VOICES REAL TALK
THE CHANGEMAKERS T H E N E W P H I L A N T H R O P I C G E N E R AT I O N by K. Sujata, CEO, Chicago Foundation for Women
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home for connecting with individuals who felt passionate about the same issues I did, while supporting organizations doing amazing work for women and girls in Chicago,” says Mavros.
he first half of 2017 has seen major changes in philanthropy, in how people give and how foundations respond. Funders are embracing rapid-response grants for more immediate impact and flexibility. Individuals are turning to philanthropy to respond to current events. A flood of first-time donors helped the American Liberties Civil Union break its fundraising record in a single weekend following an Executive Order barring refugees from the United States. Planned Parenthood donations have surged in the wake of national efforts to defund the reproductive health provider.
Empowering women to view themselves as philanthropists with the power to make positive change was a motivating factor for CFW’s founding mothers.
This political moment is shaping a new generation of activists and philanthropists.
At Chicago Foundation for Women, we’ve experienced an outpouring of support for gender equity, from new volunteers to record levels of civic engagement and local activism. We are also seeing the emergence of a new generation of women philanthropists. Many of these young women sought out the Young Women’s Giving Council as a way to support gender equity and build community following the November election. “I had just moved to Chicago and I was feeling frustrated after the election. I felt passionate about
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Learn more about Chicago Foundation for Women at cfw.org.
so many issues but I was at a loss for how I could dive in and make an impact in my new city,” says council member Ashleigh Mavros. “I was encouraged to get involved with Chicago Foundation for Women through my agency, Geben Communication, because of their strong values alignment with women and gender issues.” “After joining the Young Women’s Giving Council I found a
Women stand to control 70 percent of inherited wealth over the next two generations. Even though women continue to earn less than men, women are more likely to give and give more to charity. The giving patterns that young women establish now will have impacts for decades to come.
Young Women’s Giving Council members are at the beginning of their careers, their best days and greatest earning power ahead of them. They are the beneficiaries of our founder’s efforts to create infrastructure to amplify women’s giving, and to make philanthropy more diverse and democratic. This political moment is shaping a new generation of activists and philanthropists. What our founders have hoped for is that young women would be a driving force. cw