AFP Conference Roundup: Understanding, Engaging and Cultivating Women as Donors

To determine organizational readiness and capacity for cultivating women, Carpenter suggested rating your organization on a scale of one to 10 regarding the level at which it:

• knows the facts about women, wealth and giving;
• has a way of identifying women donors;
• has an analysis of women's giving over the last five years;
• knows the role women play in gifts from couples;
• acknowledges women donors accurately;
• includes women in standard development practices;
• promotes women in philanthropy;
• uses vacancies on the board of directors and volunteer committees to enhance relationships with women;
• asks women to give; and
• teaches staff how to communicate effectively with women.

The three steps to getting your organization ready to understand this target group are: