A new report from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, as discussed in ProBono, outlines important findings for fundraisers, advocates and wealth managers interested in the growth of women’s giving.

The report showed that female donors were not necessarily looking to donate to women’s and girls’ causes, with under 15% of giving being sent in that direction, but many of those who did purposefully do so were motivated by personal experiences.

The research, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, discovered that both positive and negative experiences motivated donors to contribute to medical, educational and social causes that benefit women and girls. Whether it be the experience of giving birth at a particular facility, or at a previous time being on the receiving end of discrimination, a growing number of women are motivated and able to give.

Many who participated in the study stated they did so because financial assistance to women’s and girls’ causes was one definitive way of driving social change. The Director of the WPI, Dr Debra Mesch, said “Understanding the demographics and motivations of those who are giving to women’s and girls’ causes is increasingly important if we are to improve the lives of women and girls, and their families and communities.”

Fundraisers are particularly interested in the philanthropic patterns of female donors, as they are statistically more likely to donate, and when they do so, offer a higher portion of their earnings. Half of women and around 40% of men who regularly donate say they give to at least one organisation that concerns itself with women’s and girls’ issues. Women are more likely than men to donate to causes that support LGBT rights, victims of domestic violence and cancer research.

More research in this area is likely to follow, as the findings so far do not delve into generational patterns of giving, or how more support for women’s causes can be raised. Certain information is apparent, such as older and more wealthy donors, both male and female, are generally more likely to give to women’s causes. However, there are some exceptions, such as causes surrounding LGBT rights and human trafficking, which are most often supported by a younger demographic.