women & philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving

Women & Philanthropy:inspiring women, inspired giving

philanthropy uk: special report March 2008

Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving is the firstcontemporary report into women and philanthropy in the UK. It highlights, for the first time, the growing involvement and influence of women in majorphilanthropy today. This trend is significant for everyone with an interest inpromoting a culture of giving in the UK, and we hope that this report spursfurther research into this important area.

Philanthropy UK warmly thanks our guest editor Maggie Baxter, who hasbeen instrumental in developing this comprehensive resource, and also thephilanthropists and guest contributors who so generously gave us their timeand support.

Susan MackenzieDirector, Philanthropy UKMarch 2008

Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired givingManaging editor: Susan Mackenzie

Guest editor: Maggie Baxter

Produced by Philanthropy UKwww.philanthropyuk.org

© 2008 Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)

ISBN 978-1-897916-33-9

Published by ACFCentral House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0AE+44 (0)207 255 4499; [email protected]; www.acf.org.ukCompany registration number: 5190466; Registered charity number: 1105412

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved: no part of this work may be reproduced in any formwithout permission in writing from the publisher.

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving contents : page 1

contents

Managing Editor Susan Mackenzie

Guest editorMaggie Baxterwith support from Roxanne Clark, Ann-Sophie Morrissette and Natasha Walter

Philanthropy UK c/o Association of Charitable Foundations, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0AE, UK

+44 (0)207 255 4490; [email protected]

Design & artwork by Carrington Griffin Design

www.philanthropyuk.org

Editorial BoardDavid Carrington (Chair)Beth Breeze (Publications Editor)David EmersonSue Wixley

18 Historical icons

18 Angela Burdett-Coutts: founding mother ofwomen’s philanthropyby Susan Elizabeth

19 Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon: unconventionalVictorian reformer by Susan Elizabeth

20 Giving circles and networks

20 New trend connects more women to givingby Roxanne Clark

21 UK Women’s Fund to launchby Natasha Walter

23 Corporate network inspires women to aspireby Ann-Sophie Morrissette, UK Women’s Fund

25 Innovative philanthropy formed in the playgroundby Roxanne Clark

26 The Women’s Trust Fund: 25 years on and going strongAnonymous, Women’s Trust Fund

27 Circle of Oxford friends embraces women far afieldby Anne James, Oxford Givers’ Circle

28 Giving in the US comes full circleby Roxanne Clark

29 Historical perspective

29 Women and philanthropy in 19th century Englandby Frank Prochaska, Yale University

30 Women and philanthropy in the 20th centuryby Anne Logan, University of Kent

31 Resourcing womenby Ann-Sophie Morrissette, UK Women’s Fund

32 Benevolence and bias in black & white: media coverage of female philanthropistsby Beth Breeze

2 Inspiring women, inspired giving

2 A celebration of women’s philanthropy by Maggie Baxter, UK Women’s Fund

4 How women are changing the face of Britishphilanthropyby Susan Mackenzie

8 Profiles of women in philanthropy

9 Personal stories in philanthropy

9 Sigrid Rausing: ideals-driven philanthropy by Roxanne Clark

11 J.K. Rowling: a moral responsibility to giveby Sophie Radice

13 Mia Morris: community social responsibilityby Roxanne Clark

15 Darcey Bussell: giving with passionby Sue Wixley

16 Renu Mehta: networking to change fortunesby Susan Mackenzie

33 Global perspective

33 Introductionby Beth Breeze

33 Hungaryby Paola Grenier

34 Kyrgyzstanby Dr Balihar Sanghera, University of Kent

35 Mexico and Latin Americaby Ruben D. Flores Sandoval, University of Kent

36 The Netherlands by Pamala Wiepking, VU University, Amsterdam

36 Slovakia and the Czech Republic by Alena Králíková, Slovak-Czech Women’s Fund

37 The USASondra Shaw-Hardy, Women's PhilanthropyInstitute, and Carmen J. Stevens, FalconerPhilanthropic Advisors

38 The top five: tips for giving

38 Choosing a socially responsible lifestyleby Dame Stephanie Shirley

by Maggie Baxter

In this special report on Women &Philanthropy, I’m delighted that wehave been given the chance tocelebrate the extraordinarily diverseand energetic contribution made bywomen to the world of philanthropy.But let’s not forget all those whosephilanthropy remains hidden.

Philanthropy as defined in the Oxford Dictionary is“the desire to help others, especially through donationof money to good causes”.

It’s worth remembering all those women who givetheir time, resources and energy to hold theircommunities together, from a gathering of a group ofmothers considering how to counter gun crime, to anearly morning breakfast club for kids of workingmothers. Philanthropy can be time, energy andcommitment as well as hard cash.

Moreover, women’s role in major philanthropy continuesto evolve, and – as we report in the following article –is becoming increasingly influential.But this activityis not without precedent, and we also providehistorical and global perspectives on women’s giving.

All the philanthropists profiled herein give differentaccounts as to what philanthropy means to them andwhy they became philanthropists. It’s fascinating tome that almost all, whether individuals or groups,make other women their primary beneficiaries.Whether these individuals are motivated by thereality of continuing inequality, or by their desire togive back to society, there is an undeniable sense of‘sisterhood’. This growing sense of sisterhood is

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving inspiring women, inspired giving : page 2

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central to the new UK Women’s Fund (see “UK Women’s Fund to launch”).

Another undeniable theme is the fun and joy ourcontributors find in giving. They talk of “making adifference”, and “living their values” through whatthey support. This positive attitude is a far cry fromthe media’s often dismissive view of womenphilanthropists as described in Beth Breeze’s article(see ‘Benevolence and bias in black & white’).

The women who are profiled here have differentbackgrounds and different experiences. SigridRausing’s personal politics are exhibited by hergiving to women’s rights; J.K. Rowling by feeling amoral responsibility “when given far more than youneed”; Mia Morris by her sense of community socialresponsibility; Darcey Bussell as a way to “givesomething back”; and Renu Mehta by her feelings ofguilt and unfulfilment, and ensuing desire to create aculture of giving. Their philanthropy is shaped bytheir experiences and is driven by their values.

Our historical profiles also feature two influentialwomen who through their wealth improvedemployment, education, legislation and representationfor women in generations to follow. The profiles ofcorporate groups, networks and giving circlesemphasise the importance for those groups of engagingwith those they wish to support, and developingpartnerships rather than just signing a cheque.

It is not just the recipients who benefit; givers areimmeasurably enriched by seeing the results of their philanthropy.

Maggie Baxter is guest editor of this special report onWomen & Philanthropy. Maggie is setting up the newUK Women’s Fund, to be launched this spring.

In January 2007 she left the post of Executive Directorof WOMANKIND Worldwide where she had been sinceMay 1999. Prior to this she was Deputy Chief Executiveand Grants Director at Comic Relief. She is a trustee ofseveral charities, including City Parochial Foundation,where she chairs the Grants Committee, as well as theTrust for London and Women for Refugee Women.


How women are changing the face of British philanthropy

by Susan Mackenzie

As Britain’s ‘new philanthropists’ arechanging the giving landscape in theUK, there has been anotherimportant trend that has gonelargely unrecognised: the growinginvolvement and influence of womenin major philanthropy.

Like many male philanthropists, women take a strategicand engaged approach to their philanthropy. But, comparedto men, they often seek a deeper level of engagement andconnections with the causes they support, according to aPhilanthropy UK panel of advisors to high-net-worthindividuals.

In this way, women donors typify a key characteristic of the‘new philanthropist’: that is, they want to do more than ‘writea cheque’; they also want to offer their time and expertise.

Yet female philanthropists lack both the profile andrecognition achieved by many male donors. Women’sphilanthropy is not comprehensively reported in thepress, and there still is little research on genderdifferences in philanthropy. Further, women are under-represented in giving statistics, such as the Sunday TimesGiving Index (see sidebar on next page), which reflect howwealth is attributed, and so generally do not capture theinfluence, in major philanthropy, of women in decision-making by couples and families.

Philanthropy UK believes that such simple statistics beliethe true impact that women are having on majorphilanthropy in the UK – and ultimately on charities andtheir beneficiaries.

To explore further women’s role in major philanthropy, wesought the insights of a range of professional advisorsserving a breadth of male and female clients. The sevenadvisors we consulted represented a mix of wealthmanagement, legal, family office and specialistphilanthropy advisory organisations.

We hope that these findings stimulate further dialogueabout women and philanthropy, and encourage researchinto this important area.

“Women are often thedecision-makers; theyare the ones who makethings happen”Image: The Sigrid Rausing Trust funds The Campaign for Female

Education (CAMFED), which is dedicated to fighting poverty and

AIDS in rural communities in Africa by educating girls. Riziki, an

entrepreneur from Kibaha in Tanzania, used a grant from CAMFED

to expand her small business, which she uses to support her family

and pay for a higher education course.


Influence

A growing number of women are becoming more engagedand influential in their family’s philanthropy. And, onesolicitor reported that more female clients are setting uptheir own foundations, and also that more are playing anincreasingly influential role in their family’s philanthropy.

“Women are often the decision-makers; they are the oneswho make things happen”, remarked Harry Charlton,Head of Client Development at New Philanthropy Capital(NPC). Other philanthropy advisors we spoke to agreed.Said Heather Maizels, Barclays Wealth Director andHead of Philanthropy: “The women seem to be the chiefinfluencers on where the money eventually goes.”

Theresa Lloyd, philanthropy consultant and FounderDirector of Philanthropy UK, adds: “My research for WhyRich People Give showed that for couples majorphilanthropy was usually a joint decision. Even if oneperson appeared to lead on a relationship with thebeneficiary, both partners had to feel involved for acommitment to a significant gift.”

