We’re getting new insights from a first of its kind study which examines the intersection of race, gender and giving.

The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, has released Women Give 2019: Gender and Giving Across Communities of Color.

The report further builds upon existing research that examines how women and men give and what motivates them.

Key takeaways:

• Households of all racial groups give, particularly those of high net worth.

• Households across all racial groups give to similar causes, including religious and secular causes.

• Among the general population, all racial groups give to the same top four causes: religion, basic needs, a combination of these and health.

• A donor’s race does not influence their giving when income and other factors are considered. Instead, income and wealth have a stronger effect on giving.

• Single women across racial groups are more likely to give than single men.

• Married couples across racial groups give more than single individuals.

• When it comes to formal volunteering, in the general population across racial groups one in four people volunteer their time.

• Volunteering is higher among high net worth households across racial groups. The highest rates of volunteerism is among Hispanic high net worth households, with more than 60 percent volunteering their time.

• In the general population, single women across racial groups are more likely to volunteer than men, with African-American women and Asian-American women volunteering at some of the highest rates at 28 percent and nearly 32 percent respectively.

Researchers also interviewed several women to gain a deeper understanding of what philanthropy means to them and their motivations.

The report shared, “One of these leaders recognized that her philanthropic work was shaped by her ‘hyper awareness’ to the needs of underserved communities based on the experiences of growing up in her community.”

The report provides a call to action for nonprofits to be thoughtful in engaging with diverse donors and engaging diverse volunteers and ensuring an inclusive culture, as the research shows there are more opportunities to engage communities of color.

“Leaders who develop and implement a specific strategy around diversity and inclusion across the nonprofit sector will build expansive networks that include a wide range of diverse people with different perspectives, and create a menu of opportunities for engagement,” the report shared.

Want more?

Read the full report.