New Data Shows North American Women Have Capacity to Give an Estimated $230 Billion Annually, Approximately Equal to All Charitable Giving from Individuals in the United States in 2013

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to new data commissioned by Women Moving Millions (WMM), North American women today have the capacity to give an estimated $230 billion annually, approximately equal to all charitable giving from individuals in the US in 2013 - roughly equal to 3.3 times overall charitable giving by foundations and corporations in the US. Highlighting high-net-worth women's capacity to give, WMM calls upon women donors to invest in women and girls with the release of a new report and 'Call to Action': ALL IN FOR HER.

By 2030, women will control an estimated $33.5 trillion in the United States and Canada, and their philanthropic giving from wealth could reach $569.5 billion annually.

New data analysis by Changing Our World, Inc. also projected that as early as 2026; women globally will have the capacity to give $1 trillion a year. This could be achieved merely by committing 1.7 % of their wealth to philanthropy, the lowest percentage of giving from disposable income on record in the US in the last 40 years.         

ALL IN FOR HER references the extensive research and data to show how empowering women and girls is a key to solving the world's greatest problems; including poverty, climate change and conflict. 

"Despite the evidence that investing in women and girls works, actual investments in women's rights and empowerment remain a low priority in global philanthropy. As of 2011, only 7% of all philanthropic dollars have been invested specifically in women's and girls' rights and empowerment. Who can fill this gap? Women," said Jacki Zehner, a philanthropist and the Chief Engagement Officer for WMM.

In addition to examining women's wealth and income, the new data analysis also measured women's growing influence over private philanthropic institutions as board members or C-suite leaders of foundations and other charitable institutions.

"It's time to seize this historic moment: the financial clout of women philanthropists is at an all-time high and growing. So is the conviction, backed by overwhelming evidence, that investing in women and girls is essential to solving the world's greatest problems," continued WMM's Chief Engagement Officer Jacki Zehner. "We have an opportunity to transform philanthropic priorities and set new standards of giving."

The ALL IN FOR HER report outlines principles to amplify the efforts of current and future donors; to galvanize the practices of the broader philanthropic community toward greater investment in women and girls. ALL IN FOR HER encourages women donors to commit to the following:

GIVE BIG. Increase their giving to the scale of change they want to see in the world. Big change, the kind that engages and affects many women and girls (and men and boys) across generations, requires big resources.

BE BOLD. Expand the impact of their financial contribution by investing themselves fully – their personal, social and intellectual capacity. Make their contributions public and visible to inspire others.

APPLY A GENDER LENS. Conclusive research shows that investing and empowering women and girls has a direct and lasting effect on combating poverty, violent conflict, climate change and other global problems. Target philanthropic engagements to more effectively address the needs and strengths of this turnkey population.

COLLABORATE. Join forces with other donors who share the same values and goals. Social problems that have gender inequality at their core are beyond the ability of any one donor to solve. Combining their resources with others can achieve exponential change.

More information, the report and infographic are available at www.allinforher.org.

ABOUT ALL IN FOR HER SUPPORT: This initiative was completed with the generous support of Women Moving Millions members and our corporate partners: JPMorgan Chase, Gucci, Javelin Marketing Group, Charles Schwab, Circle Wealth Management, Dell, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, and Pearson.

ABOUT WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS: Women Moving Millions is a community of women committed to mobilizing resources to advance women and girls worldwide. Each member donates $1 million or more to the organization(s) of their choice. Since its founding in 2007, WMM has catalyzed 210 donors to pledge more than $500 million to various organizations and initiatives.

ABOUT CHANGING OUR WORLD, Inc.: Changing Our World, Inc. is a leading international consulting firm providing personalized solutions in all areas of fundraising and philanthropy. The firm's expertise ranges across four areas of practice: fundraising, corporate social engagement, digital and research and analytics. 

What people are saying about ALL IN FOR HER:

"Research tells us that women often need to be asked to think of themselves as leaders, to run for office, to use their power. ALL IN FOR HER is asking. My answer is yes and I hope yours will be too." - Geena Davis, Actress and Founder, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

"Working with donors for decades it is clear to me that ALL IN FOR HER understands that fundamentally, education leads to empowerment and empowerment leads to action. ALL IN FOR HER hits all cylinders by providing the donor (at different stages of giving) the education that is essential to empowering action." - Patricia Annino, Author, Women and Money

SOURCE Women Moving Millions