Indeed, family giving is becoming more inclusive. AsTanja Jegger, Head of Philanthropy at the wealthmanager Stonehage, explained, “In a family foundationsetting, women can and often do play a leading role indeciding on themes and specific projects.” Maizelselaborated, “Women seem to be more interested in familyphilanthropy, seeing it as a way to bind siblings together,involve less affluent cousins and be a way of ensuring thatthe family have a continuing way of sharing their lives.”

Women’s growing influence in decision-making is goodnews for charities, as women tend to be more generousthan men with their gifts, as highlighted in recentresearch from the US (see ‘Among singles, women aremore generous, US research shows’ in Latest News onPhilanthropy UK’s website). Philanthropist SigridRausing observes: “The main gender difference is thatmen have access to considerably more capital than dowomen overall; but also, I believe, that women (like thepoor) are rather more generous with what they have.”

Giving Index misses out on women

The business entrepreneurs and City professionals whodominate the Sunday Times Giving Index (which ranksthe top 30 philanthropists by their giving as apercentage of their wealth) are predominately male.Out of the 67 different people who have appeared in theGiving Index over the last four years, only 7, or about10%, were women. In 2006, not one of the 30 GivingIndex members was female.

“This is largely because the Giving Index is derived fromthe Sunday Times Rich List,” explains Alastair McCall,Editor of the Giving Index. “There is a significantgender imbalance in the Rich List, with 1,028 menmaking the List in 2007, compared with only 92 women.There are wider sociological issues at play: women areunder-represented in the board room and at chiefexecutive level, for instance.”

And, because both the Rich List and Giving Index arebased on the individuals from whom the wealth isderived, it is often men who are recognised as thegivers. For example, David and Heather Stevens – whodonated half their stake in Admiral Insurance to endowa new charitable foundation – topped the 2007 GivingIndex; but in second place is hedge fund managerChristopher Hohn – yet it is his wife Jamie Cooper-Hohn who runs the family’s foundation, the Children’sInvestment Fund Foundation. Similarly, the wealth ofthe Rausing family is attributed to Hans Rausing, andso his daughters, Sigrid and Lisbet, both prominentphilanthropists, do not appear.

McCall comments, “Of course, giving is often done as apartnership, and women play a critical role in majorphilanthropy.”

The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List and Giving Indexwill be published in the spring.

Renu Mehta visits a water project funded by Fortune Forum in Gonde Ethiopia that provides clean water for the local community.

Photo courtesy of Fortune Forum


Engagement

As women are becoming more influential in givingdecisions, they also are becoming more engaged in thegiving process. One advisor to a family office noted thatthe younger generation of women in the family are moreactive than their forebears in their philanthropy: “Theyare very connected, strategic and involved.”

Yet the experience of the advisors we spoke to suggeststhat women’s engagement differs in a fundamentalrespect: in addition to taking a strategic approach, womenalso seek a “deeper involvement and connection” with theissues. Jegger commented, “Women are typically quiteemotionally attached to the causes they engage in, with timeand expertise being just as important as financial support.”

One family office advisor has noted a similar pattern inclients: “Women are more closely involved with theirgrantees than are the men in the same generation; they feelmore comfortable with an emotional response. They alsoseem to be more motivated, believing that ‘some things arejust wrong’.”

And a solicitor observed of his clients, “Women generallyseek emotional engagement with grant recipients, whereasmen typically do not want to deal at an emotional levelwith beneficiaries.”

“In addition to taking a strategic approach, women also seek a deeper involvement andconnection with the issues”

Impact

Women are more likely to fund “harder causes” andindividuals “on the margins of society”, according to ourpanel of advisors. This may be, perhaps, because of adeeper emotional engagement with beneficiaries;although we simply don’t know, as there is little researchto draw on. Vivienne Hayes, Director of the Women’sResource Centre, a charity which supports women’sorganisations to be more effective and sustainable,wonders, “It could be that the struggles for recognition andequal rights that women have faced in their own careersand families fuel their engagement with causes andcommunities on the margins.”

For example, the top three causes targeted by NPC’sfemale clients are refugees, mental health and domesticviolence (see graph on next page). In contrast, the mostpopular causes amongst NPC’s male clients include cancer,and truancy and exclusion; areas where outcomes are moreeasily measurable and quantifiable. Women also seem towant to be involved locally, solving problems and buildinginfrastructure closer to home, according to some advisors.

Several advisors suggested that women may be morecomfortable than men with intangible results. Having animpact is just as important to women, but they monitorresults partly through their personal engagement withthe charity. Rausing commented on the importance ofappropriate outcomes measurement: “Measuring outcomehas a cost, and needs to be thought about – too much, andyou get jargon and glossy reports. Too little, andorganisations can lose their way.”

Jegger explained, “While men may often be morestructured and results-oriented, women can be more

Image: The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is

providing £3 million funding to Protecting Families Against AIDS

(PREFA), an indigenous Ugandan organization. The program pilots an

innovative, but proven strategy combining prevention of mother-to-child

transmission services with universal home to home HIV counselling

and testing and nutrition/food security. © CIFF


process-oriented, often selecting smaller projects, wherethey feel they can make more impact.”

Men also are more likely to seek to “make their mark” onsomething, such as having their name on a building,while women seem less concerned with recognition; andone advisor noted that, once a gift is made, men generallyview it as still their own money, whereas women tend toview it as the charity’s money. Philanthropist DameStephanie Shirley, writing in this issue of the Newsletter,remarks, “Givers, speaking especially for women, careabout the issues and are ‘care-ful’ about them. A mantypically might ask ‘what does society expect a man in myposition to do?’ and ‘what recognition will I get out of it?’Women seem less interested in these fripperies and perhapsfocus more on ‘how can I make the most difference?’”

Advice

Women also can be more thoughtful and consultative intheir giving, and more willing to seek advice. For instance,Maizels notes that “Women generally tend to seek advicemore than men on investment matters, and we havenoticed that this trend also applies to philanthropy.”

Several advisors reported that their male clients tendedto be more directive with their giving. They want theproblem solved, but are more likely to use an intermediaryto achieve their objectives. In contrast, women are more“consultative and involving”. Charlton explains, “Womenwant to engage with the problem and understand theissues; they seek a deeper level of engagement with thebeneficiaries.” Lloyd agrees: “Women are more activemanagers; they are more hands-on. They often ‘start small’and learn. They do not want to reinvent the wheel.”

There are, of course, notable exceptions to these trends.Though in general, women are becoming more involved –and more influential – in giving decisions, and they arebecoming increasingly engaged with beneficiaries. RenuMehta, philanthropist and founder of the Fortune Forum,observes, “Traditionally, women are more triggered byemotion, and men are more analytical. But the line is

Charitable causes supported by gender. New Philanthropy Capital clients

Young refugees

Refugees & asylum seekers

Mental health

Domestic violence

International

Children with terminal conditions

Prisoners & offenders

Older people

Child abuse

Truancy & exclusion

Cancer

Female-influenced Male-influenced0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

blurring, especially with the emergence of the philanthropy‘power couple’ – such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Brad Pittand Angelina Jolie, and Chris and Jamie Cooper-Hohn –where we are seeing a cross-fertilization of perspectives.”

“In major philanthropy,” an advisor concludes, “as acouple, men and women are a great balancing act.”

Source: New Philanthropy Capital. Based on 165 grants. “Female influenced” indicates either women donors as

individuals or couples where the woman has had a significant influence.

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving profiles of women in philanthropy : page 8

Profiles of women in philanthropyThe remarkable women profiled in this section all have distinctive stories to tell oftheir journey in philanthropy.

Here they share their inspirations and aspirations; their influences and motivationsinto why and how they give; and the experiences and insights which have shapedthem along the way.

As we report in ‘How women are changing the face of British philanthropy’, theirexperiences reflect a broader trend of women becoming more strategic in theirgiving, and more personally engaged in the causes they support. These women maygive individually, with their partner or family, or through a wider network offriends, colleagues or others in their community. But what they all have incommon – across the diversity of their backgrounds, experiences and motivations – is the passion they bring to their philanthropy and the joy they receive from it.

Susan MackenzieDirector, Philanthropy UK

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving personal stories in philanthropy : page 9

Personal stories in philanthropy

Sigrid Rausing: ideals-driven philanthropy

by Roxanne Clark

Philanthropist, publisher andanthropologist Sigrid Rausingpossesses that rare quality of someonewho truly puts her ideals into action.

From an early age she was actively working for socialchange: in 1993 she spent a year living on a remotecollective farm in Estonia doing fieldwork for a PhDin Social Anthropology and was an early member ofthe Network for Social Change.

Rausing, the daughter of Tetra Pak billionaire HansRausing, founded her charitable trust in 1995 (re-named the Sigrid Rausing Trust in 2003). It has fivemain areas of interest; (Human Rights) Civil andPolitical Rights, Women’s Rights and Advocacy,Minority Rights, Environmental Justice, and Socialand Economic Rights, these being causes in whichshe profoundly believes and which often find it hardto raise funds.

“I first became involved in activism rather thanphilanthropy, a young peoples’ Amnesty group when I was 13, and feminism and peace protests atuniversity,” she tells Philanthropy UK.

“I felt quite rooted in the progressive movements, thecivil liberties movement, feminism, the anti-torturecampaign, and the movement to record and witnessthe Holocaust and other genocides. In my mid-20s I met a group of American inheritors who had cometogether to fund progressive projects and

© Telegraph Media Group


organisations, and learn about how to assess projectsas well as talk about the meaning of inheritance. Ijoined a UK group too, and talked about similarissues. That is how I became a philanthropist.”

