For roughly the past decade or so, different cultural groups have begun to shift their thinking regarding the true meaning of philanthropy. For most of its existence, American philanthropy has been defined as the very wealthy giving to certain charities and naming programs, buildings, and playgrounds after themselves and their families. However, the philanthropic landscape is undergoing a seismic, redefining shift and is being deconstructed and rebuilt as something more beautiful and inclusive.

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?