March 8, 2025 • 32 mins
Join us on this empowering episode of the Leap to Success podcast, where host Mary Gaul introduces us to inspiring stories of fearless female entrepreneurs. Today’s special guest is Joy Kolin, founder of the nonprofit organization Giving Joy. Together, they explore how even the smallest actions can lead to massive ripple effects of change, impacting women and their communities worldwide.
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(00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Leap to Successpodcast where we highlight incredible women
entrepreneurs who are taking bold leaps inbusiness and life.
I'm your host Mary Gahl and I believe thatsuccess is built through connection,
contribution, and celebration.
Each episode we bring inspiring stories, expertinsights, and actionable strategies to help you
(00:24):
grow and thrive as an entrepreneur.
So let's dive into today's conversation.
Today I am so excited to introduce you to ourguest today, our special guest.
She is the founder, one of the founders ofGiving Joy.
Her name is Joy Collin, and I can't wait forher to share all about what she does through
(00:49):
her organization because it's really, reallypowerful.
So Joy, welcome to the Leap to Success podcast.
Hi Mary, thank you so much for inviting me.
I'm super excited.
Yes, I'm just so excited for our listeners tobe able to hear your message and be able to
help make an impact with what you're doing.
So let's just dive in.
(01:09):
Tell us about Giving Joy, how you kind of cameabout to to found that, and and what you do.
Okay.
So Giving Joy is not a business.
It's a it's a nonprofit organization.
Mhmm.
I started it in now it seems like forever, butit was late twenty eighteen, and and I started
(01:32):
it so my background let me back up a littlebit.
So my background is actually in internationaldevelopment, which means that I was managing
large, mostly US government funded projectsthat help other countries with democracy and
governance, health care, and peace and conflictmitigation.
(01:57):
And so I lived many years overseas, and thatwas really that was my career for the past
twenty years.
Mhmm.
And but there was something always there.
So I I had a lot of I got a lot of pleasure outof working in that field.
(02:18):
I mean, you don't work in internationaldevelopment for the money, work to make a
difference to help to help people.
Right?
Yeah.
And and I really appreciated it, but there wasalways something a little bit missing for me.
And, you know, the projects that I was managingwere great, but they were more helping on the
systemic level, because they were largeprojects, multi year, multimillion dollar
(02:42):
projects that really I didn't feel that theymade changes for the individual person.
It it didn't, to me, at least trickle down.
Mhmm.
It did have impact, of course.
But but for me, I I was like, why can't I feelthat this is helping, like, a woman per Like,
(03:04):
you know?
And for me, I come from a family that I had avery dominant mother and grandmothers and
grandmothers.
And and, you know, women get stuff done.
Yes.
We do.
Yes.
Really, really what what I've experienced.
And at the same time, we get things done, butwe're also blocked many, many times.
(03:29):
And I've seen that again and again and again,and not just in countries that have, you know,
different cultures and whatnot, but here in TheUnited States too.
And I've experienced it as well.
And so for the longest time, I was like, isthere something I can do?
You know?
And I'm just little old me.
I'm not like Melinda Gates or anything.
(03:51):
Right?
Yeah.
Like, I'm not a millionaire or anything.
So for about two years, with my day job, I kindof I was working in different countries, and I
took that opportunity to ask women from, like,different sectors, different ages, and all
that, what they need.
(04:11):
Like, what what are you missing?
Like, if you could if you could have something,what would help you?
And hands down, they all said, we need a littlecapital to either and not much, but sometimes
you just need, like, a little capital to kindof boost yourself to as a stepping stone for
your business or nonprofit or to provide moreservices to your community.
(04:35):
And, also, it's kind of a token of someonebelieves in you as well.
And and so I started thinking, and hands down,all these women who are very different from
each other said exactly the same thing.
And I was like, okay.
There's something here.
Mhmm.
So I said, you know what?
Okay.
Let me just, you know, let me just startsomething, and let's see.
(04:59):
Yeah.
So so I said, okay.
So I started giving joy, and I'm joy.
So and kind of thinking about this this idea ofthe of micro grants.
So a one time micro grant of $500 to reallyserve as that kind of boost.
(05:19):
But that grant is not just for, you know,someone to buy, I don't know, more yarn for
their business or something.
What they have to propose has to have what wecall the multiplier effect, which means
whatever whatever you're doing, it has to havemultiple impact on your families, communities,
(05:41):
and other women.
So so that's kind of how it started, and I hadno idea, Mary, like, how it would go.
I put in my own money, and then I'm like, okay.
Let's see.
I don't I don't know.
And at first, nobody applied.
It was so interesting.
Nobody applied for a grant.
And I'm like, oh my god, I'm giving money awayand nobody's applying.
(06:04):
Yeah.
And it was so interesting because I I wasalways on the other side.
I was the implementing partner.
I was the one that was writing grants and goingafter donors.
And now I'm the donor and applying all theselessons that I learned about what I didn't like
about donors and try to do better.
(06:25):
And and, like, I didn't even know where topublish, like, where to get like, for people to
access the grant.
It was just so weird.
You know?
Anyway, so slowly, slowly, like, through socialmedia and stuff like that, we gained traction.
And now our last round, we had over 8,000applications from 70 countries.
(06:49):
So clearly, there's a need there.
And these are one time small $500 grants, andand and the demand is huge, and we can only
give out five or six grants around.
Okay.
So so that's a big difference between thedemand and and the supply.
So so we are trying to we're very, very smallbut mighty.
(07:14):
We're all volunteers.
I'm a volunteer.
Board is volunteer.
And we're doing this just because we reallybelieve in this women helping women model.
Mhmm.
And we've seen, you know, that it can this iswork this is working.
You know, these microgrids.
(07:35):
To date, we've awarded 88 and from countries.
And and the idea is run the gamut.
Like, for example, right now, we just awarded aa new round, and one of the women is a drone
pilot from Malawi.
And she's teaching another 20 something womento be drone pilots.
(07:57):
I'm like, oh my god.
