She Gives: Digging deeper into Australian women’s philanthropy
In households, boardrooms and communities across Australia, women are driving philanthropy in powerful and diverse ways. From volunteering in local neighbourhoods or donating to grassroots charities to directing multimillion-dollar grants, women are giving their time, resources, and leadership to drive lasting social change.
Yet despite their influence and impact, much of women’s philanthropic contribution in Australia remains unrecorded, under-analysed, and under-celebrated.
Recognising this, Melissa Smith, CEO and founder of Noble Ambition, and noted philanthropist Paula McLean decided to bring together women from across the Australian philanthropic landscape to establish She Gives – a national campaign launched in July 2024 designed to recognise and inspire women’s philanthropy at all levels.
Building on research already undertaken by the campaign, She Gives partnered with the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia in November last year to undertake the most extensive research project to date on women’s philanthropy in Australia.
The Rise of Women’s Philanthropy in Australia
Australia is facing a time of significant social and economic need. Eighty per cent of service providers report they are struggling to meet demand, as 3.4 million households experience food insecurity—the highest rate among low-income households since the cost-of-living crisis began. [i] Meanwhile, 3.3 million Australians are living below the poverty line, including one in six children. [ii]
Despite this urgent need, tax data shows only 28 per cent of Australian taxpayers are claiming charitable deductions—pointing to a vast unrealised potential in national giving. [iii]
She Gives emerged from the insight that women are often at the heart of giving decisions—yet their stories, impact, and influence have long remained in the background. An analysis for the She Gives campaign found that of the 100 most read articles on philanthropy in the 12 months prior to the campaign’s launch, 54 focused on men, 32 on organisations or foundations and only 14 on women. [iv]
The campaign highlights that women are increasingly at the forefront of giving, changing a traditional narrative of philanthropy being dominated by men. This conversation is especially timely as women are expected to play a central role in the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in Australia’s history. [v]
“She Gives is shining a spotlight on the stories of women’s giving and their potential to inspire change that, for too long, has gone unrecognised,” said campaign founder Melissa Smith. “Women are shaping the future of philanthropy in Australia, not just by giving money, but through their leadership, their networks, and their values. We want to honour that and help it grow.”
Gathering data on women’s giving to drive greater impact
She Gives heard from women that greater storytelling and deeper research was required to highlight and inspire greater giving at all levels. The publication of the Behind She Gives paper laid the foundation for a closer examination of women’s giving – now, together with the Centre of Social Impact (CSI) at the University of Western Australia, led by CSI UWA Director Professor Paul Flateau and Senior Research Fellow Dr Leanne Lester, the campaign will build a first-of-its-kind evidence base for women’s giving, complementing She Gives’ storytelling mission.
The research project will culminate in a comprehensive report co-authored by She Gives and CSI, due to be released in early 2026. The report will investigate not only how much women give, but how they decide to give, what motivates their philanthropy, and what barriers or enablers shape their giving.
“This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from women about their philanthropic lives—from those who give informally in their communities, to those who run foundations or contribute significant financial gifts,” said Dr Lester. “We want to understand what drives their generosity, how their giving is evolving, and how the sector can better support women to give in ways that align with their values.”
Importantly, the research challenges traditional views of philanthropy by recognising all forms of giving——financial, time-based, skill-based, and network-driven. It reflects a growing understanding that philanthropy is not confined to wealth, but expressed through care, commitment, and community action that are often value-driven.
Centre for Social Impact CEO Arminé Nalbandian said the research would play a critical role in uncovering more about the ripple effect that women are creating through their giving.
“This project presents CSI with an important opportunity to grow the evidence base and knowledge of philanthropy in Australia,” she said. “This research will go a long way to helping us understand the vital role women play in actively shaping change through their giving and how that can inspire and shape the future of giving across the country.”
The research includes data gathered through She Gives’ online surveys, in-depth interviews, and roundtable discussions, including a landmark event hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, at Government House in Canberra in November 2024 (pictured above).
Roundtables have since been held across the country, offering women from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations the opportunity to reflect on their giving and contribute their lived experience to the research. Further sessions are planned for 2025 to ensure a broad and representative range of voices—from established philanthropists to emerging givers—are included.
An invitation to contribute
As the campaign and research progress, both She Gives and the Centre for Social Impact hope the findings will inform not only philanthropic practice but also policy, education, and public discourse. Whether through a formal foundation, a crowdfunding campaign, or support for a neighbour in need, every story and perspective matters.
Women from all backgrounds are invited to participate by sharing their experiences and perspectives on giving here .
[i] Foodbank Hunger Report 2024 - Foodbank Reports
[ii] Davidson, P; Bradbury, B; and Wong, M (2022) Poverty in Australia 2022: A snapshot . Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and UNSW Sydney.
[iii] Mcgregor-Lowndes, Myles, Balczun, Marie, & Williamson, Alexandra (2024), An Examination of Tax-Deductible Donations Made by Individual Australian Taxpayers in 2021-22: ACPNS Working Paper No. 78. The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS), QUT, Brisbane
[iv] Refers to the results of a media monitoring search for Australian news items during FY23-24 on philanthropists across print, online and broadcast news sources using Meltwater, published in Behind She Gives (2024)
[v] JBWere, Growth of Women and Wealth (2024)