More than half of the participants surveyed by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners identified education as one of the top three causes they support, followed by women-related groups and the arts. The University of Tennessee Alliance of Women Philanthropists, however, maintains that women tend to bequeath money to educational, scientific, and medical organizations. Men, the Alliance asserts, are more inclined to leave money to the arts and the humanities. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, women want to be part of new initiatives. Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute , agrees.
Evidence also indicates that women are creating their own version of philanthropy.
Their goal is to energize women to be big winners in America's corporate and political cultures. That role has increased dramatically. Whereas in 1979 there were only 5 charitable funds that had been established by and were run entirely by women, today there are nearly 100. Women are also giving larger gifts to charity than they have in the past. It appears that women's importance as donors will continue.