About Tiffany Circle

The Tiffany Circle program was named for the Tiffany windows in the Tiffany Circle Hall (formerly Board of Governors Hall) at Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C. These windows, produced by the Tiffany Studios, were commissioned by Red Cross President Mabel Boardman in 1917 from two leading women’s philanthropic organizations of the day.

The program’s namesake Tiffany windows at American Red Cross National Headquarters cost a grand total of $10,000 when commissioned in 1917.  Women of the north and women of the south contributed equally to their purchase.  This was done as an act of reconciliation and hope for the healing the country was experiencing after the Civil War and also in honor of Red Cross founder Clara Barton’s heroic work for the injured of both sides during that conflict.  

American Red Cross founder Clara Barton was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for her work helping the wounded during the American Civil War.  She then founded the American Red Cross is 1881 and served as its leader for the next 23 years until she retired as President in 1904.  Mabel Boardman followed as the de facto head of the Red Cross. Her leadership saw significant organization and growth of chapters. In 1909, Red Cross nurse Jane Delano founded the organization’s nursing program that would train over 370,000 nurses throughout its existence. During this period (1915) the Red Cross national headquarters building in Washington, DC, situated across from the White House, was constructed.

Today, the American Red Cross is still led by women who highly value philanthropy and service.  Red Cross Chairman of the Board Bonnie McElveen-Hunter has served in that role since 2004 and was one of the founding members of the Tiffany Circle program in 2006. Red Cross CEO and President Gail J. McGovern took the organization’s helm in 2008 and joined the Tiffany Circle in 2008 as a Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Member. In 2013 Gail became a Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Silver member.

The Tiffany Circle’s impact upon the American Red Cross and indeed, the women’s philanthropic movement, finds its roots in the ownership and initiative of the Tiffany Circle members and leaders. Bonnie McElveen Hunter and Melanie Sabelhaus conceived of this network of women philanthropists around America committed to the service of their communities. Since inception, Tiffany Circle members have cumulatively donated more than $182 million dollars to address the needs of our communities.

Upon close examination today, scores of women in each chapter are personally engaged in the program through mission delivery and outreach to draw in new members.  With the advent of the Tiffany Circle Summit in 2007, these members began their own network of philanthropy and friendship.  The spirit of Tiffany Circle has taken flight and Tiffany Circle Societies have taken root in order in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

In recent years, sources have documented increased trends in giving programs for women.  This trend has been corroborated by survey findings about the propensity women feel to give back to their communities and world.  

• Women control nearly 60% of wealth in the United States (Virginia Tech, 2012) 
• Women give differently than men (Indiana University, 2010)
• Give a higher average of their wealth to charity than men (Indiana University, 2010)
• Make 80% or more of all purchases (Wall Street Journal, 2011)

According to research by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University published in October 2010, in each of five different income groups analyzed, female-headed households are more likely to give to charity than male-headed households.