In a year when Barbie is breaking major records at the box office, more women are holding the highest political positions globally, the female labor force rate is historically high, and entertainers like Taylor Swift and Beyonce have boosted economies worldwide, the collective power of women should not be underestimated. As the fastest-growing charitable group globally, women are earning more educational degrees than men, holding many leadership positions in the workplace, and making the majority of consumer decisions in the home. Yet, most universities have not revised their antiquated fundraising practices to reflect this new certainty. This presentation inclusive of facilitated discussion will focus on the different motivations and patterns for giving between genders. By not embracing these differences, advancement shops are leaving money on the table and losing out on valuable insights, passion, and power with those who identify as women, a critical market segment that all we should all be talking about. Schools large and small can learn valuable information, discuss strategy, and hear compelling case studies about women’s philanthropy while learning how to implement a new philanthropic paradigm that embraces women's authenticity, empowerment, leading to impressive increases in philanthropic investment.

There’s nothing more exciting than receiving a big check from a donor. Or is there? Only 7 percent of household wealth is held as cash, yet 85 percent of charitable gifts are made in that form. Research shows that encouraging donors to make gifts of wealth (using non-cash assets) results in larger gifts to charities with greater benefits for the donor. In this session, we’ll look at three methods that leverage the power of shifting from disposable income: gifts of appreciated securities, qualified charitable distributions, and donor advised funds. Even small shops can benefit from incorporating these approaches into their work.