W O M E N ’ S P H I L A N T H R O P Y I N ST I T U T E

CHARITABLE GIVING & LIFE SATISFACTION:

DOES GENDER MATTER? #womensphilanthropy | @WPIinsights

Women Give 2017 explores the connection between happiness and charitable giving and the

role women play in driving philanthropy.

WHAT WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND:

Does the “joy of giving” affect all individuals and households equally?

Does the impact of giving on overall happiness vary by gender?

WHAT WE LEARNED:

GIVING MAKES US ALL HAPPY. Across marital status, giving to charitable organizations is positively related to a household’s happiness.

SINGLE WOMEN

SINGLE MEN

MARRIED COUPLES

NON-DONOR

DONOR

3.88

HA

PP

INES

S (

1-5

SC

ALE

)

4.02

3.57

3.68

3.47

3.65

SINGLE WOMEN

SINGLE MEN

MARRIED COUPLES

4.0

3.8

3.6

3.4

3.2

3.97

HA

PP

INES

S (

1-5

SC

ALE

)

4.10

3.63

3.75

3.64 3.66

≤ 2% INCOME DONATED

> 2% INCOME DONATED

CHANGES IN GIVING HABITS AFFECT MEN AND WOMEN DIFFERENTLY. For single women and married couples, the more a household gives as a percentage of income, the higher the household’s satisfaction.

4.0

3.8

3.6

3.4

3.2

WIFE HUSBAND SEPARATE

3.92

3.944.04 4.02

4.09

INCREASE IN HAPPINESS

≤ 2% INCOME DONATED 4.17 4.2

2.70% 0.52%> 2% INCOME DONATED

4.0

3.8

3.6 GIVING MEANS Income ≤ $100,000 Income > $100,000 HIGHER SATISFACTION. For households where THIS IMPACT IS GREATER IN LOWER- AND

3.4

HA

PP

INES

S (

1-5

SC

ALE

) WHEN WOMEN DRIVE CHARITABLE DECISIONS, MORE

MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. women influence charitable decisions, For households where charitable decisions are driven

3.2 happiness increases with the percentage of household income given to charity.

by women and more than two percent of their incomes are given to charity, households making less than $100,000 per year experience more of a boost in happiness from giving than those making more.

For the full report visit: https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/womengive

This infographic is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Goodrid Family Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Findings and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official positions or policies of the funders.