The Rise of Collective Giving and Its Global Impact

What Makes Women’s Approach To Philanthropy Different?
Why Is Collective Giving On The Rise?
What Case Study Shows Community Transformation In Action?
How Is This Movement Expanding Globally?
What Does The Policy Landscape Look Like?
What Strategic Lessons Can We Learn?
How Can Technology Support This Shift?
What Is the Takeaway?
FAQs

1. What Makes Women’s Approach To Philanthropy Different?

Traditional philanthropy often follows a top-down model: large checks written to established institutions with little donor engagement.

Women-led giving, however, brings distinct characteristics:

Generous Proportionality: Giving larger percentages of assets.
Diversified Impact: Supporting multiple causes rather than concentrating funding.
Relationship-Driven Engagement: Volunteering time and involving families.
Collaborative Preference: Favoring collective models like giving circles.

This approach reimagines philanthropy as a form of democratic participation.

2. Why Is Collective Giving On The Rise?

Since 2017, nearly 4,000 giving circles in the U.S., mostly led by women, have contributed over $3.1 billion — with projections to double in five years.

The impact extends beyond money. Members report higher purpose, stronger civic engagement, and greater agency, showing collective giving builds community as well as distributing funds.

3. What Case Study Shows Community Transformation In Action?

The Women’s Giving Fund in Park City, Utah demonstrates how participatory philanthropy works:

$90,000 to legal services for families.
$30,000 to violence prevention education.
$30,000 to youth mentorship programs.

Beyond funding ($658,000 to date), the innovation is in process: 2,300 members research, debate, and vote together, turning philanthropy into a form of shared decision-making.

4. How Is This Movement Expanding Globally?

This is not just a U.S. phenomenon.

The Women’s Funding Network spans 120+ funds across six continents, channeling $1.4 billion annually into community priorities.
Impact100, one of the earliest giving circle models, now operates worldwide, pooling six-figure community investments.

Globally, women are proving that collective giving can reshape the philanthropic landscape.

5. What Does The Policy Landscape Look Like?

Policy discussions are starting to catch up. For instance, the UN’s Generation Equality Forum has mobilized nearly $40 billion in commitments, encouraging new approaches to investment.

Yet gaps remain. Only 1.8% of U.S. philanthropic funding currently supports organizations focused specifically on women and girls (Women’s Philanthropy Institute, 2023).

This highlights the need for stronger alignment between funding patterns and community priorities.

6. What Strategic Lessons Can We Learn?

Women-led philanthropy models offer lessons for any sector:

Participatory Decision-Making: Broad engagement over top-down allocation.
Relational Accountability: Ongoing feedback between funders and recipients.
Systems Thinking: Addressing interconnected challenges like healthcare, poverty, and education together.
Democratic Capacity Building: Strengthening civic participation skills through collective processes.

7. How Can Technology Support This Shift?

Digital platforms can amplify this movement by:

Enabling giving circles to connect across geographies.
Streamlining voting and decision-making.
Measuring and visualizing impact at scale.

At Uplevyl, we see the intersection of leadership and technology as a way to accelerate these models and expand their reach.

8. What Is the Takeaway?

Women-led philanthropy shows that meaningful change comes not only from funding priorities but also from how decisions are made. When communities design funding models themselves, they embed values of participation, accountability, and long-term resilience.

This shift offers a blueprint not just for philanthropy, but for any sector seeking to move from transactional to transformational impact.

9. FAQs

1. How is women-led philanthropy different from traditional giving models?
Women’s philanthropy redefines the process of giving by emphasizing participation, relationships, and collective decision-making. Unlike traditional top-down philanthropy, women-led models prioritize proportional giving, community collaboration, and direct engagement — making philanthropy more inclusive and community-centered.

2. Why is collective giving becoming a global movement?
Collective giving, often through giving circles, allows individuals to pool resources, debate priorities, and vote on funding decisions. This democratized model is rapidly expanding — with over 4,000 U.S. circles contributing $3.1 billion since 2017. It’s not just about money; it builds civic engagement, leadership, and long-term community connection.

3. What are examples of women-led philanthropy driving real change?
The Women’s Giving Fund in Park City, Utah showcases the power of participatory philanthropy — with over 2,300 members collectively allocating funds to youth mentorship, family legal support, and violence prevention. Globally, networks like Impact100 and the Women’s Funding Network are scaling this collaborative model across continents.

4. How are policy and institutional frameworks supporting women’s philanthropy?
Global initiatives like the UN’s Generation Equality Forum have mobilized over $40 billion in commitments toward gender equity. Yet, only 1.8% of U.S. philanthropic funding currently supports women and girls directly — underscoring the need for policy alignment and funding strategies that reflect community priorities and gender balance.

5. What lessons can organizations learn from women-led philanthropy?
Women’s giving models offer powerful lessons for businesses, nonprofits, and policymakers:

Participatory decision-making: Shared voices shape stronger outcomes.
Relational accountability: Feedback loops sustain trust.
Systems thinking: Addressing social issues as interconnected challenges.
These principles transform philanthropy into a tool for civic renewal and social innovation.

6. How can technology strengthen the impact of collective philanthropy?
Digital tools make collaborative giving more powerful by connecting donors globally, streamlining group decision-making, and tracking measurable outcomes. Platforms like Uplevyl aim to bridge technology and leadership, helping amplify women’s voices, scale giving circles, and make philanthropy more data-driven and inclusive.