Key to Rausing’s impact as a philanthropist is herapproach to grant-making: “Most of the work we do ishuman rights orientated. We support quite a feworganisations working on violence against women,oppressed minorities, including sexual minorities, andwe now have a separate portfolio concerned withprotecting human rights defenders internationally.The work we support within environmental justice ismainly about helping poor communities fight againstenvironmental degradation caused by industrialpollution. We also support a number of organisationswhich focus on corruption, or which act as watchdogsto large financial institutions such as the World Bank.”

Her criteria for selecting projects are also well-considered and successful: so far the Trust has givenaway more than £85m in grants. “In many ways weare like an eclectic publishing company – we try topick the best projects we find within our fundingcategories. The budget has to make sense, theapplication has to be good, and the project has to beboth creative and realistic. But we stay with ourprojects for an unspecified length of time, and oftengive core grants, both of which are crucial tosuccessful grant-making.”

As there are always challenges to giving effectively,this can help shape the approach taken, as Rausingexplains: “In my view people in the human rightsmovement rarely think advocacy through to the end,which ultimately, always, is about what kind of agovernment you envisage. If you include the right towork in your mission, for instance, you are, perhapswithout realising, advocating for an extremely strong– perhaps excessively strong – State. The mainchallenge, I think, is to find projects and organisationswith clarity of purpose (mission creep is endemic), arewell led, and with good creative ideas. Leadership, tous, is about creativity as well as management.”

As Rausing’s own work and interests have continuedto evolve – she founded Portobello Books, a publishingcompany and in 2005 also bought Granta magazineand publishing house – she advocates embracingchange in philanthropy. She encourages new givers to“recognise that it’s all a work in progress – that whatyou fund now may be different from what you do infive years time, and that evolution and change is anintrinsic part of any work which involves pushing fora change in the status quo. Visit projects and peopleon the ground, or in their offices. Think about thecongruence between what you fund and who you arein life.”

This marriage of ideals and philanthropic purposehas been Rausing’s enduring motivation, and it hasbeen immensely rewarding: “I enjoy travelling toprojects that we fund, (and) meeting the people on theground. I don’t get enough time to do that now, but Iwill start again when my son is older. It’sextraordinarily inspiring.”

“Leadership… is about creativityas well asmanagement”


J.K. Rowling: a moral responsibility to give

by Sophie Radice

The year 2000 marked an importantturning point for J.K. Rowling, theauthor of the phenomenally successfulHarry Potter series of children’s books. Before then she remained relatively anonymous,rarely giving interviews and keeping any cause shesupported as far away from press interest as shecould possibly manage.

Perhaps she got fed up of her rags-to-riches story ofsingle-motherhood-on-benefits-in-Edinburgh beingrehashed in the first paragraph of any profile of her –she described is as feeling like she had ‘penniless,divorcee, lone parent’ tattooed on her head – anddecided that if it was going to follow her around, thenshe would use her status as the most famous singlemother in Britain to become the Ambassador andthen the President of the National Council for One-Parent Families. In the same year, Rowling

© J P Masclet


established the Volant Charitable Trust, which usesits annual budget of £5.1m to aid women andchildren and to combat poverty and social inequality.

Since then Rowling has had plenty to say about theway single parents get blamed for everything fromfalling morals to rising crime: “It’s much easier forcertain sections of society to say. ‘You’ve brought thison yourself by your fecklessness; you sort it out,’ thanto say ‘You’ve been a victim of circumstances’ or ‘Hey,marriages break up…..but how are we going to helpyou help yourself?’”

Her philanthropy is now unabashedly visible andinvolved – the two books she wrote for Comic relief –Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them andQuidditch Through the Ages – have gone on to raise£15.7m for the fund. She has said that “You have amoral responsibility when you’ve been given far morethan you need, to do wise things with it and giveintelligently”. Rather then passively signing largecheques, she involves herself not only in theorganisation of her own charities but also in wellpublicised events (such as a reading with StephenKing and John Irving in New York to raise money forAIDS and ‘Medicine Without Borders’), whichincrease the public and media profile of the cause sheis supporting as well as raising substantial amountsof money.

In the last couple of years, Rowling has been almosthyper-active in her giving of her time, money and hercelebrity status. In 2006, she contributed asubstantial sum towards the creation of a new Centrefor Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University –her mother died of multiple sclerosis - and hosted afund-raising ball with her anaesthetist husband tomark the twelfth anniversary of her mother’s death.

In the same year Rowling went to Bucharest to

highlight the use of caged beds in children’s mentalinstitutions and raise support for the Children’s HighLevel Group (CHLG), which was founded by her andMEP Emma Nicholson. The CHLG’s aim is toimprove the well being, health and protection ofvulnerable children in care. To further support theCHLG, Rowling auctioned one of seven handwrittenand illustrated copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard,a collection of wizarding fairy tales alluded to inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final bookof the Harry Potter series, and raised £1.95m for thecharity.

After the bid she said, “Large amounts of wealthbring a certain responsibility if you’re any kind ofhuman being, then after you fulfil your family’s needs,you think, well how do I do some good with this?”

Sophie Radice writes for The Guardian, TheObserver, The Independent and The EveningStandard, as well as magazines such as Eve, Womanand Home and Women's Weekly. She is working onher first novel.

“You have a moralresponsibility when you’vebeen given far more than youneed, to do wise things withit and give intelligently”

Sophie Radice


Mia Morris: community social responsibility

By Roxanne Clark

Philanthropy takes many shapes and for Mia Morris, whose parentscame to the UK from Grenada, giving is all about CSR – communitysocial responsibility.

Morris, a well known community activist, is describedby Operation Black Vote, the first initiative to focusexclusively on the Black democratic deficit in the UK,as a ‘renaissance woman’.

And, she defines her philanthropic activities as beingdeeply rooted in belonging to a community of peoplewho arrived in the UK from the West Indies at thetime of SS Empire Windrush – which is celebratingits 60th anniversary this year – and had “to fashion alife out of nothing”, giving each other support with“good grace” and encouragement.

“My motivation to give comes from my favourite quotefrom American Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks: ‘Weare each other’s harvest, we are each other’s business,and we are each other’s magnitude and bond’,”explains Morris.

“This correlates to my earlier experiences growing upin the 1960s in Stamford Hill, London. My Grenadianparents regularly helped and supported people, and Iwas brought up to do what you can where you can. Ihave fond memories of playing in a local school yard.Recognising that we children had no where to playthat was safe, my father persuaded the local school

“We don’t talk about philanthropy but community socialresponsibility. It is more of a way of life, an integral partof what we do and how we view the world.”

© Philanthropy UK / Lisa Barnard


caretaker to allow parents to take it in turn to keep aneye on the space while we played.”

This was also reflected in how the communityensured a financial future in their new country. As Morris explains, because many banks were notforthcoming in giving loans, the communityestablished their own informal savings networks,called sou-sous, based on trust and spread acrossmost of the West Indian communities. Some of theselater became credit unions.

Morris has continued the community tradition firstestablishing Black History Month website and thenthe International Women’s Month (IWM) site whichhas been operating for five years.

“I care passionately about the plight of womeninternationally and I am keen to support groups thatwould not necessarily get much support and publicity.And the websites are reflections of these causes.

“I have fond memories of organising and attendingevents during the 1980s where there were more women’sorganisations and units at local authorities focusingon the equality agenda. The site has been created to bea 365-day portal available to inspire visitors.”

Campaigns and projects promoted by the IWMwebsite include supporting survivors of the AsianTsunami, breast cancer and zero tolerance to femalegenital mutilation.

In the Caribbean, Morris has supported a Grenadianlibrary project and engaged the publishing housePenguin to donate books from their children’s range.

The IWM site is supported by the community workMorris does through her company WellplacedConsultancy, which organises events, conferences,seminars, and provides a successful speakers bureauand training.

“In our community we do what we can where we can,not for reward or accolade but to make a difference. Wedon’t talk about philanthropy but community socialresponsibility. It is more of a way of life, an integralpart of what we do and how we view the world.”

Black History Month website: www.black-history-month.co.uk

International Women’s Month (IWM) website: www.international-womens-month.co.uk


Darcey Bussell: giving with passion

By Sue Wixley

When she was the Royal Ballet’sprincipal dancer Darcey Bussell didshows for charity, but since herretirement last year her philanthropyhas taken a more central role.

“Unlike dancing, which is a bit of a selfish art, this isnot all about me. Now I want to give something back,”says Bussell.

Bussell has chosen to support the work of RainforestConcern, a UK-based charity that targets biodiversity‘hot spots’, particularly the dense rainforests in SouthAmerica.

“They don’t buy up land, but they work with the localcommunity to preserve the forest and species that livein it”, she says. “By working with local organisationsthey can help people living close to the forests to find

ways to earn income which doesn’t have a negativeimpact on the forest.”

Bussell feels that having her two children has givenher a new appreciation for the environment andmotivated her to do more for the next generation.Getting older has played its part too.

“To know that you’re giving something back feels good.As soon as you have kids, you want to make themunderstand and appreciate their surroundings. It’salso about slowing down. As you get older you realisethat it’s not necessary to live in the fast lane, and Irealise that I only need to be happy – and for me andmy family to be healthy.”

For Bussell, focusing her giving is really importantbecause it means she can learn a lot about thesubject. “By concentrating on one charity I can learnmore and know what I’m talking about. That way Ifeel that I’m making much more of a difference anddoing a better job.”

She recommends that donors base their giving on anunderstanding of a problem. Indeed, it wasdiscovering that the world’s rainforests have beenhalved within her own lifetime that motivated

Bussell to do something about it. “As the rainforestsdiminish, we lose species at an incredible rate. Itmakes me want to get out there and put a big brickwall around the rainforests – anything to stop ithappening!”

The dancer recommends that donors approachintermediaries for advice on their giving. “People mayknow an awful lot but they might not know aboutcharities and how to give constructively.Organisations like New Philanthropy Capital canhelp to show them how giving money to charities canwork for them.”

