Are women less philanthropic than men?

One of the most pervasive myths in US philanthropy is that women give less to charity than men. Although there is no specific source that explicitly states that India’s female givers give less, there are sources that may inadvertently under-represent women’s contributions to philanthropy. For example, the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List, an oft-cited source that estimates total philanthropic giving among India’s wealthiest individuals, typically spotlights male givers. More women, deploying more capital and expertise It is entirely reasonable that the data on women’s low participation in the work force, their under-representation among India’s wealth-generating entrepreneurs, as well as the media’s almost-exclusive focus on the country’s top-ranked male givers, would lead us to conclude that when it comes to philanthropy, men matter most, by far. “Contrary to popular perception,” concludes Pushpa Sundar, the paper’s author, “women’s philanthropy has deep roots in India, and women have made significant contributions to social progress, even outside the formal power and profit structure.” Women’s philanthropy has deep roots in India, and women have made significant contributions to social progress Today, several women are very much among the leaders of India’s philanthropic ecosystem.