Where Do Men and Women Give? Gender Differences in the Motivations and Purposes for Charitable Giving

Abstract

This study seeks to explore gender differences in the purpose and motivations for charitable giving. We analyze new waves of data from the Philanthropy Panel Study, the Bank of America/U.S. Trust Studies of High Net Worth Philanthropy, and the Million Dollar List to investigate where men and women direct their charitable gifts, the influence of charitable decision making on giving, and why men’s and women’s priorities may differ. We find that generally, women are more likely than men to give to every charitable subsector except neighborhoods and communities and tend to spread their giving out. However, high net worth women exhibit fewer differences in their giving as compared to high net worth men. Women prioritize issues and areas such as women’s rights, human rights, and the environment, while men favor the economy and national security. Finally, we find that women are generally motivated to give by their political or philosophical beliefs or their involvement in an organization.