Although Bussell supports the idea of a more hard-headed, information-driven approach to supportingcharities, that does not mean that giving needs to becold or emotionless. “If you are passionate aboutsomething, you can do so much more”, she says.

“By concentrating on one charity I can learnmore and know what I’m talking about.That way I feel that I’m making much moreof a difference and doing a better job.”

Photo previously published in NPC’s Giving Insights/ John Swannell


Renu Mehta: networking to change fortunes

By Susan Mackenzie

Renu Mehta is fortunate. A wealthyheiress who headed up the designteam at her family’s fashion house,she has enjoyed the life of a busysocialite and successfulbusinesswoman. Still, like many ofher friends, she felt unfulfilled. “I feltguilty because my life was so easy,while so many others live facing agrim existence against disease andhunger”, said Mehta.

She says her inspirations are other womenphilanthropists, such as Melinda Gates, SigridRausing and Queen Rania. Mehta explained, “Theydon’t have to be involved in philanthropy; it is anactive choice. They have chosen to dedicate themselvesto this work, and are giving their time and passionand getting personally involved.”

Recognising her impressive Rolodex as an importantasset, Mehta sought to make a difference throughharnessing her network. “I wanted to do more thansupport good causes myself – I wanted to help create aculture of giving in the UK.”

The result was the Fortune Forum, a charity whichaims to tackle the interdependent global issues ofpoverty, climate change and diseases – includingHIV/Aids, malaria and cancer. The Forum convenesphilanthropists, global leaders, celebrity activists,influential entrepreneurs and media moguls tocollectively make a difference. Mehta commented,“Fortune Forum is a heady mix of substance andglamour.”

Launched in 2006, the Forum hosted its inauguralannual Summit in September that year. With a guest

list that most charities could only dream of, the galaevent featured former US President Bill Clinton asthe keynote speaker and raised over £1m forcharities. “Its appeal was successful beyond ourexpectations”, said Mehta. “Our primary objective wasto raise awareness, and the media coverage wastremendous in supporting us.”

The 2007 Summit raised even more money forcharities. Mehta realised that not everyone wascomfortable giving publicly, and so last yearparticipants were able to make donations privately tothe charities presenting. She said: “Our focus is onshowing people the joy of giving, and creating awelcoming environment; and so we need tounderstand the different motivations of our members.”She continued: “It is important for donors tounderstand and tap into their own personal motivesfor giving. This understanding is necessary so thatindividuals can decide where and how to give that isbest for them. It requires a lot of honesty. But in theend motivations don’t necessarily matter as long aspeople engage positively.”

Whilst the glitzy dinners attract most of the mediaattention, the hard work is done behind the scenes,

“It is important for donors tounderstand and tap into theirown personal motives for giving.It requires a lot of honesty.”


“To achieve scale and meaningfulchange, we must look at marketsand influence policy”

and throughout the entire year. The Forum also hostsa series of focused, strategic dinners which bringtogether people who can influence and effect change.

One of these groups is the International CleanEnergy Circle (ICE Circle), launched at the 2007Summit. ICE Circle comprises two groups: anInnovation circle, which explores new technologies,and a Policy circle, which seeks to influencegovernments. “To achieve scale and meaningfulchange, we must look at markets and influencepolicy”, Mehta said. “The £1m raised at the firstSummit is a pittance compared to the challenges theworld is facing: a few million pounds can save a few

thousand lives, but through policy we can savemillions. For instance, I am currently looking at taxreform, where I am working on creating a specificfiscal mechanism whereby the ‘super-rich’ and thegovernment can work together to divert huge flows offunding into the international development arena.”

The scale of the problem is immense, and the Forumis taking a holistic approach. Through its charitypartners, which include WaterAid, British Red Cross,as well as grassroots initiatives, the Forum isfocusing on developing infrastructure, health andeducation in developing countries. “The poor mustbecome productive on their own account, to be self-sufficient,” commented Mehta. “Fortune Forum bringsmoney, time and our network to help them ultimatelyachieve self-sufficiency.”

Yet Mehta is undaunted, and says she has neverenjoyed anything as much as the Forum. “But I amnot complacent – there is still so much to be done”, shesays. “I am still learning, and the Forum is constantlyevolving. The best rewards are yet to come.”

Fortune Forum: www.fortuneforum.org

Renu Mehta with former US President Bill Clinton

Photo courtesy of Fortune Forum

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving historical icons : page 18

Historical icons

Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1814-1906

Founding mother of women’sphilanthropy

By Susan Elizabeth

Angela Burdett-Coutts inherited thevast wealth of her grandfather, thebanker Thomas Coutts, and thoughestimates of her inheritance varied, it seems likely that she inheritedsome £600,000 in cash and an incomeof around £50,000 per year from ashare in the bank.

It was an almost inconceivable fortune at the time.And, whilst there had always been women who wereheiresses to landed property, it had never been knownfor a young woman of 23 years to possess such astaggering sum.

She lived to her 92nd year and was the first womanto be made a Baroness in her own right, inrecognition of the lifetime of philanthropy that flowedfrom her astonishing wealth.

Among the vast array of causes Angela committedtime and money to were the rehabilitation ofprostitutes; providing schools in the poorest parts ofLondon; pioneering good quality housing for theworking poor and the construction of ColumbiaMarket to improve the supply of fresh food ataffordable prices to the poor of London’s East End.

She was an early patron of the National Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC);established a fund to support Muslim refugees fromthe Russo-Turkish war; and set up schemes insouthern Ireland to retrain peasant farmers, starvingas a result of the potato famine, to become deep-seafishermen.

When Angela died in 1906 she was buried inWestminster Abbey, having given away an estimated£4m during her lifetime, leaving a relatively modestestate of £79,000.

And in case Angela Burdett-Coutts comes across as aone-dimensional paragon of Victorian virtue, it’sworth noting that her private life was complex andsurprising. For 18 years she suffered the attention ofa ‘stalker’. In her thirties she proposed to the 78-year-old Duke of Wellington (he gently turned herdown), and in 1880 when she herself was 66, shescandalised polite society by marrying a man of 29.She ignored the Archbishop of Canterbury’ssuggestion that she might adopt him instead!

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving historical icons : page 19

Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, 1827-1891

Unconventional Victorianreformer

By Susan Elizabeth

Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon wasan atypical Victorian woman and anunconventional and influential leaderof the Victorian women’s movement.Thanks to her father’s radical beliefs and her ownskills as an artist, she had an independent incomethroughout her adult life, which she used to fosterthe causes she cared about.

Born in 1827, she was the eldest child of thereforming MP, Benjamin Smith. The Smith familywas rich and powerful, but Barbara’s social positionwas always overshadowed by the fact that her fatherand mother never married.

On their coming of age Ben Smith gave both hisdaughters and sons a portfolio of stocks and shares.This made Barbara that most unusual of things – a single Victorian woman with independent means. For the rest of her life she was to use her incomealongside her astonishing energy and enormousnetwork of contacts to pursue four great feministcampaigns: for reform of the Married Women’sProperty Act and the legal status of married women;for the right of women to work; for their right to voteand for their right to be educated.

Barbara was every bit the ‘hands-on’ philanthropist –alongside her money, she wrote pamphlets andarticles, joined committees and organised petitions –activities that made the case for reform, stimulateddebate and became the launch pads for theintroduction of new legislation.

Her most significant financial backing – and hergreatest legacy – was the money she donated toestablish Girton College, the first Cambridge collegeto admit women. This was the culmination of alifetime’s passionate concern for the education ofwomen, which she saw as one of the cornerstones of“common justice to half the world”.

Very influential in her day, Barbara was quicklyforgotten. Yet her work has touched every generationof women that followed. She played a vital role inopening up education, legal rights, and employment –in her social reforming zeal she opened the door forall modern women.

Susan Elizabeth has 25 years’ experience in thevoluntary sector. She was Chief Executive of theCamelot Foundation 2001-2006, developingprogrammes to reconnect marginalised young peopleto the mainstream of UK life. Prior to that she wasDirector of Grants and Development at health thinktank the Kings Fund, and Deputy Director of theNational Council for One Parent Families. Susan nowworks as a freelance consultant, with clients in thefunding and voluntary sectors. She is a Trustee ofBBC Children in Need and of the Guy’s & St Thomas’Charity and is a non-executive Director of theProbation Service in Sussex.

These are excerpts of two longer articles she wrote forthe Association of Charitable Foundations’ Trust andFoundations News, December 2002.

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving giving circles and networks : page 20

Giving circles & networks

New trend connects more women to giving

By Roxanne Clark

Women have been quietly giving inmany guises since the hey-day ofVictorian philanthropy, and a 21stcentury trend that is connecting morewomen to giving and increasing theirphilanthropic clout is giving circlesand networks.

A giving circle can take many forms but generallyinvolves a group of individuals coming together witha philanthropic purpose, pooling their pounds anddeciding collectively where to give their money.Within these basic parameters no two groups look oract the same, and can be as small as a handful ofwomen meeting locally through to large corporateand foundation-supported groups.

One of the most appealing and effective aspects ofgiving circles is the opportunity to shape the group tomeet the particular needs of a community, and theinterests and capabilities of donors.

In this section we profile a kaleidoscope of givingcircles and networks, and take inspiration from theUS, where giving circles, once considered a fad, arenow flourishing.

The consistent statement across all groups, both UKand US-based, is that participating in giving circlesand networks is empowering and allows women to“make a difference” to their own and other communitiesin a way that would not be possible individually.

With more and more women wanting to give, and the wind of influence blowing in from the US, theforecast for the growth of giving circles in the UK canonly be good.


