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Team # 423 -- Women and Philanthropy Research Project

February 2001

Objective

The University is involved in a $1 billion fund-raising initiative involving nearly 500 volunteers. One volunteer committee devoted to women and philanthropy is charged with creating a Penn State culture which is open, inclusive and enthusiastic about philanthropic power of women and their families; one which involves women as donors and volunteer leaders in innovative ways. One of the Women and Philanthropy Committee's first steps towards this goal was to conduct a study of more than 400 women who have the potential to make substantial contributions to the vision and direction of the University. It focused on a generational analysis of the differences in women's attitudes toward giving, volunteerism, and philanthropic priorities.

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Team Membership

• Women and Philanthropy Committee, Sponsor
• Eloise Stuhr, Leader
• Marjory Sente, Facilitator
• Marianne Bissell Alexander, Member
• Mimi Coppersmith Fredman, Member
• Nancy Eaton, Member
• Martha Lewis Starling, Member
• Barbara Palmer, Member
• Anne Riley, Member
• Arlene Shapiro Kaplan, Member
• Helen Skade Hintz, Member
• Sandra Spanier, Member
• Elizabeth Susman, Member

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Results Achieved to Date

• 1) Analysis: Attitudes among the generations of women are different ;primarily with regard to interests and issues
  
  2) Solutions: - Target programs to the different generations
  - Create more options to engage women
  - Reorient staff and volunteers to view women individually and as donors
  - Continue to refine stewardship and recognition processes
  
  3) Results: - Successful Penn State Today program for women
  - Database revisions to better acknowledge women and their philanthropy
  - Regional and college specific events targeted to women and their interests such as A&A's Women On and
  Off The Wall

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