The Pentera Blog

Women Philanthropists Urged to Apply "Gender Lens"

Women philanthropists now have the financial clout to fund significant change and should apply a "gender lens" that focuses their giving on women and girls. Those are the conclusions of "ALL IN FOR HER: A CALL TO ACTION," a new report sponsored by the Women Moving Millions organization.

"Women currently control an estimated $13.2 trillion of wealth in North America, ... [and] by 2030, at a conservative growth rate, women-controlled wealth will reach $33.5 trillion," the report states. "For the first time in history, women have the resources to close the gap between what we know works and the funding needed to fully realize change."

The ongoing wealth transfer to women is impacting all of philanthropy, including planned giving, with an increasingly higher percentage of planned gifts coming from single women (widowed, divorced, or never married). Much of the wealth transfer to women is through bequests.

The "ALL IN FOR HER" report cites more than 40 other reports and research studies in coming to its conclusions. It has garnered wide support, including from women's rights pioneer Gloria Steinem, former President Jimmy Carter, actresses Geena Davis and Demi Moore, and hundreds of women philanthropists. The report includes Moore's gift story and those of five other donors and also includes seven impact stories about program successes around the world.

The call to action asks donors to do five things:

  • Give Big: "Interventions to combat [gender inequality] and create opportunity in its place will require big money."
  • Be Bold: "The most effective philanthropists give more than money. They invest their social and intellectual capital."
  • Apply a Gender Lens: "Effective philanthropy means recognizing that one size does not fit all when it comes to solving social and environmental issues."
  • Be Collaborative: "To increase our impact, we know we must connect more—and more meaningfully—with others."
  • Commit: "We don't have to wait for the solution. We are the solution."
The full report can be downloaded here:

http://allinforher.org/sites/default/files/ALL_IN_FOR_HER-A_Call_To_Action.pdf

A related report that has links to "The Top 100 Must-Read Reports on Women and Girls" can be downloaded here:

http://www.womenmovingmillions.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/WMM-ALL-IN-FOR-HER-100-TOP-REPORTS.pdf