By Andrea Pactor, Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Foundations deal with complex issues. It is difficult enough to navigate those waters without considering the impact of gender on leadership, decision making, and organizational culture. Yet it is clear from a variety of disciplines – marketing, management, and leadership among them – that men and women are different and what works for men may not work for women. This is true in philanthropy too.

Women are deeply involved in foundation life, serving as donors, trustees, board members, volunteers, and staff. Although the more than 40,000 family foundations with assets of nearly $300 billion in 2011 represent a large swath of philanthropy, virtually no research has examined how gender affects these fast-growing and increasingly important organizations. The same is true for donor-advised funds with assets of $45.4 billion in 2012.

The Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy applied its understanding of gender differences in philanthropy to many lively conversations on the topic at its April 2014 symposium, #WomenLeading Philanthropy.

Expanding the Conversation

One session addressed women leading in families to expand the conversation about how and why gender matters in small and family foundations. Panelists included Ashley Snowdon Blanchard (Hill-Snowdon Foundation), Doris Christopher and her daughter Julie (The Pampered Chef and Christopher Family Foundation), and Hannah Quimby (Burt’s Bees and Quimby Family Foundation).

One attendee, a non-family staff member at a family foundation, commented that she had not thought about the impact of gender in family foundations prior to attending the conference. She was inspired by the stories shared. As a result of the sessions on leadership transitions and engaging the next generation in philanthropy, she plans to be more deliberate and intentional about bringing new staff and board members to the foundation.

Attendees focused on three messages from the session and the conference.

“If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” Not only is it important for women to sit at the decision-making table, but they must also ensure that their voice is heard. One attendee remarked that as more women move into philanthropic leadership, many may need to elevate their influence at the table to effect systemic change.

Permission to fail. An oft tweeted message from the session was “learn fast, fail fast, tweak fast.” Attendees heard that they need to give themselves permission to fail. Panelists shared messages to be fearless, go big, and take risks.

Training is key. Training beyond the nuts and bolts of board leadership will help women not only to have a voice at the table but also to lead effectively. Helping women leaders learn how to use foundation and nonprofit board service strategically is a new frontier for women’s philanthropy.

Being mindful of gender differences in philanthropy should be part of ongoing discussions as foundations plan for leadership succession and deliberate how to engage the next generations in leadership. Until substantive research is available, intermediary organizations can address the gender factor through thoughtful donor panels, case studies, and in-depth interviews that get to the heart of this important aspect of family dynamics.

Related resources

Girlbosses: Six Women in Our Family Step Up to Lead our Social-Change Work

Mars, Venus and the Handling of Money, a New York Times article on the rise of women as wealth holders

The Women’s Philanthropy Institute increases understanding of women’s philanthropy through rigorous research and education, interpreting and sharing these insights broadly to improve philanthropy. The Institute offers a continuum of research-based educational services to inform donors, fundraisers, institutions, advisors, and other constituencies about the powerful and transformative role women play in philanthropic giving. Educational programs, ranging from keynote addresses to two-day courses, can be customized for specific audiences. The Women’s Philanthropy Institute also periodically convenes both small and large groups for reflection, analysis, and discussion of timely issues in order to explore how and why gender matters in philanthropy.