That's amazing.
Like Yes. Who
Who thinks of that?
Right?
And another another woman in Pakistan, she's anengineer and an environmental climate
specialist, and she's also going to, I think,work with, a 20 girls, if I'm not mistaken, in
different schools to train them on solar powerand solar power Nice.
(08:23):
Installation and stuff like that.
So so we're trying to have things like, we'refunding things that that, as as you can see,
have, like, that multiplier effect Mhmm.
But also that provide women with the skills oror or some kind of way to actually be more
sustainable economically.
Right.
(08:43):
And so and so that's that's kind of how we'retrying to to make this more long term impact
with very small grants.
And that's kind of our tagline micro grants,macro impact global reach.
Love it.
Love that.
So Joy, thank you so much for taking that leapand saying, I see a need out here.
(09:08):
You were in that environment, so you had a lotof international experience.
Like you said, you were seeing big projects getdone, but does that really trickle down to this
woman needs help to start her business or growher business or make an impact that she wants
to have, right?
So thank you for taking the leap because, asyou said, you could have just gone on and said
(09:31):
okay I see there's a hole here but I'm goingkeep working on the bigger projects right and
hope that it starts to trickle down.
But you took the leap so tell us about makingthat decision and figuring it out.
You had to figure out how to get the word outthere.
(09:51):
So tell us a little bit about the lessons youlearned in that.
And for those people that feel like, I'm justone small person, I can't make an impact.
Right?
Give us some insights that you've learned.
So I thought that way too.
You know, I'm just one person, what can I do?
But I've learned through this that we can do alot, actually.
Yeah.
(10:11):
We really can do a lot.
So I I mean, look.
I was working I was I started giving joy, as Isaid, in 2018, but I still was working at my
day job until last year.
Yeah.
So I took my time kind of, you know, leapingaway completely from my day job and still had
(10:37):
that tether until I did that.
And I think that was one of the things that Ilearned that I think it was good that I did
that because I feel like if I just kind of,like, just left and just went with giving joy.
I think it would be much more stressful for mefinancially.
So I know it was very difficult actuallybalancing the two because you're like, you're
(11:03):
one person and you're basically working twofull time jobs.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
But but I felt that I like, financially, Iwasn't able to leave.
And I know that if I did leave, I wouldprobably be much more frantic about Mhmm.
The work with giving joy.
So I I feel like it was good to kind of pace ita little bit.
(11:27):
I also leveraged my day job to learn so muchabout giving joy and also lessons.
And, also, because it was different from my dayjob, I did ask people at my day job about what
what do you think of this?
What do you think of this?
You know?
Yeah.
(11:47):
And that and that really, really helped me tokinda get their advice.
They also built my confidence to to to do this.
And and so that was also, you know, again,building on all the things that I was doing for
this.
So I took a lot of the lessons that I learnedfrom my day job and tried to apply them here.
(12:08):
So I think it made it easier, to to take theleap and and do it, and I did take my time.
And so I think that was something that Ilearned.
So what was your question again?
Sorry.
I think I totally, like, skewed.
No.
You answered it, Joy.
(12:29):
You did answer it.
And so I think that's a great lesson for us tohear as entrepreneurs or somebody who's maybe
in a corporate space and thinking aboutstarting their own business.
That's why side hustles are a thing, right?
It's because I think it really is a great idea.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing if you'regoing to start a new business.
(12:51):
Because if it is all or nothing then there's somuch pressure on that new thing you're
building.
And so if you can build yourself some runwaywhere you have some economic stability that
doesn't put so much pressure on your newbusiness that you're building or your new
venture that you're starting, then that doestake some of that pressure off.
(13:13):
And you get to learn the lessons slowly ratherthan depends on every phone call and if
something doesn't go right then it's almostcatastrophic.
Was another thing that never mind.
It escapes me.
(13:34):
It comes back that's great.
But yes I love that you have such a great neednow and you're getting so many applications
from women and that you require them to havethis multiplier effect, which I think is
fantastic too.
We're not just going to help one woman butwhat's the what's the reach of that woman going
(13:57):
to have in her community.
I think when we when we had our original talk Ithink I talked to you about Heifer
International which is they deliver animalsright and train people how to care for animals
but one of their requirements is when youranimal has a calf or more chickens or goats or
whatever it is then you're required to givethat to somebody else in the community and
(14:18):
share their knowledge with them right which Ithink it it just helps that ripple effect take
shape throughout the community.
So we are recording this on 02/27/2025.
And so we're coming up on March eighth oftwenty twenty five is International Women's
Day.
(14:38):
So how can women that might be listening tothis ahead of time, our Leap for Ladies
community and or anybody else who finds thepodcast, how can they help support you and
these micro grants that are going to help womenaround the globe?
Sure so a number of ways our website isgivingjoygrants.org I recommend that everybody
(15:04):
go and visit us.
You can sign up for our newsletter, which wesend out like email once a month or something
with stories about the impact, about ourgrantees and who they are.
And so that's very informative.
Second of all, on social media, where ourhandle is Giving Joy Grants, and we also have
(15:25):
Reels and Stories as well.
And I think, so that's kind of the easiestthing that I ask people is just to spread the
word.
Yeah.
First is spread the word about about us.
And I think International Women's Day is such agood, time for us, but it's such a, apropos
occasion because we are really we're a globalorganization and we're celebrating women.
(15:52):
So I think it's a twofer right there.
And
so that would be my first thing.
It would be like, recognize us, acknowledge us,look into the stories, kinda get acquainted
with us.
And then the second thing, and share the love,share the joy.
And the second thing is to donate.
(16:14):
And we so our we get donations fromindividuals.
And then we also have partnered with a numberof women owned businesses.
And so they have been funding us in a varietyof ways.
Sometimes we do giveaways with them.
Sometimes we have joint campaigns.
(16:35):
Sometimes it's a direct grant.
And so it really varies.
What we do both for businesses and individuals,if you donate $500 which is a micro grant, we
can name the grant after you or your business,you could do it in memory of somebody.
