Australia’s first ever study into the level of philanthropic investment in women and girls has been launched today by the Australian Women Donors Network in conjunction with the Australian Centre for Philanthropyand Non-Profit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology.
Australia’s first ever study into the level of philanthropic investment in women and girls has been launched today by the Australian Women Donors Network in conjunction with the Australian Centre for Philanthropyand Non-Profit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology.
This important and ground-breaking research initiative aims to provide data on the current level of philanthropic investment in women and girls, and the extent to which gender is recognised in mainstream grant-making in Australia.
Currently, there is no such data available for Australia, although it is known that in the USA, less than 8% of funding goes to programs that specifically target women and girls (Foundation Center 2008). A study also released yesterday by the European Foundation Centre into funding for women and girls in the EU found that in 2009 the median percentage of total grant monies allocated by foundations in support of women and girls was 4.8%.
Australian Women Donors Network CEO, Julia Keady, said that women are still the most disadvantaged in society, often marginalised or invisible when it comes to the allocation of philanthropic investment.
"The urgency around investing in women and girls is upon us.
"In 2011, 70% of the world's poorest citizens are still women. Women make up more than 70% of the world's homeless and 44% in Australia. Our philosophy is that through supporting women and girls – we improve the world for everyone – men, boys, communities and whole economies.
"We are encouraging all Australian donors, private and corporate, to integrate a level of gender inquiry in their giving and grantmaking, so we can start improving the situation. After all, women are half the population, and the mothers of the other half," she says.
The survey consists of ten questions and takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Results are expected to be released in August.
Private donors, trusts, foundations, corporate foundations and community foundations are all encouraged to participate. The Survey can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/womendonors