She Gives publishes landmark report for women’s giving in Australia 

Australia’s largest ever mixed-methods study of women’s giving has confirmed what many across the sector have long understood. Women lead the way in generosity and their contributions are powerful, values driven and far from fully realised. 

Australia’s largest ever mixed-methods study of women’s giving has confirmed what many across the sector have long understood. Women lead the way in generosity and their contributions are powerful, values driven and far from fully realised. 

The report, She Gives: Growing Women’s Giving in Australia, was launched on 24th February at a reception hosted by Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC. It provides the most comprehensive picture to date of how women give, why they give and the conditions that enable women’s philanthropy to grow.  

The research, analysed with academic partner Centre for Social Impact, University of Western Australia, draws upon qualitative and quantitative data from surveys, research roundtables and stories gathered by She Gives from over 2,000 women.  The report is the culmination of an 18-month She Gives campaign that travelled to every state and territory engaging face to face with over 1,000 women at 20 events.   

When launching the research, She Gives Founder Melissa Smith said the scale of the opportunity was significant as women gain greater economic power, education and equality, which are the three key predictors for giving.  

“This research shows the vastly unrealised potential of women’s giving; it is already powerful, scalable and far from fully realised” Ms Smith said. “By modernising our structures, strengthening collaboration and building capability across the ecosystem, we can unlock one of the most significant growth opportunities for philanthropy in Australia today.” 

Georgina Byron AM, Snow Foundation CEO, She Gives Advisory Group member and Philanthropy Australia Board Director, added: “Women have always shaped generosity in Australia, often quietly and without fanfare. This research confirms what many of us see every day: women are influencing decisions, mobilising networks and giving deeply to the causes they care about.”  

Motivations 

The report finds that women’s giving is strongly motivated by values. Women give because they care deeply about causes, want to create meaningful change and often feel a strong responsibility to give back when they have experienced their own financial success. 

It also highlights that women often give in ways that are relational and community based. Many prefer collective giving approaches and want their support to be responsive to community need. 

Importantly, the research identifies the many forms women’s giving takes. Financial contributions sit alongside volunteering, governance, leadership and informal care. These contributions represent a significant, and often under-recognised, component of Australia’s social infrastructure. 

Unlocking greater impact 

The report sets out three priorities for expanding the scale and impact of women’s giving: 

• Recognise women’s role in giving 
  Greater visibility and recognition encourage participation. The report highlights the need for stronger representation of women’s philanthropy in public recognition systems, including national honours and media coverage. 

• Grow the ecosystem’s capacity 
  The research points to the importance of investing in the infrastructure that supports women’s giving. This includes strengthening diversity and representation across the sector and ensuring advisers are equipped to support women’s philanthropic goals. 

• Build collaboration around women’s giving 
  Women report a preference for giving together. The expansion of models such as giving circles and community foundations could unlock further generosity and support more coordinated impact. 

Brianna Kerr, Director, Knowledge & Practice for Philanthropy Australia worked as Research Manager on the She Gives Report. She noted that these priorities reflect opportunities for the entire sector. 

“The report clearly shows women’s giving is diverse, collaborative and deeply connected to community outcomes,” Ms Kerr said. “If we design our systems and practices to reflect how women choose to give, we will unlock greater generosity and stronger results for communities across Australia.” 

Philanthropy Australia was a sector partner of this research and Krystian Seibert, Executive Director, Policy & Sector Development, was on the She Gives Research Advisory Group. 

A benchmark for future progress 

One of the most important contributions of the report is the establishment of a national baseline. The data enables the sector to track change over time and assess whether current systems adequately support women’s leadership and participation in philanthropy. 

With women set to inherit significant wealth in coming decades, the urgency of this work is clear. The report concludes that the opportunity is substantial but realising it will require action from across the philanthropic ecosystem. 

Maree Sidey, Philanthropy Australia CEO emphasised this call to action. 

“This research gives us a clear evidence base. The responsibility now sits with all of us to act on it. Greater visibility, stronger capability and more collaborative pathways will help ensure that women’s giving continues to grow and thrive.” 

Philanthropy Australia congratulates the She Gives team on producing a pivotal piece of research. The findings will inform ongoing work to strengthen gender equity, build capability and support collective giving models that resonate strongly with women across the country. 

The full report is available at the She Gives website.