So it could be the Mary Gull grant.
(16:58):
And so we would also, you know, send that outin our newsletter, which is 30,000 people and
on social media and everything basicallycelebrating you, Mary, and thanking you and
kind of so you also get something out of it foryour business as well.
And, again, this is a very good example of howwomen can help women.
(17:19):
Right.
And so and so that that has been you know,these business sponsorships, I think, have been
very I've really enjoyed that, actually.
I've learned a lot about other womenbusinesses.
And, like, for example, we are partnering withthis company called Salt, s a a l t, which they
(17:41):
do period, products, per period underwear.
And and so I had a I had a conversation withthe CEO, and it was so interesting, exactly
kind of what you're doing, Mary.
So it was CEO to executive director.
Yeah.
And and we both learned so much from thatconversation because a lot of times when you're
(18:03):
in, like, the c suite, you don't have anybodyto talk to.
Right?
Right.
Right.
And and and so, you know, she had insightsabout the nonprofit, and I had insights about
what she was doing, especially the stuff thatthey're doing related to corporate social
responsibility.
Nice.
And and so it was just such and so now we kindof have this friendship between us because it's
(18:26):
two women that, you know, are heads oforganizations who are hers is much larger than
mine, but it doesn't matter.
You know?
I think so so so that has really given mesomething that I didn't expect at all from this
thing, kind of creating this network, exactlykind of what you're doing with with the
collaborations and whatnot.
(18:46):
And I think it is it's really helped me.
And, of course, we're building a network ofwomen who are all the former grantees, the
grant winners.
Yes.
Yes.
So they are also connected.
We have this Facebook group where we sharethings and and and all of that.
And and and I think that has been verywonderful for me personally and also for them.
(19:11):
You know, they're we're they're both we're bothgetting more business acumen Yes.
But also kind of like, again, you know, asupport group.
Right.
Right.
Yes.
So my three C's, I wrote a book called VitaminC3 and it's about connect, contribute, and
(19:32):
celebrate your way to success.
And so that's what you're really getting at theheart of, is really let's connect with each
other and then let's contribute to each other,and then celebrate our successes everyone's
successes, right?
So we're here to celebrate everyone's success.
I love that you have a Facebook group, Joy,where you get to have the grant recipients be a
(19:55):
part of that group too, so they can continue toshare their story and share the impact that the
grant is making in their lives.
Because sometimes when we donate to acharitable organization, we might see a story
occasionally in your newsletter, and it's like,Oh that's great!
But when you're actually in a group whereyou're talking to people and hearing their
examples and seeing the questions that they'reposting, that just makes it more real and more
(20:18):
connected.
Really having that connection to where ourmoney is going and how it's making an impact in
somebody's life is just so important.
It's such a piece that's important when wechoose to spend our money in charitable
organizations.
That was one thing that was very important tome to to document the impact.
(20:41):
Mhmm.
So in our annual report, for example, and alsoon the website, we were able to calculate,
like, how many people were impacted by thegrant.
So last year, we awarded 15 grants, and 640women were the direct beneficiaries of the
grant, meaning they either, you know, gotservices or or training or something something
(21:05):
like that.
And then and then from that, we are able tocalculate that 24,000 people were indirectly
indirectly benefited from it.
Yeah.
So so so you see it really has that rippleeffect, and it just depends.
You you don't even realize that until youstart, like, putting numbers to it.
(21:28):
And it could mean, you know, we did a podcast.
So how many people listened to the podcast?
How many, you know, how many how many otherpeople it how like, so you did a workshop.
How many other women did you train on what youlearned?
Did you go to a school?
Did you you know?
And so that's how we're able to calculate thatthat.
And I and that is very important to me.
(21:49):
It what you were saying about, okay.
What does my grant do?
You know?
And I I feel accountable for for other people'smoney, and I want to make sure that what we're
doing has the maximum impact that it has andthat it can.
And yes, it's $500 but again, with somecreativity and innovation, you can do quite a
(22:12):
lot.
Even in The United States, we've given outgrants.
So, it's a it is more challenging, but I I dothink it's it's it's doable.
Yes.
I love that.
I love that.
And seeing the ripple effect.
Right?
So 15 grants affected 24,000 lives in some way.
That's just really really powerful.
(22:33):
And the message that you had at the beginningas well is really I'm just one person what kind
of impact can I have in the world?
And we get a little isolated as businessowners, as moms, as wives of whatever community
we're in.
We get a little isolated.
It's easy, especially here in The UnitedStates, to just live within our little bubbles.
(22:56):
Not realize that if we step out of that bubblethat we can really have a big impact.
Absolutely.
Even just helping one other person.
Just helping one other person.
And it could be something small, but I think wereally need to change our mindset about that
and say, like, we we can and we should helpother people.
Mhmm.
(23:17):
I wanted to go back to a point before that wewere talking about kind of my transition in the
leap.
Yeah.
And and and another thing that I remembered,that's why.
Yeah.
That is great.
I love it.
I love it.
Another thing that I think really helped me wasthat my job, my day job, I wasn't passionate so
(23:40):
much about it anymore.
Mhmm.
And I know a lot of people feel that way.
Yeah.
But having giving joy filled that hole that Ihad about the passion.
And so I didn't have to get all the, you know,the the gratitude and all the the, you know,
the things that you want recognition that youwant from from your job job Right.
(24:04):
From that.
So it took the pressure off my day job toobecause I was like, ah, it's just a job.
You know?
Right.
And it wasn't like, oh, my whole existence isthis job and, you know, how so you know?
Because it's like, it defines me Because Ifound this other thing that actually more
(24:24):
defined me.
It also gave me this balance a little bit.
And again, going back to that transition periodthat my true passion was giving joy, but, you
know, life happens and you need to continue.
But I was able, again, to to balance betweenthe two, and I think that that really helped me
(24:47):
as well.
Because in the past, I would take my job soseriously.
