Giving to women and girls’ causes is gaining prominence in the philanthropic sector, particularly amongst younger generations, but the pathways for advisers and their clients aren’t always easy to navigate, demonstrating the need to forge pathways to effective gender justice giving.

Extensive evidence shows that investing in women and girls generates wide-ranging social returns, from improved education and greater climate resilience, to stronger health systems and increased economic returns. Yet gender justice work receives only 2 per-cent of philanthropic funding.

This disparity reflects a philanthropic landscape where the case for gender-focused giving is strong, interest is growing, yet the practical pathways for action can still feel unclear.

Advisers and their clients are navigating an increasingly complex set of choices, and gender-focused giving can serve as a powerful guide in that process. Its multiplier effect across a range of social, economic and environmental causes offers a clear, evidence-driven example of how strategic philanthropy can generate wide-ranging, long-term impact.

Gender Justice Giving: The Power of Community-Led Change in Strategic Philanthropy

Communities are closest to both the challenges and the most appropriate solutions. They understand local contexts, cultures and daily realities that shape people’s lives, which makes community-led organisations well placed to design interventions that work. The shift toward strategic, outcomes-driven gender justice giving can enable community-led change.

This is particularly evident in work supporting women and girls and efforts that promote gender justice. When community-led organisations address the specific barriers to gender equity, the impact is deeper and extends well beyond the boundaries of any single gender justice giving programme.

GlobalGiving’s partner Sahar Education demonstrates this through its ‘Threads of Hope’ centres in Kabul. Rooted in gender justice and shaped by local insight, the programme brings together literacy classes, vocational training, health education and safe community spaces. The results unfold across multiple areas. Women gain economic independence, improved wellbeing, stronger household stability and greater civic confidence.

In addition, as household income rises, children stay in school; as women share health knowledge, family wellbeing improves; as confidence grows, women take a more active role in community decision-making.

Read the full article about gender justice funding by Howard Wheeldon and Kristen Grabenstein at Alliance Magazine.