March is Women’s History Month, a natural moment to reflect on a powerful shift shaping philanthropy today: women are not only participating in giving. They are increasingly leading it.
At Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, we see this every day. Across generations, women are stepping forward as decision-makers, visionaries, and community builders:
- A retired executive using her IRA to support the causes she has championed for decades
- A business leader embedding generosity into her company’s culture
- A young woman learning the practice of giving through her family’s fund
- A group of girls discovering their voice in philanthropy through Girls Give
- A network of women pooling resources and influence through The Women’s Fund
These stories are different, but they share something important: a belief that giving is not just an act. It is a responsibility, a tool, and a legacy.
A Generational Shift in Motion
The data reflects what many are already experiencing firsthand.
Women now control a significant and growing share of wealth in the United States, and that share is expanding. Research from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy has found that women give more than men at nearly every income level and are more likely to give at all. Studies also show that women who inherit wealth are more likely than men to increase their charitable giving afterward. And because women on average outlive their spouses by several years, many become the sole stewards of both family wealth and philanthropic intention, often at a pivotal moment.
Sometimes this transition happens gradually. A daughter joins conversations. A spouse becomes more actively involved. Other times, it happens in an instant, through loss or life change, when clarity about what matters most comes quickly.
What stands out is not just who is giving, but how. Women tend to approach philanthropy with a strong sense of connection to people, to place, and to purpose. Giving is often more collaborative, more relational, and more focused on long-term impact.
From Individual Giving to Collective Impact
This is where community becomes essential.
Through The Women’s Fund, women across Middle Tennessee are coming together to invest in solutions that strengthen the lives of women and girls. It is philanthropy not just as an individual act, but as a shared force where collective resources and voices drive measurable change.
At the same time, Girls Give is shaping the next generation of philanthropists. Young women are learning how to assess community needs, make funding decisions, and understand the impact of their choices. It is early exposure to something powerful: the idea that their voice and their generosity matter.
Together, these efforts reflect a full continuum of engagement: from learning to participating, to leading. If you are not yet connected to either program and want to learn more, we would love to share what is happening.
Volunteers with Girls Give pose with bins of sanitary items at a Community Resource Center volunteer event.
Turning Intent into Impact
As women step more fully into philanthropic leadership, how you give can matter as much as what you give. Thoughtful structures can turn a single act of generosity into something that endures. A donor-advised fund can bring family members into the process across generations. A field-of-interest fund keeps your giving focused on the issues you care about most. A designated fund sustains a nonprofit you believe in deeply. For donors age 70½ and older, tools like Qualified Charitable Distributions offer tax-efficient ways to put those structures to work.
We are glad to think through any of this with you, at whatever stage you are in.
The Opportunity Ahead
Women’s philanthropy is not a trend. It is a transformation, and the evidence is all around us.
It is visible in quiet, everyday decisions and in bold, collective action. It is happening in living rooms, boardrooms, classrooms, and communities across Middle Tennessee. And increasingly, it is being shaped with intention.
At CFMT, we are honored to walk alongside women at every stage of that journey, whether they are just beginning to explore their giving or deepening a legacy already in motion.
Because when women lead in philanthropy, the impact extends far beyond a single gift. It builds stronger families, more connected communities, and a future shaped by purpose.
A member of The Women’s Fund leads a discussion at the 2024 Pizza and Conversations event hosted by CFMT.