Like, it was my my essence.
Right?
And that's not good for you.
Right.
Right.
Yeah.
Yes.
I love that you that you brought that back upbecause it's something very important to us,
and it can cause people to not take the leapinto doing what's really going to fulfill them.
(25:14):
Either they're concerned about, Do I reallyhave the skill set to make that work?
Or This is not fulfilling me here, but it'scomfortable.
I know what I'm doing.
I have my path in front of me.
I've built this whole career.
It's my identity.
And over here is the unknown.
And so really having the courage to say, I canfind joy somewhere else and still have this
(25:39):
career that's going pay my bills.
Because we still have to make money and stillpay bills until the other thing takes off to
the point where you can make the switch, right?
So again having that side hustle mentality isokay, and sometimes I think as women we think
we have to have it all figured out and we can'tmake the leap until this is 100% sure and
(26:00):
certain.
We know that we're going to be successful overhere.
So really just encouraging women to be able totake that leap and figure out a plan.
If you need to keep your day job, keep your dayjob.
But how can you start finding that thing thatbrings you joy and is going to make an impact
in whatever way?
And maybe it's just an impact in yourneighborhood, right?
(26:21):
So I took a class in 2015, actually, and now Iteach this class called Pinnacle Productivity.
We break down how do we spend our time intocategories of time.
Personal time, I was like, Oh, that's time whenI'm not working, or my kids were home at the
time, so I was like, That's when I'm notparenting or I'm not working, that's personal
time.
They're like, Well, personal time is stuff thatbrings you joy.
(26:44):
It fills your bucket.
And I had kind of burned myself out.
I was working, starting a new business, andraising my kids, and volunteering, and all this
stuff.
I was like, What brings me joy?
I had to really think about it because I hadlost that in kind of just the busyness of life,
which happens.
(27:04):
Right?
So I was like, I love reading books.
I'm gonna start a book club.
And so now our book club is nine years old inour neighborhood, so we're meeting tomorrow
night for our book clubber.
Right?
But it's just been such a good way to connectwith our neighbors in the neighborhood, have a
conversation.
Yes, we might have a glass of wine too, buthave a great conversation and just be connected
(27:26):
as neighbors.
And that brings me such joy.
And so really finding what are those simplethings, whether it's starting a book club or
starting a nonprofit organization that you cando that can make an impact on you.
By us being more joyful in our lives, that hasa ripple effect as well.
It really does.
(27:47):
Now I won't lie.
It's not easy.
Is
not easy.
Running a nonprofit is not easy.
And they have been many times when I told myhusband, I'm like, okay.
I'm done.
I'm done.
This is so hard.
I'm not getting donations.
Done.
But then I give out another grant, and I talkwith the the grantee, the woman, and I see what
(28:12):
this is doing to her, to so many others.
And I'm like, okay.
I I'll find a way.
I'll find a way to to keep it going.
Nice!
Thank you, thank you, thank you again for allof the work that you do.
I know that nonprofits are not an easy thing todo, and so there's a lot of work that has to
happen in the background.
But again, the rewards are so so high and sorewarding that you want to keep going.
(28:37):
Right?
And so thank you for all of the the work andthe effort that you put into it.
So again, we're gonna have Joy's information inthe show notes, so whether you're listening on,
you know, any of your favorite podcaststreaming applications or you're watching us on
YouTube, look at the show notes.
Go to givingjoygrants.org or givingjoygrants onany of the socials.
(29:00):
Right?
And check out their website, check out theirinformation.
If you feel like making a donation, whether youcan't do the whole 500, it's great if you would
be able to sponsor a whole grant.
I mean, $20, 10, anything.
Yes,
Yes.
What I'm going to be doing for InternationalWomen's Day is hosting a lunch.
(29:22):
And so a portion of what you would pay for yourlunch, we're going to have donated to either
Girls Matter or to the Giving Joy FoundationGiving Joy Grant.
So I'll be having all of the information out atthe lunch.
I'm just inviting all my girlfriends to cometogether.
We're so privileged here in The United States.
(29:42):
Let's meet for lunch, let's have a greatconnection, but let's also give back to women
who we can have a real impact together just bysharing a percentage of what we spent on lunch.
Well Mary, I'm jealous.
I know.
I wanna come to lunch too.
I know.
Well, if you're ever in Colorado, please pleaselook me up, and I'd be happy to do that.
(30:04):
And we're gonna get this podcast out so itcomes out before International Women's Day.
So again, if you're listening around March 8,please go and check out givingjoygrants.org so
that you can really have a contribution andmake an impact in our own small way.
And Joy is going to take care of all thedetails of getting it to the right people,
(30:24):
right?
So how easy can
it be?
it be? Definitely will.
Yes, wonderful wonderful.
Okay well that is about all the time we havefor today's podcast.
So is there any other thing that you need totell us about giving joint grants or how to
connect with you?
No.
I think we covered everything.
Mary, I really wanna thank you.
(30:45):
This has been really great.
And yeah, looking forward to other times wherewe can collaborate with you and the members of
your community.
Yes, wonderful, wonderful.
Okay, so that, as I said, is a wrap on today'sepisode of the Leap to Success podcast.
I hope that you found inspiration, motivation,and maybe a few golden nuggets to take with you
(31:08):
on your journey.
If you loved this conversation, be sure tosubscribe on whatever streaming platform you're
listening on so that you never miss an episode.
If today's guest Joy Collin resonated with you,then make sure and give her some love by
sharing out her social media, sharing thispodcast with someone that you love, and share
(31:31):
that with your community.
Remember you can find all of theGivingJoyGrants.org information on their
website or look up GivingJoyGrants on yourfavorite social media platform and in the show
notes wherever you're listening or watching.
If you want to go deeper with other members ofthe Leap for Ladies community and special
(31:51):
guests like Joy, you can join us in the Leapcommunity where you'll find even more
resources, connections, and opportunities toshow up and grow.
You can visitsuccessmagnified.com/leapforthaladies to learn
more.
