93% of Wealthy Donors to Women’s and Girls’ Funds Are Female, Study Finds

Ninety-three percent of donors to women’s funds and foundations are female, and 12 percent are LGBTQ, according to a study by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

The study, which used data from high-net-worth donors, also found that 58 percent of them are board members of organizations that serve women or girls.

The report said that 43 percent of high-net-worth donors who give to women’s funds view themselves as leaders in philanthropy, and that 26 percent are members of giving circles. Donors to women’s funds, it said, “may see themselves as activist philanthropists, for whom being visible as a donor is critical to propelling change.”

Women’s funds, which have been operating across the nation for decades. typically raise money from women to channel donations to causes that help women and girls.

Correction: This article has been updated to make clear that the data is about donors to women’s funds, not all organizations that help women and girls.