PRESIDENT’S NOTE
The power of women lisa scheller
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ne hundred and fifty years ago, as the Civil War was breaking out, one of KU’s most generous donors of all time was born: Elizabeth Miller Watkins. We celebrate her legacy in this issue of KU Giving. While she was unable to attend KU, her generosity transformed the university and has enabled KU Endowment to benefit many generations of students to this day. In today’s dollars, her gifts to KU would be worth more than $32 million. The sesquicentennial of Watkins’ birth has prompted me to examine the role women play in philanthropy today. Recent studies show some differences between men and women in their private giving habits. One is that women are less impressed with the status quo and more interested in change. It’s not hard to understand why: Women were not always welcome in board rooms, CEO suites or even in academic leadership roles. According to a recent study by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the University of Indiana, women are more likely to be drawn to causes to which they can closely relate, causes that truly improve people’s lives. The same study stated that women will inherit 70 percent of the wealth transfer in this country, mostly because they are likely to live longer than men. Areas of particular interest to women include the lives of children and young people. That’s what motivated Elizabeth Watkins to leave the bulk of her estate to KU. She wanted to make sure future students, particularly women, had the opportunity to acquire the college degree that eluded her.
Sheri Hauck, Kay Brada and Cathy Curless model the scarves they received to honor their service on the board of Women Philanthropists for KU.
While men like to be informed about the causes they donate to, women demand it. Studies show that they want to get involved with an organization before making a gift, and that relationships play a big role in their decisionmaking. That’s the power of groups like our own Women Philanthropists for KU, which we cover on page 5 of this issue. At KU Endowment, we are seeing more women engaged in philanthropic decisions, and serving as board members and as members of our campaign steering committee. Change is coming, and women will be a big part of it. Whether through individual gifts or joint gifts with their spouses, women will exercise their power to influence the future of this great university.
Dale Seuferling, President
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| KU GIVING | SUMMER 2011