This episode is sponsored by:
I am thrilled to welcome Jacqueline Ackerman, interim director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), to the podcast. In this episode, we’re unpacking how women give and why understanding those patterns can completely reshape how we approach nonprofit fundraising strategies.
Jacqueline brings a rich perspective, combining data, empathy, and decades of research to challenge traditional donor engagement approaches. From giving circles to intergenerational wealth transfer, we discuss what it means to meet women donors where they are and how fundraisers can adapt to support more values-aligned, inclusive philanthropy.
In this episode:
- [02:40] Jacqueline’s personal journey into women’s philanthropy
- [05:37] The research process behind WPI’s donor data
- [09:25] How women’s giving differs from men’s giving
- [13:10] Why affinity trumps capacity in donor engagement
- [16:29] Collective giving and how giving circles work
- [21:29] The value of engaging a giving circle
- [23:29] The case for affinity-based fundraising groups
- [26:13] Gen Z and cause-driven giving trends
- [31:05] One simple step to engage women donors more effectively
- [35:00] Addressing women correctly in donor communications
NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“Women are more likely than men to give to charity. Women are giving higher amounts than similarly situated men.” – Jacqueline Ackerman
“ Women tend to give holistically. […] When women think about charitable giving, they are trying to use all of their resources to be generous. […] It is beyond just money. It’s volunteering their time, it’s serving on a committee, volunteering their expertise.” – Jacqueline Ackerman
“ When your whole system has been built on appealing to one specific type of donor, you’re just leaving so many folks out.” – Jacqueline Ackerman
RESOURCES
Women Give 2021 report on how households make charitable decisions
WPI’s research on giving circles
Impact100 global site
The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s “Next Generation of Philanthropy” report
Last year’s Give to Women and Girls Day and accompanying Women and Girls Index report
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CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE
LinkedIn: Jacqueline Ackerman
Instagram: @womensphilanthropy
Website: https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/institutes/womens-philanthropy-institute/index.html
CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
This episode is sponsored by Donorbox
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