“If people join us now, they will be in at the beginning ofsomething potentially revolutionary,” says Maggie Baxter,talking about the upcoming launch of the new UKWomen's Fund. Maggie Baxter is one of those rare peoplewho combine inspiration with pragmatism; she has spentmore than 30 years in the voluntary sector, from grantsdirector of Comic Relief to director of WomankindWorldwide; yet she has never lost the idealism that hasdriven her from the start of her career. “When you see thedifference that actually quite small amounts of money canmake, in well run and well led projects, then you do feeloptimistic about how funds like this can change lives.”

There are more than 200 women's funds in the world,stretching from the Ukraine to Ghana, from India to theUSA, where there are dozens – while we are still waitingfor a national women's fund in the UK. Elsewhere, thesefunds – which include well known organisations such asthe Global Fund for Women and MamaCash, through tocommunity funds such as the Women’s Fund of GreaterMilwaukee – are successful in channelling money towardswomen's organisations.

In doing so they fill a real need, because grant-making isoften blind to the fundamental inequalities between men

by Natasha Walter

UK Women’s Fund to launch

"When you see the difference thatactually quite small amounts of money can make, in well run and well led projects, then you do feeloptimistic about how funds like thiscan change lives."

Natasha Walter

and women, which means that women's organisations loseout. "I was first really aware of this when I went to Africafor Comic Relief in the 1990s," says Baxter, "I saw howwomen do all the work and yet are so unrecognised. In aless obvious way, the same is still true of the UK – the workthat the women's sector does, whether it's in protectingwomen from violence or campaigning for political equality– still tends to get sidelined, which means that women'sorganisations remain horribly underfunded, despitesuperficial equality elsewhere in society."

Alice Hooper at the branding agency Rainey Kelly, whohas been working on the launch of the new UK Women'sFund, was struck by the response of the women in thefocus groups they talked to: “At first women said that theydidn’t see the point of a special women's fund, but whenwe presented them with the real needs on the grounds formany women, particularly around sexual violence – howrape crisis lines are being cut, how women who fleetrafficking can’t find support – we saw a change in theroom. Women began to join up the dots. They saw theconnections between these issues and issues such as a lackof political representation.”


“The work that the women’s sector does, whether it's inprotecting women from violence or campaigning for politicalequality, still tends to get sidelined, which means that women’sorganisations remain horribly underfunded, despite superficialequality elsewhere in society.”

The fund will aim to draw in new money from people whomay not have been attracted to philanthropy in the past,as well as influence existing funders to invest in women.In other countries where women's funds have taken off,Baxter has noted that they foster a spirit of sisterhoodand solidarity, which she is keen to see take off in the UKtoo. “There is a strong sense of self-interest in our society atthe moment, a sense that ‘if I'm all right I can ignore thosewho aren't’. But I think when you encourage people torealise that they can be part of a movement to grow abetter society, they are drawn to that.”

Hooper agrees: "There is the potential for a huge leap here.Just recently it wasn't at all cool to be green, and that hasturned around. I think the same could happen withwomen's issues – that it could become cool for women toget involved in empowering other women.”

The UK Women's Fund will launch in spring 2008. It willinvest in women creating change in the areas of safety,economic justice, voice, health & well being. To find outmore or to get involved, please contact Ann-SophieMorrissette at [email protected].

Natasha Walter is a journalist and broadcaster, the authorof The New Feminism and the founder of Women forRefugee Women.

This article first appeared in the March 2008 issue of thePhilanthropy UK Newsletter.

Maggie Baxter and Ann-Sophie Morrissette of the UK Women’s Fund

© Philanthropy UK/Lisa Barnard


Corporate network inspires women to aspire

By Ann-Sophie Morrissette

When Jane Swift, Chair of BTExecutive Women, came across storiesof women struggling globally againstviolence and suffering, she was hardpressed to see how it might relate tocorporate women in the UK. But sheknew that there was a connection tobe made between supporting womenat BT and supporting women worldwide.

Working within a corporate and traditionally male-dominated industry can be lonely for women,particularly those ‘at the top.’ This was the impetusbehind BT Executive Women (BTEW) – one of tennetworks within BT and an offshoot of BT Women’sNetwork (now in its 21st year). With women makingup only 22% of the BT workforce and 17% of seniormanagers, Executive Women is dedicated to inspiringwomen in senior management in BT to achieve theiraspirations and help other women inside and outsidethe company. The core activities are led by anexecutive committee of 14 women.

Its focus is on inspiring and motivating women toshare and develop their skills and includes a coachingscheme run in partnership with government agenciesand other companies, talks by inspiring leaders andlobbying BT around issues important to members.

Having witnessed BT women transformed by thenetwork, Swift realised the potential for ExecutiveWomen to make connections with women externally.Reading the stories of women suffering abroad oncharity website WOMANKIND Worldwide, she wasstruck by the contrast to the enormous privilegeexperienced by BT women and recognised an

opportunity for BTEW’s members to share skills,build leadership, and motivate women outside BT.

Led by committee member Sam McDonald and ateam of dedicated volunteers, BTEW has builtrelationships with charities including WOMANKINDWorldwide; Ogunte Global Tribal Network for socialentrepreneurs; the microcredit programme for womenStreetCred; regeneration agency East LondonBusiness Alliance; Wellbeing of Women, which investsin research into gynaecological health; and Race forLife, raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

Swift is emphatic that support is “not about freebies”but about encouraging members to extend their skillsoutwards. This includes training in customer service,management and marketing for small businesses, ITstrategies, and sponsorship of events.

While BTEW operates on a small budget, thepartnership with charities may yield furtherdonations from individual members. The charitieshave a platform from which to communicate theirwork to a large number of women.

Swift is firm in her belief of the benefits to women inBT network: “Making links with charities has given

“I know we are having an effecton every woman we touch, bothinternally at BT and externallythrough our charity work”


our women a vehicle to demonstrate their skills,capabilities and strengths without having to go downthe ‘Look at what I’m good at’ route – something manywomen are uncomfortable with. I know we are havingan effect on every woman we touch, both internally atBT and externally through our charity work.”

Ann-Sophie Morrissette has been involved in thedevelopment of the UK Women’s Fund for the past twoyears, most recently as Administrator of itsdevelopment phase. Previously she worked at theCentre for Creative Communities (CCC) where she leda research study (commissioned by the List FamilyFoundation) into the viability of the women’s fund.Ann-Sophie also wears the hat of fund-seeker as afringe theatre producer.

Ann-Sophie Morrissette

© Philanthropy UK / Lisa Barnard


Innovative philanthropy formed in the playground

By Roxanne Clark

The school playground may not be the first place onewould consider to embark on a philanthropic project,but this is where the committee of Talk in Company(TIC), a social network with a charitable edge, first met.

Formed just a year ago by a trio of mothers and onefather, TIC has firmly established its regularcharitable lunches as must-do events for the manyformerly professional women who are now at-homemums, as well as small-business owners, inWandsworth, south London, who were in desperateneed of a stimulating social outlet.

And, it is the innovative formula of inspirationalspeaker, Friday lunch and giving back via thespeaker’s nominated charity that holds the key to itsgrowing success.

“We wanted to do something that would make adifference, and also to find a way to make theparticipants feel comfortable to hear about charities,”explained Maria Stuff, TIC’s marketing manager.“Yes,” said finance officer Catherine Deptford, “from

the outset we wanted to give back, and all ourspeakers give 20% of their profit from the event tocharity. Ninety per cent of the attendees to our eventsare women, with some local businessmen and dadsjoining us, and a lot of them do charitable work, sothis is a way they can also give and learn more aboutthe speakers’ charities.”

Through the speakers, which have included NicolaHorlick and Mike Dixon, TIC has so far supportedseven charities and the plan is to continue developingthe giving theme.

Along with their colleagues, membership officerDeborah Davidson and events organiser Mark Solon,they are planning a philanthropy day in June, to help“make giving easier” for their members, and willprovide a philanthropist as a key speaker and a varietyof taster workshops on different ways of giving.

“We know our community and what they will beinterested in”, said Stuff, “and we want to introducegiving to them in a way that plants seeds for the future.”

www.talkincompany.com

“We want to introduce giving to [our community]in a way that plants seeds for the future”


The Women’s Trust Fund: 25 years on and going strong

A member gives a snapshot view

Once when the six of us from the Women’s TrustFund were eating in a local restaurant, the waitressasked “Now, what kind of a group outing is this. Ialways like to guess.” One of us quickly replied, “We’resocial workers.” This seemed the most plausibleexplanation since we were all in jeans, all women andno one was wearing make up. It was certainly morebelievable than if we had said we are philanthropistswho had inherited wealth, some of which we give toother women who wish to create positive changes intheir own lives and in the lives of yet other women.‘Social workers’ seemed to cover it nicely.

The Women’s Trust Fund was begun by two women inthe 1980s. Over the past 25 years we’ve grown innumber and evolved our direction and commitment toour charitable giving. We’ve funded individual womenwith grants up to £500, and women’s groups withgrants up to £800. Individual grants have been givento a wide range of women who may be seekingsupport for further education, setting up acommunity newsletter, or training in alternativehealth therapies. The women’s groups we have

supported include shelters and refuges, ethnicwomen’s centres, health information services andlocal organisations working with women at risk.

As a group of six women acting together, we feel weare capable of being more creative, more daring andmore informed as charitable givers than any of ushad ever been as individuals. It is a true privilege tobe together in this very particular and effective way.

Because we are scattered all over the country, wemeet only twice a year, but for a 24-hour period ateach other’s homes on a rotating basis. Thesemeeting dates are guarded very closely in our diaries.Usually we start with lunch on a Friday followed byour ‘Trust’ business, discussing and deciding on grantapplications and developing ideas for the future.Later we have our evening meal, either cookedtogether or at a local restaurant.

