Did you know that less than 2% of charitable giving supports organizations dedicated to women and girls? While there are 50,000 organizations in the U.S. alone dedicated to Women and Girls, they receive only a sliver—1.9% of charitable giving. This shocking statistic compiled by the Women & Girls Index (WGI) highlighted the pressing need and inadequate funding and led to the launch of Give to Women and Girls Day, on October 11, 2022, the International Day of the Girl.
The launch was backed by a groundbreaking partnership between the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) and Giving Tuesday, the Ms. Foundation, Philanos, Philanthropy Together, Pivotal Ventures, Schusterman Family Philanthropies, United Nations Foundation, Vital Voices, Women’s Funding Network, and Women Moving Millions. This formidable coalition set the stage for a powerful new giving day recognized again this year.
Despite women’s and girls’ issues coming to the forefront in recent years, no comprehensive data had been applied to their unmet needs until WPI created the Women & Girls Index (WGI), the tool researchers needed to measure giving in the sector for the first time. WGI also supplied researchers with groundbreaking insight into what motivates donors to give to women’s and girls’ causes. Although they learned that donors give to help solve society’s problems, their core reason is that they truly believe in gender equality. Donors often serve on boards or volunteer and feel that investing in women and girls is an effective way to influence widespread societal change. Individual donors include both men and women, though women are more likely to give, and give more. Most importantly, donors tend to trust these organizations as capable of achieving both local and systemic change.
Does this sound like you? What are your passions, and where do you want to make a difference? If you care about the empowerment of women and girls and believe in helping them take their rightful place in an equal world, giving on October 11 (and beyond) to groups that work in pursuit of those causes is a powerful way to make a difference.
BE the Change and Amplify Women’s Voices
This year you can BE the change and use your philanthropic dollars to assist organizations that do the important work of promoting women and girls. Organizations like the National Women’s History Museum, which seeks to amplify women’s voices, accomplishments, and contributions throughout history. At Women Connect4Good, we stand behind the NWHM’s mission because we understand the power in our stories and recognize that women’s contributions and accomplishments– our stories – are often marginalized and largely overlooked, left out of history books and conversations.
When women’s stories and accomplishments are undervalued, it perpetuates the idea that they are not important. This could not be further from the truth. Women’s stories are a powerful source of inspiration for young girls and women. When they see themselves reflected in the stories of remarkable women who overcame obstacles and made a difference, they are encouraged to dream big.
NWHM is on a mission to revolutionize the narrative, and on this Give to Women and Girls Day – and every day – help them preserve our history, share women’s stories, amplify women’s voices, and make the world more equitable. You can make a difference. Give today.