The Australian Women Donors’ Network not only encourages women in Australia to donate, but focusses on women and girls as a priority for “investment” by donors.
The Australian Women Donors’ Network believes that women and girls are underrepresented as recipients of charitable giving, but that that is where greater support would lead to better outcomes. In a sense microfinancing is based on the same supposition – that investing in women leads to more successful outcomes for communities.
With the assistance of QUT the Australian Women Donors’ network is undertaking a study of giving and people’s preferences in relation to gender. The survey is closing on 30 June. It would be great if you would like to participate so that a broad a pool of donors / funders express their opinions.
The Australian Women Donors’ Network was launched in 2008. The organisation brings together resources for donors, such as a project showcase, as well as hosting events, talks and great speakers. Last year they brought out Tracy Gary, who set up Inspired Legacies and wrote Inspired Philanthropy. This year’s key speaker will be the filmmaker and philanthropist,Abigail Disney.
The idea of gender specific philanthropy raises lots of questions for me, so I’d love to hear your thoughts.
* Do you think women are more generous than men?
* What are your thoughts on having gender as a filtering mechanism for your own giving?
* Do you consider whether your support is going to men or women? * How important is it that gender is highlighted in relation to philanthropy?
* How do you respond to the idea of giving according to gender and by gender?
* Is there a need in Australia for specific gender oriented giving? * Can a man be part of the Australian Women Donor’s Network?
By the by here’s a little piece on the history of philanthropy by women in Australia.
and many thanks to Sue Roff for suggesting this topic.
ozphilanthropy 
Interesting concept. it is important to understand, I think, that the Women Donors’ Network appears to have an education focus. I suspect that driving a gender bias in philanthropy must be very case specific because, in so many arenas, donors support generic causes whose goals provide benefit to both genders (most medical research, the environment, social development and institution building in the third world etc.). If there is any focus on particular gender issues in these arenas it has not come out in the flood of end of year letters in many a mail box. Perhaps there is something to be learned here for the likes of Oxfam or Red Cross, both of whom send separate letters to both myself and Mrs Oz. She may be more inclined not to grumble about the duplication waste if the approaches to her sought support for a particular program supporting women’s issues.
Are women more generous? It will be interesting to learn. We have the wonderful example of Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, surely far more generous than the rest of her male family combined. At the “two dollar” end of the scale, Mrs Oz is probably about as generous as I, but she is certainly less forgiving of cases of untidy donor relationship management. Screw that up and she will cut you off, irrespective of the value of your cause.
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