Until next time, keep taking bold leaps,contributing your gifts, and celebrating your
successes.
(32:12):
Thanks so much, Joy.
Thank you.
Bye.
Bye.
Hello and welcome to the Leap to Successpodcast where we highlight incredible women
entrepreneurs who are taking bold leaps inbusiness and life.
I'm your host Mary Gahl and I believe thatsuccess is built through connection,
contribution, and celebration.
Each episode we bring inspiring stories, expertinsights, and actionable strategies to help you
(00:24):
grow and thrive as an entrepreneur.
So let's dive into today's conversation.
Today I am so excited to introduce you to ourguest today, our special guest.
She is the founder, one of the founders ofGiving Joy.
Her name is Joy Collin, and I can't wait forher to share all about what she does through
(00:49):
her organization because it's really, reallypowerful.
So Joy, welcome to the Leap to Success podcast.
Hi Mary, thank you so much for inviting me.
I'm super excited.
Yes, I'm just so excited for our listeners tobe able to hear your message and be able to
help make an impact with what you're doing.
So let's just dive in.
(01:09):
Tell us about Giving Joy, how you kind of cameabout to to found that, and and what you do.
Okay.
So Giving Joy is not a business.
It's a it's a nonprofit organization.
Mhmm.
I started it in now it seems like forever, butit was late twenty eighteen, and and I started
(01:32):
it so my background let me back up a littlebit.
So my background is actually in internationaldevelopment, which means that I was managing
large, mostly US government funded projectsthat help other countries with democracy and
governance, health care, and peace and conflictmitigation.
(01:57):
And so I lived many years overseas, and thatwas really that was my career for the past
twenty years.
Mhmm.
And but there was something always there.
So I I had a lot of I got a lot of pleasure outof working in that field.
(02:18):
I mean, you don't work in internationaldevelopment for the money, work to make a
difference to help to help people.
Right?
Yeah.
And and I really appreciated it, but there wasalways something a little bit missing for me.
And, you know, the projects that I was managingwere great, but they were more helping on the
systemic level, because they were largeprojects, multi year, multimillion dollar
(02:42):
projects that really I didn't feel that theymade changes for the individual person.
It it didn't, to me, at least trickle down.
Mhmm.
It did have impact, of course.
But but for me, I I was like, why can't I feelthat this is helping, like, a woman per Like,
(03:04):
you know?
And for me, I come from a family that I had avery dominant mother and grandmothers and
grandmothers.
And and, you know, women get stuff done.
Yes.
We do.
Yes.
Really, really what what I've experienced.
And at the same time, we get things done, butwe're also blocked many, many times.
(03:29):
And I've seen that again and again and again,and not just in countries that have, you know,
different cultures and whatnot, but here in TheUnited States too.
And I've experienced it as well.
And so for the longest time, I was like, isthere something I can do?
You know?
And I'm just little old me.
I'm not like Melinda Gates or anything.
(03:51):
Right?
Yeah.
Like, I'm not a millionaire or anything.
So for about two years, with my day job, I kindof I was working in different countries, and I
took that opportunity to ask women from, like,different sectors, different ages, and all
that, what they need.
(04:11):
Like, what what are you missing?
Like, if you could if you could have something,what would help you?
And hands down, they all said, we need a littlecapital to either and not much, but sometimes
you just need, like, a little capital to kindof boost yourself to as a stepping stone for
your business or nonprofit or to provide moreservices to your community.
(04:35):
And, also, it's kind of a token of someonebelieves in you as well.
And and so I started thinking, and hands down,all these women who are very different from
each other said exactly the same thing.
And I was like, okay.
There's something here.
Mhmm.
So I said, you know what?
Okay.
Let me just, you know, let me just startsomething, and let's see.
(04:59):
Yeah.
So so I said, okay.
So I started giving joy, and I'm joy.
So and kind of thinking about this this idea ofthe of micro grants.
So a one time micro grant of $500 to reallyserve as that kind of boost.
(05:19):
But that grant is not just for, you know,someone to buy, I don't know, more yarn for
their business or something.
What they have to propose has to have what wecall the multiplier effect, which means
whatever whatever you're doing, it has to havemultiple impact on your families, communities,
(05:41):
and other women.
So so that's kind of how it started, and I hadno idea, Mary, like, how it would go.
I put in my own money, and then I'm like, okay.
Let's see.
I don't I don't know.
And at first, nobody applied.
It was so interesting.
Nobody applied for a grant.
And I'm like, oh my god, I'm giving money awayand nobody's applying.
(06:04):
Yeah.
And it was so interesting because I I wasalways on the other side.
I was the implementing partner.
I was the one that was writing grants and goingafter donors.
And now I'm the donor and applying all theselessons that I learned about what I didn't like
about donors and try to do better.
(06:25):
And and, like, I didn't even know where topublish, like, where to get like, for people to
access the grant.
It was just so weird.
You know?
Anyway, so slowly, slowly, like, through socialmedia and stuff like that, we gained traction.
And now our last round, we had over 8,000applications from 70 countries.
(06:49):
So clearly, there's a need there.
And these are one time small $500 grants, andand and the demand is huge, and we can only
give out five or six grants around.
Okay.
So so that's a big difference between thedemand and and the supply.
So so we are trying to we're very, very smallbut mighty.
(07:14):
We're all volunteers.
I'm a volunteer.
Board is volunteer.
And we're doing this just because we reallybelieve in this women helping women model.
Mhmm.
And we've seen, you know, that it can this iswork this is working.
You know, these microgrids.
(07:35):
To date, we've awarded 88 and from countries.
And and the idea is run the gamut.
Like, for example, right now, we just awarded aa new round, and one of the women is a drone
pilot from Malawi.
And she's teaching another 20 something womento be drone pilots.
(07:57):
I'm like, oh my god.
That's amazing.
Like Yes. Who
Who thinks of that?
Right?
