Proven Practices helps fundraisers and nonprofit leaders translate research on women’s philanthropy into action. Use these resources to deepen your understanding of women donors, explore current research, and find additional learning or implementation support.
Resources
Research and practical guidance
Women and Philanthropy: A Literature Review
WPI’s 2025 literature review synthesizes a decade of research on gender and philanthropy, including how women give, what motivates their philanthropy, and how the field has evolved. A companion practical guide for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders offers concrete considerations for relationship-building, values-aligned messaging, and collaborative philanthropy.
Women Give and WPI Research
The Women’s Philanthropy Institute conducts and shares research on why, how, where, and when women give. Explore WPI’s signature Women Give research series and other studies on gender and philanthropy.
Foundational Proven Practices resources
Time to Focus on Women’s Philanthropy
This WPI infographic highlights key reasons fundraisers and nonprofit leaders should pay greater attention to women’s growing influence in philanthropy.
Women Donors in Plain Sight
This practical WPI infographic highlights opportunities to recognize, understand, and more effectively engage women donors who may already be connected to an organization.
Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women’s Philanthropy
Kathleen Loehr’s guide translates research on gender and giving into practical adaptations that individuals, fundraising teams, and organizations can make to strengthen engagement with women donors.
Note on original branding: Some foundational Proven Practices resources were developed before the transition from IUPUI to IU Indianapolis and retain their original institutional branding.
Additional learning and support
Engaging Women as Donors
This course from The Fund Raising School, designed through a collaboration with WPI, provides research-based insights and practical strategies for building and sustaining relationships with women donors.
Generosity and Gender
Lois A. Buntz’s book, Generosity and Gender: Philanthropic Models for Women Donors and the Fund Development Professionals Who Support Them, combines research, interviews, and practical guidance for fundraisers seeking to engage more women donors.
Appealing to Women Donors
The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s women’s philanthropy playbook brings together practical advice, case studies, and tools on cultivating women donors, strengthening women’s philanthropy programs, prospect research, and donor engagement.
Association for the Advancement of Women’s Philanthropy (AAWP)
Organizations seeking hands-on support can connect with the Association for the Advancement of Women’s Philanthropy (AAWP), formerly the Women’s Philanthropy Alliance. AAWP is led by practitioners trained by Kathleen Loehr in the principles and proven practices for growing women’s philanthropic support.
Looking for more research and resources? Visit the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Proven Practices is a resource of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.