The New Power of the Purse: Younger Women and the Future of Philanthropy
Hang around the philanthrosphere long enough and you'll realize that it's something of a matriarchy. Sure, most of the biggest foundations are still run by men and male zillionaires get endless attention for their philanthropy. But women comprise most staff in foundations, half of all foundations are run by women, and it's actually the wives of those zillionaires who often decide where the family's gifts go.
Now comes a study from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) suggesting that the influence of women is likely to grow greater in coming years as a younger generation rises, with big implications for philanthropy.
“Nonprofit leaders and fundraisers must recognize the importance of single and married women as donors,” said Debra Mesch, director of WPI. “Fundraisers who don’t know how to raise money from women simply will not be as successful as Millennials and Gen Xers step fully into their giving.”