And another another woman in Pakistan, she's anengineer and an environmental climate
specialist, and she's also going to, I think,work with, a 20 girls, if I'm not mistaken, in
different schools to train them on solar powerand solar power Nice.
(08:23):
Installation and stuff like that.
So so we're trying to have things like, we'refunding things that that, as as you can see,
have, like, that multiplier effect Mhmm.
But also that provide women with the skills oror or some kind of way to actually be more
sustainable economically.
Right.
(08:43):
And so and so that's that's kind of how we'retrying to to make this more long term impact
with very small grants.
And that's kind of our tagline micro grants,macro impact global reach.
Love it.
Love that.
So Joy, thank you so much for taking that leapand saying, I see a need out here.
(09:08):
You were in that environment, so you had a lotof international experience.
Like you said, you were seeing big projects getdone, but does that really trickle down to this
woman needs help to start her business or growher business or make an impact that she wants
to have, right?
So thank you for taking the leap because, asyou said, you could have just gone on and said
(09:31):
okay I see there's a hole here but I'm goingkeep working on the bigger projects right and
hope that it starts to trickle down.
But you took the leap so tell us about makingthat decision and figuring it out.
You had to figure out how to get the word outthere.
(09:51):
So tell us a little bit about the lessons youlearned in that.
And for those people that feel like, I'm justone small person, I can't make an impact.
Right?
Give us some insights that you've learned.
So I thought that way too.
You know, I'm just one person, what can I do?
But I've learned through this that we can do alot, actually.
Yeah.
(10:11):
We really can do a lot.
So I I mean, look.
I was working I was I started giving joy, as Isaid, in 2018, but I still was working at my
day job until last year.
Yeah.
So I took my time kind of, you know, leapingaway completely from my day job and still had
(10:37):
that tether until I did that.
And I think that was one of the things that Ilearned that I think it was good that I did
that because I feel like if I just kind of,like, just left and just went with giving joy.
I think it would be much more stressful for mefinancially.
So I know it was very difficult actuallybalancing the two because you're like, you're
(11:03):
one person and you're basically working twofull time jobs.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
But but I felt that I like, financially, Iwasn't able to leave.
And I know that if I did leave, I wouldprobably be much more frantic about Mhmm.
The work with giving joy.
So I I feel like it was good to kind of pace ita little bit.
(11:27):
I also leveraged my day job to learn so muchabout giving joy and also lessons.
And, also, because it was different from my dayjob, I did ask people at my day job about what
what do you think of this?
What do you think of this?
You know?
Yeah.
(11:47):
And that and that really, really helped me tokinda get their advice.
They also built my confidence to to to do this.
And and so that was also, you know, again,building on all the things that I was doing for
this.
So I took a lot of the lessons that I learnedfrom my day job and tried to apply them here.
(12:08):
So I think it made it easier, to to take theleap and and do it, and I did take my time.
And so I think that was something that Ilearned.
So what was your question again?
Sorry.
I think I totally, like, skewed.
No.
You answered it, Joy.
(12:29):
You did answer it.
And so I think that's a great lesson for us tohear as entrepreneurs or somebody who's maybe
in a corporate space and thinking aboutstarting their own business.
That's why side hustles are a thing, right?
It's because I think it really is a great idea.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing if you'regoing to start a new business.
(12:51):
Because if it is all or nothing then there's somuch pressure on that new thing you're
building.
And so if you can build yourself some runwaywhere you have some economic stability that
doesn't put so much pressure on your newbusiness that you're building or your new
venture that you're starting, then that doestake some of that pressure off.
(13:13):
And you get to learn the lessons slowly ratherthan depends on every phone call and if
something doesn't go right then it's almostcatastrophic.
Was another thing that never mind.
It escapes me.
(13:34):
It comes back that's great.
But yes I love that you have such a great neednow and you're getting so many applications
from women and that you require them to havethis multiplier effect, which I think is
fantastic too.
We're not just going to help one woman butwhat's the what's the reach of that woman going
(13:57):
to have in her community.
I think when we when we had our original talk Ithink I talked to you about Heifer
International which is they deliver animalsright and train people how to care for animals
but one of their requirements is when youranimal has a calf or more chickens or goats or
whatever it is then you're required to givethat to somebody else in the community and
(14:18):
share their knowledge with them right which Ithink it it just helps that ripple effect take
shape throughout the community.
So we are recording this on 02/27/2025.
And so we're coming up on March eighth oftwenty twenty five is International Women's
Day.
(14:38):
So how can women that might be listening tothis ahead of time, our Leap for Ladies
community and or anybody else who finds thepodcast, how can they help support you and
these micro grants that are going to help womenaround the globe?
Sure so a number of ways our website isgivingjoygrants.org I recommend that everybody
(15:04):
go and visit us.
You can sign up for our newsletter, which wesend out like email once a month or something
with stories about the impact, about ourgrantees and who they are.
And so that's very informative.
Second of all, on social media, where ourhandle is Giving Joy Grants, and we also have
(15:25):
Reels and Stories as well.
And I think, so that's kind of the easiestthing that I ask people is just to spread the
word.
Yeah.
First is spread the word about about us.
And I think International Women's Day is such agood, time for us, but it's such a, apropos
occasion because we are really we're a globalorganization and we're celebrating women.
(15:52):
So I think it's a twofer right there.
And
so that would be my first thing.
It would be like, recognize us, acknowledge us,look into the stories, kinda get acquainted
with us.
And then the second thing, and share the love,share the joy.
And the second thing is to donate.
(16:14):
And we so our we get donations fromindividuals.
And then we also have partnered with a numberof women owned businesses.
And so they have been funding us in a varietyof ways.
Sometimes we do giveaways with them.
Sometimes we have joint campaigns.
(16:35):
Sometimes it's a direct grant.
And so it really varies.
What we do both for businesses and individuals,if you donate $500 which is a micro grant, we
can name the grant after you or your business,you could do it in memory of somebody.
So it could be the Mary Gull grant.
