Why Focus on Women's Philanthropy?

The Women's Philanthropy Institute assists women in transforming their thinking by realizing their philanthropic potential, therefore unleashing resources and the possibility to transform the world.

• The IRS reported in the Personal Wealth Tables for 2004, the most recent year for which data is available, that 43 percent of the nation’s top wealth holders were women. Top wealth holders are defined as individuals with assets of $1.5 million or more. Assets of the 1,173,000 women were valued at $4.6 trillion which represents 41.8% of the total wealth in this category. About 35 percent of women, the largest category, were in the 50-65 age range.
• In 2008 the Center for Women’s Business Research estimated that there are about 10.1 million privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms in the United States, accounting for two in five (40.2%) of all businesses in the country. These firms generate $1.9 trillion in annual sales and employ 13 million people nationwide.
• Because women live longer than men by an average of 5.2 years, they will end up in charge of much of the anticipated intergenerational transfer of wealth expected over the next fifty years.
• in addition, many women will inherit twice, one from their parents and once from their husbands.
• According to Diversity Best Practices & Business Women’s Network, women are responsible for 83% of all consumer purchases.
• Women's education and income continue to rise in the 21^st century.
  • The percentage of women in the workforce almost doubled in the second half of last century, from 32% to 62%
  • Women's median income has increased over 60% over the past 30 years, while men's median income has hardly increased at all
  • The percentage of women in college has also grown steadily from 42% in 1970 to 56% in 2000

Research also demonstrates the potential for women’s philanthropy.

• The Center on Philanthropy’s evidence supports the theory that gender differences in philanthropy are indeed real. A study conducted by Center staff indicates that single women are significantly more likely than single men to make a philanthropic gift.
• Results also show married men and married women are both more likely to give and to make larger gifts than single men, indicating that women's propensity for giving influences the philanthropic habits of their husbands.
• Reliable evidence also shows women who participate in donor education programs are more likely to give larger gifts, to give unrestricted gifts, to develop a long-term giving plan, and to hold leadership roles on nonprofit boards.

Much world-changing power is in these numbers, once every woman fully discovers her own giving capacity - and strategically and intentionally gives to the causes that impassion her.