When we think of giving back, philanthropy is often top of mind. For women in the philanthropy sector, the inequities of our general society are reflected in stereotypes and bad assumptions around how we show up in our generosity. Did you know that tens of millions of dollars are left on the table by nonprofits each year, because people make the assumption that women don’t consistently make significant gifts and many in the fundraising profession don’t take the time to truly understand the nuances around how women give?

Women are a powerful, generous force for good, and women’s philanthropy should be one of the primary areas of focus for those looking to find investors in the future of good work and changing the world. For many years, women’s philanthropy trailblazer, Kathleen Loehr has led the charge in putting the spotlight on the impact women are making. Now she’s passing the torch to eight women who will move the work forward with the newly launched Women’s Philanthropy Alliance (WPA).

I am thrilled and enormously proud to be one of this hand-selected, elite group of women who will move women’s philanthropy forward as industry experts and thought leaders. I’d like to introduce you to my colleagues and to the inimitable Kathleen Loehr herself—these are truly women of influence.

I asked each of them the question: "How do you want to give back to the world?" Here are their responses.

Kathleen Loehr
Kathleen Loehr LLC

“Knowing that gender does matter in philanthropy, I help scale women’s philanthropy across our sector by teaching the proven principles that significantly grow support from individuals who identify as women.”

Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat Founder and Principal of
JL-S Consulting, LLC

"I want to give back to the world by inspiring other women to invest in themselves in order to then invest in the issues they care about most."

Valerie Cushman, Ph.D.
V. Cushman Consulting

"[I want to give back] by facilitating nonprofits to adopt practices through which intentional women philanthropists support their passions and change the world for all!"

Sallie-Grace Tate, M.A. Ed.
Principal of Tate Coaching and Consulting, LLC

"[I want to give back] by respecting the humanity of others by virtue of hearing and seeing them and demonstrating curiosity, kindness, and generosity."

Carol Packard
Founder and Principal of Carol Ann Packard Consulting

"My hope is to give back to the world in a way that encourages women to unapologetically take up space, and for women from a young age to understand and embrace the magnificent possibility in owning their space, reveling in it, and finding power in that courageous commitment to each other and ourselves."

Cat Slack
Managing Director of Aperio Philanthropy

"I bring people together toward meaningful causes."

Cannie Campbell, MPH, MA/Ed.S.
Founder and Owner of Spark Women’s Philanthropy

“Impassioned by women’s leadership, engagement, and philanthropy, I strive to open more doors for women to find their voice, become empowered leaders where they are, invest in those things that matter most, and do so boldly!"

I’ll end with my own response: "I want to help women and women of color to connect their faith to their philanthropy, dismantle the philanthropist archetype, and redefine what it means to be philanthropic." In each of our individual ways, we’re changing the landscape of generosity, and that is certainly the beauty of giving back.