(16:58):
And so we would also, you know, send that outin our newsletter, which is 30,000 people and
on social media and everything basicallycelebrating you, Mary, and thanking you and
kind of so you also get something out of it foryour business as well.
And, again, this is a very good example of howwomen can help women.
(17:19):
Right.
And so and so that that has been you know,these business sponsorships, I think, have been
very I've really enjoyed that, actually.
I've learned a lot about other womenbusinesses.
And, like, for example, we are partnering withthis company called Salt, s a a l t, which they
(17:41):
do period, products, per period underwear.
And and so I had a I had a conversation withthe CEO, and it was so interesting, exactly
kind of what you're doing, Mary.
So it was CEO to executive director.
Yeah.
And and we both learned so much from thatconversation because a lot of times when you're
(18:03):
in, like, the c suite, you don't have anybodyto talk to.
Right?
Right.
Right.
And and and so, you know, she had insightsabout the nonprofit, and I had insights about
what she was doing, especially the stuff thatthey're doing related to corporate social
responsibility.
Nice.
And and so it was just such and so now we kindof have this friendship between us because it's
(18:26):
two women that, you know, are heads oforganizations who are hers is much larger than
mine, but it doesn't matter.
You know?
I think so so so that has really given mesomething that I didn't expect at all from this
thing, kind of creating this network, exactlykind of what you're doing with with the
collaborations and whatnot.
(18:46):
And I think it is it's really helped me.
And, of course, we're building a network ofwomen who are all the former grantees, the
grant winners.
Yes.
Yes.
So they are also connected.
We have this Facebook group where we sharethings and and and all of that.
And and and I think that has been verywonderful for me personally and also for them.
(19:11):
You know, they're we're they're both we're bothgetting more business acumen Yes.
But also kind of like, again, you know, asupport group.
Right.
Right.
Yes.
So my three C's, I wrote a book called VitaminC3 and it's about connect, contribute, and
(19:32):
celebrate your way to success.
And so that's what you're really getting at theheart of, is really let's connect with each
other and then let's contribute to each other,and then celebrate our successes everyone's
successes, right?
So we're here to celebrate everyone's success.
I love that you have a Facebook group, Joy,where you get to have the grant recipients be a
(19:55):
part of that group too, so they can continue toshare their story and share the impact that the
grant is making in their lives.
Because sometimes when we donate to acharitable organization, we might see a story
occasionally in your newsletter, and it's like,Oh that's great!
But when you're actually in a group whereyou're talking to people and hearing their
examples and seeing the questions that they'reposting, that just makes it more real and more
(20:18):
connected.
Really having that connection to where ourmoney is going and how it's making an impact in
somebody's life is just so important.
It's such a piece that's important when wechoose to spend our money in charitable
organizations.
That was one thing that was very important tome to to document the impact.
(20:41):
Mhmm.
So in our annual report, for example, and alsoon the website, we were able to calculate,
like, how many people were impacted by thegrant.
So last year, we awarded 15 grants, and 640women were the direct beneficiaries of the
grant, meaning they either, you know, gotservices or or training or something something
(21:05):
like that.
And then and then from that, we are able tocalculate that 24,000 people were indirectly
indirectly benefited from it.
Yeah.
So so so you see it really has that rippleeffect, and it just depends.
You you don't even realize that until youstart, like, putting numbers to it.
(21:28):
And it could mean, you know, we did a podcast.
So how many people listened to the podcast?
How many, you know, how many how many otherpeople it how like, so you did a workshop.
How many other women did you train on what youlearned?
Did you go to a school?
Did you you know?
And so that's how we're able to calculate thatthat.
And I and that is very important to me.
(21:49):
It what you were saying about, okay.
What does my grant do?
You know?
And I I feel accountable for for other people'smoney, and I want to make sure that what we're
doing has the maximum impact that it has andthat it can.
And yes, it's $500 but again, with somecreativity and innovation, you can do quite a
(22:12):
lot.
Even in The United States, we've given outgrants.
So, it's a it is more challenging, but I I dothink it's it's it's doable.
Yes.
I love that.
I love that.
And seeing the ripple effect.
Right?
So 15 grants affected 24,000 lives in some way.
That's just really really powerful.
(22:33):
And the message that you had at the beginningas well is really I'm just one person what kind
of impact can I have in the world?
And we get a little isolated as businessowners, as moms, as wives of whatever community
we're in.
We get a little isolated.
It's easy, especially here in The UnitedStates, to just live within our little bubbles.
(22:56):
Not realize that if we step out of that bubblethat we can really have a big impact.
Absolutely.
Even just helping one other person.
Just helping one other person.
And it could be something small, but I think wereally need to change our mindset about that
and say, like, we we can and we should helpother people.
Mhmm.
(23:17):
I wanted to go back to a point before that wewere talking about kind of my transition in the
leap.
Yeah.
And and and another thing that I remembered,that's why.
Yeah.
That is great.
I love it.
I love it.
Another thing that I think really helped me wasthat my job, my day job, I wasn't passionate so
(23:40):
much about it anymore.
Mhmm.
And I know a lot of people feel that way.
Yeah.
But having giving joy filled that hole that Ihad about the passion.
And so I didn't have to get all the, you know,the the gratitude and all the the, you know,
the things that you want recognition that youwant from from your job job Right.
(24:04):
From that.
So it took the pressure off my day job toobecause I was like, ah, it's just a job.
You know?
Right.
And it wasn't like, oh, my whole existence isthis job and, you know, how so you know?
Because it's like, it defines me Because Ifound this other thing that actually more
(24:24):
defined me.
It also gave me this balance a little bit.
And again, going back to that transition periodthat my true passion was giving joy, but, you
know, life happens and you need to continue.
But I was able, again, to to balance betweenthe two, and I think that that really helped me
(24:47):
as well.
Because in the past, I would take my job soseriously.
Like, it was my my essence.
Right?
And that's not good for you.
Right.
Right.
Yeah.
Yes.
I love that you that you brought that back upbecause it's something very important to us,
and it can cause people to not take the leapinto doing what's really going to fulfill them.