Next morning we fit in a walk and then often discusswider issues about financial management, ethicalinvestment or other practical matters concerningmoney and giving. These discussions have helped usall a great deal, since money is not a subject easilyshared with other friends in our daily lives.

“As a group of six women actingtogether, we feel we are capable of beingmore creative, more daring and moreinformed as charitable givers than anyof us had ever been as individuals”


Circle of Oxford friends embraces women far afield

By Anne James

The Oxford Givers’ Circle is a networkof friends who quietly and consistentlysupport the work of the charityWOMANKIND Worldwide by givingmoney annually and by telling friendsand neighbours about the charity’s work.WOMANKIND Worldwide funds and works with localorganisations in developing communities, skilling andempowering women in order to improve their lifechances and the life chances of their families. I firstlearned of the charity 17 years ago thanks to anarticle in The Guardian. I was very moved by thearticle, and wanted to help. So, my friend Mary and Iarranged to visit the charity’s offices to find out whatwe could do to support them.

My experience in working with voluntary andcommunity groups in this country has taught me thatshort-term or one-off funding does not make for long-

term sustainability. By making a longer-termcommitment we can provide a dependable source ofongoing funding.

We chose to support WOMANKIND Worldwide’s workwith The Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society, apartner organisation in South India that works withand for tribal women in Tamil Nadu. The initialproject that we chose was The Hill Tribe Women’sAssociation Livestock Project. This has developed andexpanded over the years into a cluster of projects, allaimed at giving women the literacy, numeracy andconfidence they need to engage in decision-making intheir communities, to petition the authorities forimproved facilities for their villages (such aselectricity, roads, lavatories and drinking water), toaddress domestic violence in their communities, andto earn an income to support their families.

In 1992 we approached 15 friends and asked if theywould like to join the Oxford Givers’ Circle and tocommit to giving a modest sum for a minimum ofthree years. In 1995 we reviewed and renewed ourinitial commitment; more women joined the Circle;and most members increased the amount they gave.

We meet annually in one of our homes, for a simplecurry lunch and an update on the projects.WOMANKIND Worldwide provides us with materialsor a speaker. We have gained a great deal from ourinvolvement with this charity, and have seen thedifference that our modest donations have made. We have learned about the lives, hardships andsuccesses of other ordinary women who are lessfortunate than ourselves.

The Oxford Givers’ Circle has now been in existencefor 16 years, and is set to continue.

Anne James is founder of the Oxford Givers’ Circle.She works in the UK in the fields of social care andcommunity development. She can be contacted [email protected].

“By making a longer-termcommitment we can providea dependable source ofongoing funding”


Giving in the US comes full circle

By Roxanne Clark

Recent research into giving circles in the USindicates that rather than being a passing fad theyare reaching across all ethnic and social classes tobecome an established form of philanthropy.

More Giving Together: The Growth and Impact ofGiving Circles and Shared Giving, a 2007 reportcommissioned by the US-based Forum of RegionalAssociations of Grantmakers, showed strong growthin the number and diversity of giving circles.

“This form of giving is now cutting across all ethnicgroups and ages, with more men contributing too”,explained Daria Teutonico, Director, New Ventures inPhilanthropy at the Forum.

The study identified 400 giving circles across the US– ranging from the small New York-based group OnePercent for Moms who meet in a living room, throughto large foundation-based organisations like theWashington Women’s Foundation in Seattle whichengages more than 400 women and operates with astaff of four.

Consistent across all levels of giving is the motivationbehind why women participate in giving circles; thisis the desire to become more connected to theircommunities, and to make a difference.

“The largest number of giving circles is community-based, with some being internationally focused, andfor a cross-section it is also about expressing anidentity such as with some of the Afro-Americangroups,” said Teutonico.

And, these groups are having an impact: “Eventhough most operate at a grass-roots level it is seriousmoney making a serious difference, upward of $100m.Giving circles are the democratisation ofphilanthropy,” she added, “Anyone can get involvedand it reinforces the power of the collective. Itresonates with women’s approaches to networking andempowers them to make a difference that they couldn’tdo individually.”

And, according to Teutonico they will continue toflourish. “Giving circles are here to stay and our aimis for them to become a mainstream andacknowledged form of philanthropy.”

The Forum has published a useful resource, theGiving Circles Knowledge Center, which includesdetailed information on how to set-up and run agiving circle, networking and case studies.www.givingforum.org

“Consistent across all levels of giving is the motivation behind whywomen participate in giving circles; this is the desire to become moreconnected to their communities, and to make a difference”

© Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, USA

Historical perspective

“As the influence of women in charity increased it whetted theirappetite for more, and a larger and larger number of institutionsemerged with women in charge”

Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving historical perspective : page 29

By Frank Prochaska

My research into female philanthropy sprang from aninterest in philanthropy rather than in feminism. Myinitial purpose was to fill some gaps in David Owen’sdistinguished English Philanthropy, 1660-1960, but theresearch soon developed into a study of the history ofwomen.

Based on a wide range of statistical and literary evidence,including a large number of women’s memoirs, my bookWomen and Philanthropy in Nineteenth-Century Englandlooks at women’s charitable motives and methods againstthe backdrop of contemporary attitudes towards women.

Free from the cut and thrust of commercial life andwidely thought to be more sensitive than men to sufferingand personal relations, women were increasingly calledupon to be agents of social improvement. “In charity”, as awriter in the English Woman’s Journal put it, “there willalways be found a congenial sphere for the fruition of theunemployed energies of women”. Like medievalchurchmen who fell back on morality to increase theirpower in a society dominated by an armed aristocracy,nineteenth-century women exploited the belief in their

Women and philanthropy in 19th century England

superior morality to increase their power in a societydominated by men.

By the mid-nineteenth century the range of women’sactivities was enormous, and through determination,ingenious fundraising, and a willingness to take on workthat men were unwilling or unable to do, they had brokendown much of the prejudice against them in thecharitable establishment.

While it is impossible to be precise about their overallfinancial contribution to philanthropy in the nineteenthcentury, women dramatically increased their share ofcharitable funding. In a growing number of societies theyprovided the bulk of the income. In the Royal Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), forexample, women made up 69% of the subscribers by 1900,

and their financial contribution was roughly in line withthat figure. Increasingly prominent in the world oforganised philanthropy, they began to redirect thenation’s charitable energies into channels that suitedtheir perception of society’s needs, most notably causesassociated with the welfare of women and children. Indistrict visiting, for example, the forerunner of socialwork, women became so ubiquitous that commentatorsoften used the pronoun ‘she’ when referring to visitors.

As the influence of women in charity increased it whettedtheir appetite for more, and a larger and larger number ofinstitutions emerged with women in charge. In 1893, TheEnglishwoman’s Yearbook estimated that there wereabout 500,000 women who laboured “continuously andsemi-professionally” in philanthropy and another 20,000who supported themselves as “paid officials” in charitablesocieties.

With the years women extended their activities tocampaigns for legal and moral reform. Many charitablecampaigners joined the women’s suffrage societies, whichsome saw as part of the wider moral reform movement.Charitable work provided a variety of experience, notleast in administration, that was a very useful

philanthropy uk


introduction to other professions. As a religion of actionphilanthropy challenged the complacency of women, gavethem practical responsibility, and heightened their self-confidence and self esteem.

One of the major themes of the book is that the charitableexperience of women from all social classes was a leverwhich they used to pry open the doors closed to them inother spheres. Philanthropy, in short, was the taproot offemale emancipation in the nineteenth century.

Today, when philanthropy is back in the headlines, therole of women remains a fascinating issue, and shouldcontinue to attract anyone interested in social reform andactive citizenship.

Frank Prochaska teaches Modern British History at YaleUniversity and has published widely on the history ofphilanthropy and welfare provision. To order a copyWomen and Philanthropy in Nineteenth Century England,please visitwww.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780198226277

By Anne Logan

Most historical studies of women and philanthropy eitherend roughly around the time of the First World War orfollow a trajectory tracing a transformation from thevoluntary sector to professionalised social work.

However, the vital role played by women’s philanthropy inthe social services of the twentieth century(notwithstanding the growth of the ‘Welfare State’) is nowbeginning to be recognised. Many social issues continuedto demand the attention of voluntary services while, forsome decades, cultural practices restricting theopportunities for paid work by married women ensuredthat there remained a ready supply of willing workers. Asurvey of Women’s Citizens Association members in 1956-7, aptly titled ‘A Job in Each Hand’, found respondentsinvolved in a wide range of voluntary activities includingchurch work, hospital charities, and care of the elderly, aswell as serving in local government and as JPs.

Philanthropic women in the 20th century were stillsometimes typecast as ‘Lady Bountifuls’, a derogatoryappellation that carried connotations both of class andamateurism. ‘Noblesse oblige’ may have continued to playa part as late as the mid-twentieth century, for exampleduring the heyday of Lady Reading’s leadership of theWomen’s Voluntary Service, but the charitable work doneby women was increasingly ‘professional’ in its approach.

Women and philanthropy in the 20th century

Anne Logan

philanthropy uk


Resourcing women

By Ann-Sophie Morrissette

Women dedicating their time, resources and skills forthe benefit of other women is an underpinning theme ofwomen and philanthropy in the twentieth century.

Following the Second World War and the subsequentdevelopment of the voluntary and community sectoralongside the welfare state, the 1970s and 1980s gavebirth to services we know today as ‘women’sorganisations’. Research by the Women’s ResourceCentre (www.whywomen.org.uk) recounts how theWomen’s Liberation Movement, in addition tosignificant gains in public policy and public opinion,brought about “organised, community based services bywomen, for women.” A self-help, holistic, empowermentapproach formed the backbone of women’sorganisations during this era, as they activelyaddressed gaps in state provision.

