"Big Bang" (2010 Q2)
Big Bang
Featured beneficiary in the "BIG BANG" category (budget under $1 million) for second quarter 2010:
CIRCLE OF WOMEN
Charity Navigator rating: N/A
Annual budget: <$1 million

Circle of Women
We’re a young nonprofit dedicated to building schools for girls in developing countries. Our first project is a secondary school for 1200 girls in Afghanistan, where the female literacy rate is only 12% (UNICEF).

While a group of college students and recent grads fund-raise, organize, and spread awareness at home, experienced collaborators manage construction locally.

Our mission is to equip girls with self-reliance, knowledge, and increased capacities to both enhance their own lives and to contribute productively to their societies. We believe this is the best way to affect positive, global change. Our philosophy is that one school will affect one community. One community will make a world of change.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CIRCLE OF WOMEN
Website: www.circleofwomen.org
YouTube Channel: Circle of Women
ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS

Foundation Beyond Belief highlights ten charitable organizations per quarter. Among other considerations, beneficiaries are chosen for efficiency, effectiveness, moderate size (annual budget under $10 million), compatibility with humanist focus on mutual care of this world and this life, no direct promotion or proselytizing of a particular worldview, and geographical diversity.

Active members can help us choose future beneficiaries by researching and nominating charities and by discussing, debating, and advocating for the causes of their choice through our social network and discussion forums. Final decisions are made by the Board, but collective member input is among the most important considerations.