Female donors tend to give from the heart, but it’s still important to involve them intellectually.

By Paul Barbagallo

“Women will say, ‘Don’t spend your money on [a gift]. Put it toward the organization’” Woolbright says. “If you are going to recognize women at giving levels, it has to be something that’s personal and unique.”

Woolbright cites an experience at Hollins, a private, women’s liberal-arts college in Roanoke, VA, where a beloved campus beechtree was struck by lightning. A local artist came out and carved bowls out of the dead wood — a creative way to save the college landmark. The development office gave the bowls to some of its alumni who had given at larger levels.