This legacy lives on in the twenty-first century, withover 11,000 UK charities (7% of all registered charities)working specifically with women – ranging fromrefuges, employment and training agencies, rape crisiscentres, and lobbying organisations.

Women’s Resource Centre is a national umbrellaorganisation which supports women’s organisations tobe more effective and sustainable. www.wrc.org.uk

In 1934 Elizabeth Macadam described the ‘NewPhilanthropy’, based on social scientific research andrigorous training. Philanthropic women in the twentiethcentury often worked extremely hard and gave up largeamounts of time – and money – to support what they sawas progressive social initiatives. Importantly, theycontinued to work alongside the statutory services andhelped maintain the long-term significance of voluntaryaction in British society.

Anne Logan is a lecturer in social history at the Universityof Kent. She has done research on the work of womenmagistrates and is writing a book on feminism andcriminal justice policy in the period 1920-1970.

“The vital role played bywomen’s philanthropyin the social services ofthe twentieth century isnow beginning to berecognised”

philanthropy uk

Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving media coverage : page 32

Benevolence and bias in black & white: media coverage of female philanthropists By Beth Breeze

An analysis of every published article about philanthropyin UK newspapers in 2006 revealed a distinct differencein the way the media reports the activities of male andfemale philanthropists.

When the subject is a male philanthropist, journaliststend to focus on the size of their fortune, how they madetheir money and details of their luxury lifestyle. Butwhen female philanthropists are mentioned, they areoften described in trivialising ways, focusing on what theylook like, their private life and their family connections.

A typical example of a male giver in the press is, “IrvineLaidlaw [who] founded the world's largest events andconference company…He now has more time – and money– to donate to politics, philanthropy and his passion forfast cars and boats”. Whilst a report on Michael Brownexplained that he “made his £100m fortune in propertyand city trading before moving to the Balearic island wherehe has two mansions, a fleet of cars and a private jet”.

Media treatment of female donors is typified byreferences to the cultural philanthropist Louise TMcBain, known as the “£260m blonde divorcee” who oncedated Prince Andrew, and Ann Gloag, who isencapsulated as a “Perth-born former nurse” who is

now a “diminutive, demanding and driven” billionaire.Other women who can claim great philanthropicachievements are described dismissively as “a reformedsocialite and former model” (Renu Mehta), “a fabledbeauty” (Queen Noor) and “doyenne of the silk-stockingdistrict” (Brooke Astor).

The journalist Natasha Walter, author of The NewFeminism, comments, "Of course it's the case that muchmore attention is laid on the personal lives and the looksand style of women philanthropists – that happens towomen in every walk of life.”

There is still some cultural discomfort about the existenceof rich women, especially those who created their ownwealth in traditional ‘male’ worlds such as finance andmanufacturing. Walter adds, “Perhaps it makes it easierfor us to feel comfortable with them if we exaggerate theirfeminine qualities. That means we read an awful lotabout women who have made their money in fashion,such as Tamara Mellon, and not so much about womenwho have made their money in less ‘girly’ businesses.”

Media coverage of philanthropists may also reflectsocietal perceptions of the ‘proper’ role for men andwomen. As Walter concludes, “The mainstream mediavery much like women who spend their money on femininecauses – children, animals, breast cancer, ballet – and if

women take up harder causes such as human rights, thenthey can be seen as a bit threatening. But those women arethe inspiring ones – women such as Dame Anita Roddick,or Sigrid Rausing, who is unusual because there is thispolitical, feminist aspect to her philanthropy."

Increased media coverage of philanthropy is, of course, a welcome development. But more even-handedtreatment of male and female philanthropists would beeven more welcome.

“There is still some culturaldiscomfort about the existence of rich women, especially thosewho created their own wealth in traditional ‘male’ worlds suchas finance and manufacturing”

philanthropy uk

Women & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving global perspective : page 33

HungaryBy Paola Grenier

In terms of philanthropy, women in present day Hungaryare characterised as enthusiastic donors but less keenvolunteers.

A 2004 survey of giving and volunteering found that 68%of women made financial donations to charities and non-profit organisations, compared with 62% of men. However,37% women volunteered, whereas 43% of men engaged involuntary activities. Women are also less likely than mento be members of associations. This has been attributedto the fact that most women in Hungary work and alsocarry the main responsibility for childcare and householdduties. Men, on the other hand traditionally have fewerhousehold obligations. Women therefore have money, butless time available to contribute as volunteers.

However, the group of women most active in philanthropyare married housewives with two children. This may bebecause they are involved with local communityorganisations, parenting groups, and engaged withproviding mutual support. Those who are retired aremore likely to make donations but less likely to volunteer.

Global perspective

To bring a global perspective to this specialedition, Philanthropy UK invited a range ofcontributors to provide a high-level overview ofwomen and philanthropy in seven countries. Theresulting round-up of the state of gender andgiving, which covers five continents, is the firstattempt that we know of to provide such acomparative perspective.

Our contributors include women and men who work inthe philanthropic sector or who have made intensivestudies of the country they write about.

A defining feature of almost all the articles is a lack ofdata to draw on. Apart from in the USA (wherephilanthropy research is well established), ourcontributors had to refer to studies in which philanthropywas a tangential topic and to informal sources ofinformation.

The lack of readily available facts and statistics aboutwomen and philanthropy makes this round-up aparticularly useful resource for all those with an interestin the international development of female philanthropy.

Beth Breeze

Paola Grenier

philanthropy uk


“In everyday life, women are significantactors in the voluntarysector, as donors, recipientsand NGO staff”

KyrgyzstanBy Dr Balihar Sanghera

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstanexperienced a severe depression and cutbacks to socialspending throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Sinceindependence, the philanthropic sector has thereforeincreased in importance as the state lacks the interest orcapacity to deliver social services for its citizens and toprotect the environment.

Most surveys suggest that 40%-50% of the population arepoor, and struggle to make ends meet. In spite of thiswidespread poverty and the Soviet legacy of centraliseddecision-making and provisions, charitable giving is strong.

As recipients of donations and grants, women benefitfrom philanthropy. Some organisations, such as women’srights, child poverty and health care campaigns, areeither led or managed by women.

Charitable giving takes several forms. Local businessesand the local Rotary club in Bishkek donate to goodcauses, such as to Second World War veterans. Studentsand workers arrange box collections of clothes and food,and entertain disadvantaged groups by performingconcerts and plays. Kyrgyzstani Muslims give almsduring Ramadan, and more affluent households give topoorer households in the community in order to avoid the‘evil eye’ and sabotage to their own property. Citizens giveon compassionate grounds to homeless children andelderly and disabled beggars on the streets. Also, migrantworkers send money back to their communities to supportschools and mosques.

A women’s movement became active in Hungary in thelate 19th Century, resulting in their greater participationin education and politics. It also resulted in a number ofassociations and foundations established specifically tosupport women and to promote their role and rights; upuntil the end of the Second World War, women were moreinvolved in charitable works than men.

After the political changes that followed the war, and theimposition of a socialist regime, women were declared ashaving equal status to men in education and employmentand were required to make an equal contribution tosociety. In practice, women took on a greater role thanmen in the family, but also in the grey or second economy,and in some ways did achieve equal status economically.They did not, however, achieve equal political status.

This is the legacy that has gone on to shape the role andcontribution of women in philanthropy following thechange to democracy in the 1990s.

Paola Grenier is completing a doctoral thesis and consultsfor various organisations including the European VenturePhilanthropy Association. Additional information wasprovided by Eva Kuti and Istvan Sebesteny.

Dr Balihar Sanghera

philanthropy uk


Mexico and Latin AmericaBy Ruben D. Flores Sandoval

Historically, women have played a salient role in LatinAmerican philanthropy, such as in the case of Eva Peronin 20th century Argentina.

Yet the participation of women in philanthropy in Mexicoand Latin America has received very little attention fromresearchers. Some few things can be said, though, aswomen’s participation in philanthropy meets the eye onan everyday basis: whether through the ritualcommitment of the first lady in philanthropic activities, orthe everywoman raising money for charities on thestreets.

Research by the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy –Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía – which is headed bya woman, shows that women who participate incharitable organisations are mostly between 35-50 yearsof age (55%) and 50+ (36%), belong to middle or high-income groups, and have had access to higher education(64%). Although the women researched reported thattheir participation in philanthropy stems from socialconcerns or from family or religions traditions, they notedthat their involvement is also connected with events suchas the 1968 student movement, the feminist movement ofthe 1970s; the 1985 earthquake; the economic andpolitical crises of 1988, 1994 and 1995; or the 1994Chiapas rebellion.

The same report found that most Third SectorOrganisations (TSOs) address education and healthissues, mostly in urban areas, and directed their effortstowards cross-sections of the population identified as most

There is a strong political-criminal-business nexus inKyrgyzstan, and wives and daughters of politicians andmob leaders offer a human face to a corrupt system,through their patronage to the arts, education, hospitalsand other public causes.

It is as salaried workers that women have more of apresence in the voluntary sector. They tend to work forlarge international non-profit making organisations,which offer women a better salary, status, perks andworking conditions than working for local employers.

In everyday life, women are significant actors in thevoluntary sector, as donors, recipients and NGO staff.

Dr Balihar Sanghera is a Lecturer in the School of SocialPolicy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent.

“Women’s participation inTSOs has tended tobecome more professionalover the years”

vulnerable (low-income women and children, indigenouspopulation). Women’s participation in TSOs has tended tobecome more professional over the years. Nevertheless, itremains largely voluntary and non-paid. Althoughincreasingly professionalised, women tend to make use oftraditional ways of fundraising, such as raffles, bazaars,and the use of personal contacts.

Ruben D. Flores Sandoval is a Mexican PhD researcher atthe University of Kent, Canterbury.

