Women at virtually every income level are more likely to give to charity and to give more money on average than their male counterparts, after controlling for education, income and other factors that influence giving, new research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University finds. “Looking at giving across five different income groups, which range roughly from $23,000 to $100,000 a year, it is clear that it is not only wealthy women who give,” said Debra J. Mesch, Ph.D., director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. “Women across nearly every income category give significantly more than their male counterparts - in many cases, nearly twice as much.” Women Give 2010 is the first report to compare philanthropic giving between men and … Continue Reading
Philanthropic Horizons and the Future of the Jewish Funders Network
If you spend enough time around philanthropists you quickly realize that their diversity of passion is equaled by their diversity in motivation. That is, they each have a different catalyst for their philanthropic activity - for some it is the result of family, for others is it is the result of personal experience. For many philanthropists it is the friend they found that activated their philanthropic impulse and for an equal number it is their internal value system that finally found an avenue of expression. Whatever the case, each philanthropist is the lead character in their own charitable narrative - a story for which they are often the author and the editor. In the context of the broader philanthropic narrative, the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is an interesting story. An organization … Continue Reading
Women and Philanthropy
A new book, Women and Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World, has just been released. Based on extensive interviews and the authors' combined half-century of experience, the book shares new ways to better engage women in giving, as well as insights into developing women leaders in the nonprofit arena. The book covers all of the key topics in women's philanthropy, including: the modern movement, women as prospects, how and why women give, overcoming barriers, developing gender-sensitive fundraising programs, communicating with women, women as leaders an donors, couples and family giving, and working with women of wealth. From the Inside Flap: Women's philanthropy has led the way in virtually reinventing the world of fundraising and ways of giving. When women make a gift, are in a … Continue Reading
The Female Factor
from The New York Times: Reaching a Sisterhood of the Needy The Women’s Funding Network, a U.S.-based nongovernmental group, says it unites more than 160 women’s funds or foundations from 26 countries with assets of $535 million to improve the lives of women and girls. The amount is both impressive yet, when compared with the recent losses of big banks, paltry. In a sense, that sums up where professional women find themselves: able to make something of a difference, but not much of a world-changing impact. A map on the network’s Web site makes clear that the vast majority of the funds are in the United States, concentrated on the West and East coasts. For all the star-studded attention to, say, Africa, charity would seem often to begin at home, and stay quite close. Which in the … Continue Reading
Gender or Generation?
from Connection Cafe: Does Gender or Generation Matter More? As we are out sharing and discussing the results of research into “The Next Generation of American Giving,” we’ve been asked why we did not include any breakdowns by gender? The answer is best summed up in an excerpt from one of the research analyst emails about gender differences: “There are not a lot of big gender differences, and where there are even small ones, nothing is popping out as particularly interesting or altruistic.” That in its-self might be interesting to some people, but not much help for the fundraising professional. The one thing we did see, and it is not pronounced, is there are some differences around the importance of relationships/influence of peers. One could say it is “classic gender … Continue Reading
Silent Role Models No More
They Too are Recognized During Women’s History Month by H. Glenn Rosenkrantz Atlanta: Over at the Marcus Jewish Community Center here, visitors might be forgiven for thinking they’ve walked into some sort of fashion show. There are, after all, dresses hanging on the walls. But upon closer look - and these dresses are getting plenty - it’s more apparent what’s going on. They are one-of-a-kind originals for sure, not in a fashionable way, but in a decidedly personal and historical sense. This is Women’s History Month and in honor of that, the JCC has seen fit to display the latest creations of students of the nearby Weber Jewish Community High School, who have designed dresses reflecting the long and splendid lives of Jewish senior women they’ve come to know, admire, and … Continue Reading
Best Practices in Marketing to Women
from frogloop: Is Your Nonprofit Cultivating Women Donors? Is your nonprofit reaching women and harnessing their power for social change? If your nonprofit is not actively marketing to women and recruiting them, your organization is missing out on major fundraising opportunities. During last week’s webinar The She Spot – Best Practices in Marketing to Women, Lisa Witter co-author of the book The She Spot and Morra Aarons-Mele of Women Online discussed why women are the market for changing the world and how to reach them. Click here to download the presentation. … Continue Reading
My Complicated Relationship with Phil
One 20-something explains the ups and downs of her personal connection to Jewish philanthropy. by Ariella Lis There is this acquaintance in my life named Philanthropy. Let's call him "Phil" for short. People really like to talk to me about Phil. Lots of important Jews are worried that "my generation" will not give to Jewish causes. But, I ease their anxiety. I'm living proof that Jews in their twenties care a great deal about Jewish giving. Technically, I'm a grad student, but because of Phil, my calendar says very un-academic things like "end of grant cycle" and "conference call" and "funders meeting." These things sound important, but are very inconvenient when they occur over finals and midterms. Because of Phil, I get a lot of emails, I get invited to sit on boards, and I go to a lot of … Continue Reading
Dual Loyalities
How the field of Jewish women's philanthropy has divided into two categories by Deborah Skolnick Einhorn When asked what I study, I often simply answer "Jewish women's philanthropy." By far the most common response to my response is: "Oh, my grandmother was in Hadassah!" Eagerness to make the connection, between a grandmother's membership in the largest Jewish women's Zionist organization in history (Hadassah) and my own work, is a wonderful form of Jewish geography. But, as this essay describes, the field of Jewish women's philanthropy is both bigger and more nuanced than those cocktail party exchanges might reveal. To assess whether something qualifies as Jewish women's philanthropy, one could ask: "Are the funds donated by Jewish women for Jewish causes?" and/or "Are the funds donated by … Continue Reading
Jewish Women’s Philanthropy: The Big Picture
Many women love having the money to make change - and are busy figuring out how to give the most bang for their buck. by Joan Kaye Today's Jewish women philanthropists can almost all be characterized as venture philanthropists, a term coined in 1984 to describe people who address social issues by funding projects or organizations using some of the practices initially used by venture capitalists when funding new businesses. Venture philanthropists share the following characteristics: the need to make a difference, a commitment to sustainable funding, leveraging funds, strengthening institutions, and reciprocity or partnership with recipients. First and foremost, Jewish women philanthropists feel the need to make a difference in the world; they are passionate about using their wealth to … Continue Reading
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