Facts About Women, Wealth and Giving

Eight Strategies for More Effective Giving
by
Martha Taylor, Vice President, University of Wisconsin Foundation

1. Begin your philanthropy as early in life as possible. Even if you can't give as much as you'd like, your gifts will add up and begin to form your legacy.
2. Find your passion, and focus your gifts, rather than scattering them. Think about two or three areas or causes you want to support, and make this your philanthropic mission. Not only will your gifts have more impact, but you will find your giving more satisfying.
3. Work for parity in giving in your household. You and your spouse should have equal say about which causes your contributions support and the amount given.
4. If you can, give out of your assets to the causes you are passionate about. Think of your philanthropy as you would a child, your investment in the future of our world.
5. Consider the strength of numbers. Organize with others to provide a pooled gift that can make a project possible.
6. Leverage your giving. Increase your impact by challenging others to support the causes you hold dear.
7. Teach the art of philanthropy to the next generation. Instill in your children, and the young people you associate with, the values you treasure and your commitment to support them.
8. Have fun with your philanthropy. Celebrate your birthday with a philanthropic gift that you might not have thought was possible. Surprise your friends by giving in their names - or to a nonprofit of their choice. The possibilities are endless!

Additional information is online at The Women’s Philanthropy Institute

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women-owned businesses in the United States employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy.  (Center for Women’s Business Research, April 2004)

There are 10.1 million firms that are at least 50% owned by a woman or women. (Center for Women’s Business Research, April 2004)

The number of women-owned employer firms grew by 37% between 1997 and 2002, four times the growth rate of all employer firms. (Center for Women’s Business Research, April 2004 )

Women business owners are philanthropically active:

• seven in 10 volunteer at least once per month;
• 31% contribute $5,000 or more to charity annually;
• 15% give $10,000 or more.

Women with the highest levels of investable assets are more likely than men at the same level of investable assets to cite becoming more philanthropically active as an important investment goal (58% of women compared to 39% of men). (“High Net Worth Women and Men Investors: Common Strategies, Equal Expertise,” December 10, 2002 Center for Women’s Business Research.)

At least $41 trillion will be passing from one generation to the next by 2044. (Paul Schervish and John Havens, Boston College Social Welfare Research Institute)

Women outlive men by an average of 7 years. An estimated 85-90% of women are left in charge of family financial affairs. (Kelly Bolton, Merrill Lynch, 1999)