Giving where it counts: Survey studies women philanthropists

Philanthropists are often thought of as wealthy men who donate large sums of money.

But philanthropy can mean much more, especially to the ever-increasing number of women who are donating their time and money to charitable causes.

The Falconer Group, a family wealth advisory firm in Traverse City, recently released the results of a national survey focusing on the philanthropy of Baby Boomer women born between 1945 and 1960 and Gen X women born between 1961 and 1980.

The report was conducted by philanthropy pioneer Sondra Shaw-Hardy and Carmen Stevens, director of philanthropic services at Falconer. They surveyed 176 women philanthropists across America who work in a variety of fields, ranging from professor, artist and homemaker to physician, lawyer and publisher. Their gift sizes ranged from $200 to $4 million annually.

Shaw-Hardy said they chose those two groups of women because they felt that they are leading the way in philanthropy. Although there have been several studies of Baby Boomer philanthropists, this is the first to target these two generations, the researchers say.

"Their giving potential and earning power, plus higher education levels, are helping to place them in positions of power in their communities, organizations and institutions," said Shaw-Hardy, a Traverse City resident. "We believed it was important to know how they think, give and lead."

What the survey concluded was that although the groups were alike in many regards, there were also some differences as well.

"Gen X women are the future of philanthropy," said Stevens. "This group of women will provide new definitions for what it means to be a donor, how to give through partnership that includes venture philanthropy, experiential giving and global perspectives, and will not be satisfied with traditional methods of solicitation or support."

The survey also found that more Gen X than Boomer women consider themselves philanthropists.

"It has been my observation that Gen X women are looking beyond philanthropy for involvement, both personally and with others, to create a "ripple" effect and collective change as they go about making the world a better place," said Shaw-Hardy. "With Boomer women, involvement was key before they gave. With Gen X-ers, it is the reverse."

Among the trends the survey showed were the continued willingness of women in both groups to give money based on their values and desire to transform society, said the researchers.

"Women have always been more interested in solving problems rather than funding buildings or maintaining the status quo," said Shaw-Hardy. "They want to know their gifts will make a difference and change things for the better."

In the last 25 years, Stevens explained, women have tended to also use their gifts to leverage others.

"They are ... providing challenge grants, and even accepting public recognition," Stevens said. "The key here is the strategy behind their leverage, which is two-fold: to encourage other women to give and to be an advocate for the mission of an organization."

"People think that being a philanthropist means you have to be Warren Buffet and have deep pockets but it's really a state of mind," said Julie Weeks, a philanthropist from Empire who participated in the survey.

Weeks said her role as a philanthropist was shaped by her parents, who taught her to get involved in the things that mattered to her.

"I was told that if you don't like it, roll up your sleeves and do something about it," she said. "Philanthropy is a way to do that."

Weeks is not alone in those sentiments. The survey found that passion for the cause was at the core of both generations' decisions to give.

"I think women give from the heart but now they are much more sophisticated in how they give," said Marsha Smith, executive director of Rotary Charities in Traverse City.

"Women are more likely to get engaged in something they're passionate about," echoed Weeks. "This doesn't necessarily mean giving large amounts of money. It also might mean being on a board or getting involved in a fund raiser.

Weeks' passions include land preservation and women's causes, close to home and across the globe. As the president of an organization called Womenable, she works on behalf of women's entrepreneurship internationally.

"There are lots of philanthropic needs involving women beyond the borders of the U.S.," said Weeks, who is also a member of the Three Generations Circle of Women Givers that supports local women's causes.

Although Smith's profession is philanthropy, she also gives personally -- and almost exclusively on the local level.

Because so many local organizations request funds from Rotary, Smith said she prefers to get involved in bigger issues to avoid conflicts of interest.

According to the research, changes that were important to both generations surveyed were: to promote understanding that the world is one giant global community; protection of the environment; the redistribution and sharing of resources; and the need for compassion.

The research also concluded that both generations feel peace is the one change that is most essential, said Stevens.

"My personal belief is that a better way to peace is empowerment of women," said Weeks.

Twenty-one Prime Time women, those born between 1928 and 1944, were also surveyed because Stevens and Shaw-Hardy felt that this generation has also been significant to women's philanthropy. Like the other two generations, passion for the cause was at the core of their decision to give.

All of them felt they were partners for change in their giving and 75 percent said they would give globally. That's the highest percent of all three generations, reported the researchers.

Barbara Alldredge of Glen Arbor is a member of the Prime Time generation and like Weeks, she feels that being a philanthropist is a state of mind.

"Some people are rich because they never give any money away, while others don't have much money and give a large percentage of their income to a cause," she said.

Of all three generations, the Prime Time women were most likely to give with their spouse. Alldredge said that she and her husband give to the arts and land conservation.

But like others surveyed, Alldredge also supports what she feels strongly about and said she tends to lean toward local causes.

"Separately, I'm also on the board of Genuine Leelanau, a group that helps women to get on their feet and we do a pretty good job of it," she said.

Photos

Carmen Stevens, left, and Sondra Shaw-Hardy surveyed women philanthropists across the country. Record-Eagle