Study to Examine Philanthropic Investment in Women and Girls
27 May 2011 at 1:46 pm
An Australian-first study aims to examine why women and girls are missing out on vital philanthropic funds from Australian donors.
The first Australian study to look into the level of philanthropic investment in women and girls is a joint project of the Australian Women Donors Network in and the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-Profit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The study aims to provide data on the current level of philanthropic investment in women and girls, and the extent to which gender is recognised in mainstream grant-making in Australia.
There is currently no such data available in Australia, however the Australian Women Donor’s Network says that in the USA, less than 8% of funding goes to programs that specifically target women and girls.
A recently released study by the European Foundation Centre into funding for women and girls in the EU found that in 2009 the median percentage of total grant monies allocated by foundations in support of women and girls was 4.8%.
Australian Women Donors Network CEO, Julia Keady, says that women are still the most disadvantaged in society, often marginalised or invisible when it comes to the allocation of philanthropic investment.
Keady says the urgency around investing in women and girls is upon us – in 2011, 70% of the world’s poorest citizens are still women, and women make up more than 70% of the world’s homeless and 44% of Australia’s homeless.
She says the philosophy of the Australian Women Donors Network is that through supporting women and girls – the world is improved for everyone – men, boys, communities and whole economies.
Keady says they are encouraging all Australian donors, private and corporate, to integrate a level of gender inquiry in their giving and grantmaking, so they can start improving the situation.
The survey consists of 10 questions and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Results are expected to be released in August.
Private donors, trusts, foundations, corporate foundations and community foundations are all encouraged to participate. The Survey can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/womendonors
