Give to Women and Girls Day

The second annual Give to Women and Girls Day is this Wednesday, October 11. Last year, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute launched the inaugural fundraising day to direct funds to charitable organizations that support women and girls. Nationwide, roughly 50,000 organizations fit this description, but they received only 2% of all philanthropic dollars in 2019. That translates to about $7.9 billion, which pales in comparison to organizations that support other causes, such as religion ($129 billion), health ($40 billion), human services ($58.5 billion), and arts and culture ($19 billion).  

Social awareness and support of women’s issues have grown in recent years, according to the Women and Girl’s Index. However, charitable giving to women’s causes hasn’t caught up yet. Give to Women and Girls Day is designed to bridge that gap.

We can start by breaking down how the $7.9 billion is allotted. In 2019, organizations that specialized in reproductive care and family planning services received the most donations, which adds up to roughly $1.5 billion. This is in line with historical philanthropic patterns, even prior to Dobbs. Women’s health followed closely behind, with $1.3 billion charitable dollars. These causes deserve more attention and financial support than they already receive, despite their relative popularity compared to other organizational categories. Other causes, like women and girls’ civil rights and advocacy, such as Women4Change Indiana’s Action Fund, only received $0.3 billion. The message is clear: women and girls’ organizations are chronically underfunded.

But who, exactly, isn’t giving them their due? A 2016 report by the WPI found that women donate to women and girls’ causes more frequently and in larger amounts than male respondents. (Women also tend to donate to all charitable causes more frequently and in larger amounts than men.) Older age and higher income were also associated with a higher likelihood of donating to women and girls’ causes. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, those who reported that they cared more about women’s issues and community development than tax laws were more likely to donate to women and girls’ organizations.

So, how can you celebrate Give to Women and Girls Day? For one, help raise awareness about women and girls’ organizations, and the low proportion of philanthropic dollars they receive. If potential donors are aware of how little women and girls’ organizations receive compared to other causes, it might prompt them to change their donation habits. Second, start a conversation about who donates to these organizations. There’s no reason for men to donate less than women – equality helps us all. Men who don’t already give to women and girls’ organizations should consider doing so. Third, donate to an organization like Women4Change that supports women and girls. Whether you give five dollars or over one hundred, you’re making a direct impact on the organization of your choice. Better yet, consider setting up recurring monthly donations. Consistent donations accumulate over time and help nonprofits and foundations anticipate funding to facilitate budgeting and planning.

Are you ready to show some financial support to an organization that supports women and girls? Donate here to make a difference for women and girls in Indiana.