Ruben D. Flores Sandoval

philanthropy uk


The Netherlands By Pamala Wiepking

In the Netherlands, women’s involvement in philanthropystarted around 1850.

During the period of industrialisation, the social positionof middle- and upper-class women changed. Beforeindustrialisation, women were needed and, thus allowedto have a paid job and make money for the family. Theincreasing wealth that came with industrialisationdiminished this need, and provided women with servants,leaving them with little to do but socialise. The only socialfunctions middle- and upper-class women could haveduring industrialisation were charitable ones.

Women’s philanthropy in the Netherlands was driven bynorms of compassion and Christianity. Women formedassociations that aided the poor, ophans, and the ill,resulting in, among others, service organisations, whichstill exist in present day Netherlands; an example is theSoroptimist Club, a network of businesswomensupporting women’s charities.

Twentieth century feminism brought women more of thesame rights as men, although in the Netherlands some of

these rights came fairly late, with Dutch women onlybeing allowed to vote from 1919. These equal rights werealso reflected in philanthropy, when women’s and men’sgiving started to resemble each other more. However, it isinteresting to note that, at the beginning of the 21stcentury, most boards of charitable organisations andfoundations in the Netherlands are still occupied by amajority of men.

Women generally occupy more practical functions withcharitable organisations and foundations, such as tasksrelated to fundraising and helping people directly.

In the Netherlands it is very uncommon to openly discusslarge charitable donations. In 2007, the magazine‘Millionair’ published a list of the 25 largest charitabledonors in the Netherlands, and there were only twowomen represented in that list.

Pamala Wiepking is a PhD student inPhilanthropy/Sociology at the VU University Amsterdam,the Netherlands.

Slovakia and the Czech RepublicBy Alena Králíková

Czech and Slovak philanthropy is only just beginning todevelop and as yet there has been minimal discussion ofthe gender dimension.

There are however several broad positive trends worthmentioning. Research by the Ministry of Finance of theCzech Republic and Czech Donors’ Forum finds that thevalue of individual donations has doubled in recent years,from 670m CZK in 2000 to 1,250m CZK (£30m) in 2006,and the number of philanthropists has also almostdoubled in the same time period. Meanwhile, corporatedonations have tripled from 746m CZK in 2000 to 2,045mCZK (£50m) in 2006.

Another trend is that both individual and corporatedonors are supporting a broader range of people andcauses, and two women have become well known forgiving not just their money but also their resources and

Pamala Wieping Alena Králíková

“Women’s philanthropy inthe Netherlands was drivenby norms of compassionand Christianity”

philanthropy uk


attention to topics that tend to be overlooked. JulianaGyenesová, who died last summer, bequeathed all herpossessions to the Oncology Unit of the Children Hospitalin Banská Bystrica; this was the first major charitablelegacy in Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, Mathilda Nostitzreceived a VIA Bona award for her long-term support toThe Union of the Blind and Weak-sighted People.

The Slovak-Czech Women’s Fund does not yet play amajor role in terms of funding, but it does represent animportant grant-making organisation, as it is the only onesupporting women’s and girls’ initiatives in the twocountries. The Fund’s mission is to provide resources tosupport the promotion of women’s rights in society and toimplement the principle of gender equality.

The Fund aims to contribute to the development of sociallyresponsible philanthropy in Slovakia and in the CzechRepublic. Its ambition is to change the traditional donor-grantee relationship to a partnership among supporters,donors, women’s initiatives and women and girls.

Alena Králíková is development manager of the Slovak-Czech Women’s Fund.

The USA By Sondra Shaw-Hardy and Carmen J. Stevens

Women have been affecting the philanthropic landscape ofthe US since the founding of the country in 1776. Womenhave created universities, like Smith College, founded in1871 by Sophia Smith, and museums like the Museum ofModern Art, co-founded by Lizzie Palmer Bliss. Yet, it hasbeen during the last quarter of a century that womenhave truly claimed their philanthropy as a means of socialchange in the US and the world.

Research suggests that women’s giving differs from men’s.Women demand involvement in the institutions that theysupport, giving not only of their finances, but also of theirtime and talent. Women seek a connection based onvalues and give to see creative solutions to problems.

A selection of research findings on women’s philanthropyin the US include:

• Recent studies generally show a reversal of a long-time trend: more women are giving to charities thanare their male counterparts, and they are givingaway higher percentages of their incomes than are men

• Single women are 37% more likely to be charitabledonors than are single men.

• Because women live longer than men, they will endup in charge of much of the US$41 trillion expectedto pass from generation to generation over the nextfifty years.

• Gen X women (born 1961-81) are the future ofphilanthropy. While Prime Time (born 1928-44) andBoomer women (born 1945-60) are actively giving,those institutions that engage the Gen X communitywill benefit the most.

Overwhelmingly, what defines women’s philanthropy inthe US is the passion for a cause. Connecting women toinstitutions, and to one another, for a collective missionignites the power that each holds individually. Women’sphilanthropy will continue to provide an opportunity for women to create lasting change in their communitieslocally and those that they partner with throughout the globe.

Sondra Shaw-Hardy is a philanthropy advisor and co-founder of the Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI) atthe Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. CarmenJ. Stevens is Director of Philanthropic Services forFalconer Philanthropic Advisors. The authors of thiscontribution recently released Women’s Giving: AGenerational Perspective, a summary of their landmarkresearch of women’s giving across three generations ofAmerican women.

“Women demand involvementin the institutions that theysupport, giving not only oftheir finances, but also oftheir time and talent.”

philanthropy uk

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving the top five : page 38

By Dame Stephanie Shirley

Materialists believe that the only things that matter arethose we can verify with our own senses. The main goalsin life are correspondingly wealth and power since themore abstract goals are too difficult to measure. As a self-made millionaire I know that economic sustenance isimportant – but not all-important. Social responsibilitydemands that we develop a spiritual dimension to life.

To find the underlying motivation for philanthropy, youhave to dig deep. The passing years bring a sense ofurgency to complete life’s goals, to set aside surplus fundsto relieve suffering beyond one’s immediate circle, to movefrom success to the significance that can be found in theservice of others. Then money transmutes from figures ona sheet of paper to something meaningful. Giving is aprivate expression of personal beliefs as well as fulfillingcommunity needs. So perhaps the motives hardly matter.The fact is that people give and it’s the birthright anddefining characteristic of the human species.

Although I do sometimes give anonymously – just as Ioccasionally work anonymously – I believe thatphilanthropy needs to be proactive, ambitious and focusedon results. It’s not a business but needs to be business-

Choosing a socially responsible lifestyle

The top five: tips for giving

Dame Stephanie Shirley has donated over £50m tovarious pioneering and strategic projects in IT(her professional discipline) and autism (her lateson’s disorder).

Dame Stephanie Shirley

philanthropy ukWomen & Philanthropy: inspiring women, inspired giving the top five : page 39

like. My aim is always to be professional, to be efficientand to be effective. But the main thing is that I’m havinga load of fun! I meet more interesting people, travelpurposefully to more interesting places and feel morefulfilled as a social entrepreneur than I ever did in theyears spent making money.

Giving is a lifestyle and is not altruistic at all, since youget so much in return. A large bank balance is all verynice, but like the 16th century philosopher Francis Bacon,I believe that “money is like muck, not good except it bespread”. Even Bill Gates seeks to be remembered for hisphilanthropy rather than his riches.

Philanthropy certainly pays. The more money I give away,the richer my life seems to become. Philanthropy allowsme to work with congenial people on worthwhile projects.It has given significance to the wealth it took me alifetime to create. Once classed as the seventh wealthiest

woman in Britain, I’m proud to have given away enoughto take me out of the Rich List. Gone are the days whenwealthy women had always married or inherited theirmoney.

Do women give in different ways? Do they support otherwomen? Oprah Winfrey supports girls’ education; SigridRausing supports women’s empowerment. But then, bothare generous to a large number of causes.

Givers, speaking especially for women, care about theissues and are ‘care-ful’ about them. A man typicallymight ask “what does society expect a man in my positionto do?” and “what recognition will I get out of it?” Womenseem less interested in these fripperies and perhaps focusmore on “which charity most deserves support?” and “howcan I make the most difference?” We also outlive men onaverage and the classic ‘widow’s mite’ can provide solacein bereavement.

Let me attempt to summarise:

First, concentrate on what you know and careabout. There are so many worthy causes but each personknows whether it’s animals or children or the developing

world or the elderly or medical causes, or whatever thattouches their heart. Perhaps, like me, you decide you needto start your own charity – the important thing is not toduplicate what is already happening elsewhere.

Money is wonderfully effective but the passion andhuman touch must also be there if we’re not topatronise the beneficiaries. I know from havingreceived charity myself and expected to be grateful, howeasy it is to patronise people. So give with a warm handand generous spirit.

Philanthropists enjoy tax advantages; it behoves us to beefficient and effective. So use all the business skillsyou have available. Let IT keep your contacts straightand records secure; plan, measure, benchmark, managethe process. Leverage your investments by fundinginfrastructure, partnerships and challenge grants. Makeyour money work with loans and underwriting. But movefrom a corporate aim such as to be the ‘best in the world’to whatever is ‘best for the world’.

'Just’ writing a cheque demeans both giver and receiver,so always add time and skills, energy and contacts.Apart from anything else, it makes giving much more fun.

Finally, heed the words of John Wesley:

“Do all the good you can,By all the means you can,In all the ways you can,In all the places you can,At all the times you can,To all the people you can,As long as ever you can.”

This article first appeared in the March 2008 issue of thePhilanthropy UK Newsletter.

“I believe thatphilanthropy needs to beproactive, ambitious andfocused on results”

A pupil during a handwriting session at Priors Court

school, which provides specialised education for

children with autism and was established by founding

patron Dame Stephanie Shirley.

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