chairman of the American Red Cross, and Melanie Sabelhaus, former member of the Board of Governors, introduced the Tiffany Circle program to engage female philanthropists in the Red Cross Mission.

As the organization’s most successful individual annual fundraising initiative, Tiffany Circle has raised more than $225 million to support all Red Cross lines of service and the work they do. Tiffany Circle members from across the country each donate $10,000 or more annually to support the American Red Cross. Find out more here.

TREASURED HISTORY The Tiffany Circle name and its threshold contribution of $10,000 have historic significance. The name was inspired by the breathtaking Tiffany windows in Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C. These works of art were commissioned from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios in 1917 and paid for through $5,000 gifts from the women of the north and the women of the south as an act of reconciliation and hope. Today, these beautiful windows are featured in Tiffany Circle Hall, honoring the many contributions of the Tiffany Circle and its generous members.