(25:14):
Either they're concerned about, Do I reallyhave the skill set to make that work?
Or This is not fulfilling me here, but it'scomfortable.
I know what I'm doing.
I have my path in front of me.
I've built this whole career.
It's my identity.
And over here is the unknown.
And so really having the courage to say, I canfind joy somewhere else and still have this
(25:39):
career that's going pay my bills.
Because we still have to make money and stillpay bills until the other thing takes off to
the point where you can make the switch, right?
So again having that side hustle mentality isokay, and sometimes I think as women we think
we have to have it all figured out and we can'tmake the leap until this is 100% sure and
(26:00):
certain.
We know that we're going to be successful overhere.
So really just encouraging women to be able totake that leap and figure out a plan.
If you need to keep your day job, keep your dayjob.
But how can you start finding that thing thatbrings you joy and is going to make an impact
in whatever way?
And maybe it's just an impact in yourneighborhood, right?
(26:21):
So I took a class in 2015, actually, and now Iteach this class called Pinnacle Productivity.
We break down how do we spend our time intocategories of time.
Personal time, I was like, Oh, that's time whenI'm not working, or my kids were home at the
time, so I was like, That's when I'm notparenting or I'm not working, that's personal
time.
They're like, Well, personal time is stuff thatbrings you joy.
(26:44):
It fills your bucket.
And I had kind of burned myself out.
I was working, starting a new business, andraising my kids, and volunteering, and all this
stuff.
I was like, What brings me joy?
I had to really think about it because I hadlost that in kind of just the busyness of life,
which happens.
(27:04):
Right?
So I was like, I love reading books.
I'm gonna start a book club.
And so now our book club is nine years old inour neighborhood, so we're meeting tomorrow
night for our book clubber.
Right?
But it's just been such a good way to connectwith our neighbors in the neighborhood, have a
conversation.
Yes, we might have a glass of wine too, buthave a great conversation and just be connected
(27:26):
as neighbors.
And that brings me such joy.
And so really finding what are those simplethings, whether it's starting a book club or
starting a nonprofit organization that you cando that can make an impact on you.
By us being more joyful in our lives, that hasa ripple effect as well.
It really does.
(27:47):
Now I won't lie.
It's not easy.
Is
not easy.
Running a nonprofit is not easy.
And they have been many times when I told myhusband, I'm like, okay.
I'm done.
I'm done.
This is so hard.
I'm not getting donations.
Done.
But then I give out another grant, and I talkwith the the grantee, the woman, and I see what
(28:12):
this is doing to her, to so many others.
And I'm like, okay.
I I'll find a way.
I'll find a way to to keep it going.
Nice!
Thank you, thank you, thank you again for allof the work that you do.
I know that nonprofits are not an easy thing todo, and so there's a lot of work that has to
happen in the background.
But again, the rewards are so so high and sorewarding that you want to keep going.
(28:37):
Right?
And so thank you for all of the the work andthe effort that you put into it.
So again, we're gonna have Joy's information inthe show notes, so whether you're listening on,
you know, any of your favorite podcaststreaming applications or you're watching us on
YouTube, look at the show notes.
Go to givingjoygrants.org or givingjoygrants onany of the socials.
(29:00):
Right?
And check out their website, check out theirinformation.
If you feel like making a donation, whether youcan't do the whole 500, it's great if you would
be able to sponsor a whole grant.
I mean, $20, 10, anything.
Yes,
Yes.
What I'm going to be doing for InternationalWomen's Day is hosting a lunch.
(29:22):
And so a portion of what you would pay for yourlunch, we're going to have donated to either
Girls Matter or to the Giving Joy FoundationGiving Joy Grant.
So I'll be having all of the information out atthe lunch.
I'm just inviting all my girlfriends to cometogether.
We're so privileged here in The United States.
(29:42):
Let's meet for lunch, let's have a greatconnection, but let's also give back to women
who we can have a real impact together just bysharing a percentage of what we spent on lunch.
Well Mary, I'm jealous.
I know.
I wanna come to lunch too.
I know.
Well, if you're ever in Colorado, please pleaselook me up, and I'd be happy to do that.
(30:04):
And we're gonna get this podcast out so itcomes out before International Women's Day.
So again, if you're listening around March 8,please go and check out givingjoygrants.org so
that you can really have a contribution andmake an impact in our own small way.
And Joy is going to take care of all thedetails of getting it to the right people,
(30:24):
right?
So how easy can
it be?
it be? Definitely will.
Yes, wonderful wonderful.
Okay well that is about all the time we havefor today's podcast.
So is there any other thing that you need totell us about giving joint grants or how to
connect with you?
No.
I think we covered everything.
Mary, I really wanna thank you.
(30:45):
This has been really great.
And yeah, looking forward to other times wherewe can collaborate with you and the members of
your community.
Yes, wonderful, wonderful.
Okay, so that, as I said, is a wrap on today'sepisode of the Leap to Success podcast.
I hope that you found inspiration, motivation,and maybe a few golden nuggets to take with you
(31:08):
on your journey.
If you loved this conversation, be sure tosubscribe on whatever streaming platform you're
listening on so that you never miss an episode.
If today's guest Joy Collin resonated with you,then make sure and give her some love by
sharing out her social media, sharing thispodcast with someone that you love, and share
(31:31):
that with your community.
Remember you can find all of theGivingJoyGrants.org information on their
website or look up GivingJoyGrants on yourfavorite social media platform and in the show
notes wherever you're listening or watching.
If you want to go deeper with other members ofthe Leap for Ladies community and special
(31:51):
guests like Joy, you can join us in the Leapcommunity where you'll find even more
resources, connections, and opportunities toshow up and grow.
You can visitsuccessmagnified.com/leapforthaladies to learn
more.
Until next time, keep taking bold leaps,contributing your gifts, and celebrating your
successes.
(32:12):
Thanks so much, Joy.
Thank you.
Bye.
Bye.
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CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.