At the Community Foundation of Howard County, I have the privilege of witnessing women’s philanthropy in action every day.
- I see it in a retired teacher directing gifts from her IRA to sustain the causes she has championed for decades.
- I see it in a business leader cultivating a culture of generosity within her company.
- I see it in a young woman learning about community impact through a family donor-advised fund created by her parents.
And increasingly, the research reflects what we see locally. Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy show that women are more likely to give than men across all income levels and they give a higher percentage of their income. Among high-net-worth donors, the difference is even more striking. Women now control roughly 40% of global wealth, and trillions of dollars are expected to transfer to women over the coming decade.
But what inspires me most isn’t just the data. It’s the way women give.
Women often approach philanthropy collaboratively. They engage deeply. They ask questions. They build relationships. Their giving reflects empathy, lived experience, and a commitment to long-term community well-being. Philanthropy becomes not simply an act of generosity, but an extension of values.
We are honored to partner with women in many ways:
- Some establish donor-advised funds as family philanthropy vehicles – involving children and grandchildren in conversations about impact and stewardship.
- Others create field-of-interest or designated funds to ensure sustained support for causes or organizations that have shaped their lives.
- And for those navigating retirement or major life transitions, we work together to align philanthropic goals with thoughtful financial planning, helping ensure generosity remains both impactful and sustainable.
In Howard County, the Women’s Giving Circle is another powerful pathway for women’s philanthropy.
- The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC), proudly hosted as a field of interest fund of the Foundation, is one of our largest, longest-running, and most active philanthropic funds.
- Over 24 years, WGC has awarded more than $1.3 million in grants, built a $1.3 million endowment, and engaged over 1,800 unique donors. It has become synonymous with women’s philanthropy in our region.
- March is Women’s History Month – a time to pause, celebrate, and reflect on the women who have shaped our community and our world. It’s more than a designation on the calendar. It’s an opportunity to recognize the leaders, visionaries, and everyday changemakers whose generosity continues to move Howard County forward.
- On March 4, the Women’s Giving Circle gathered for its Annual Celebration, The Power of WE: Courageous Philanthropy for Complex Times. The room was filled with energy, purpose, and women across generations recommitting to the belief that when we give together, change happens.
- The evening also marked a beautiful first – the inaugural Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz Women’s Philanthropy Award. Named in honor of Buffy herself – the WGC’s founding Executive Director, original founder, and driving force behind the Circle’s growth for more than two decades – this award celebrates the vision, leadership, and lasting impact that have defined her extraordinary service. There was no more fitting person to receive the first award than the woman whose name it bears. Buffy’s passion and dedication have shaped the WGC’s identity in ways that will endure for generations.
Women’s philanthropy in Howard County is strong. It is organized. It is collaborative. And it continues to grow.
Whether through the Women’s Giving Circle, through establishing a philanthropic fund, or through simply beginning a conversation about impact, there is an open invitation for every woman’s voice and generosity in our community.
Women’s History Month reminds us that bold, generous leadership has always moved the world forward.
I am deeply grateful for the women who have come before us and the women today who are shaping the next chapter of philanthropy in our community. It’s our honor to walk beside each of them.
Let’s keep moving forward – together.