Launched in November 2020, Australians Investing in Women (AIIW) is the next evolution of the Australian Women Donors Network. Different name, same objective: to empower giving for a fairer future.

In the realm of philanthropy, amplifying impact requires collaboration and intent. AIIW CEO, Julie Reilly, says that the organisation welcomes all funders to play a part in achieving gender equality.

“The conscious shift towards all Australians and ‘investing’ better aligns with our vision of long-term change, empowerment and transformation,” Reilly explains.

“It also comes from the fundamental belief that it’s not up to women alone to fund the gap in gender equality. We’ve seen already that our new name resonates with the many men who see the power of investing in women and feel included in the mission.”

It’s a point that AIIW Chair, Sam Mostyn, AO is also passionate about. “Removing discrimination and barriers for women and applying a gender lens to our giving to make us a better society is something we should all be prepared to advocate for – men and women,” Mostyn says.

The new AIIW name and tagline are also the embodiment of the organisation’s shift towards a focus on corporate giving, alongside the continuation of its work in private and institutional philanthropy.

In this conversation, Julie Reilly shares her thoughts about the increasing importance of applying a gender lens to giving during the pandemic, the shifts in Australian philanthropic practice and the tools and support available to anyone looking to apply a gender-wise approach to their giving.

Why is applying a gender lens to philanthropic giving so critical to impact?

Julie Reilly: Because programs affect women and men differently, even those that seem gender-neutral often actually exclude or under-serve some people simply because of their gender and can perpetuate existing inequities.

COVID-19 has provided some illustrative lessons in how not applying a gender lens often leaves women at a disadvantage. Early in 2020 when we were told that we could still go to the hairdresser, but only for half an hour, it was blindingly obvious that the different needs of women were not taken into account in that decision. While that may seem trivial in the context of responding to a global pandemic, it was a powerful illustration of the importance of a gender lens and the power of asking some simple questions, for example: How will this impact women? Do they have different needs and circumstances?  What do we need to do differently to ensure they benefit equally?

It’s the same when it comes to funding decisions. By ensuring that granting processes include a requirement for a gender analysis, that funders ask questions to ensure that women’s different needs and circumstances are taken into account, and that the impact of the philanthropic initiative is, where possible, tracked by gender, we can ensure women benefit through a fair share of philanthropic funding. 

A recent study in the US showed that as little as 1.6 per cent of all philanthropic funding went specifically to organisations supporting women and girls. Given enduring gender inequity, that should bother all of us, particularly when we know that women play such a critical role in driving social change.

So many of ACF’s donors are committed to social justice and to a fairer future and we know that gender equity is central to that quest. It makes sense that a gender lens is part of their approach.

How has Australian philanthropic practice changed over the years in relation to gender-wise giving?

There is no question that we have elevated the issue when it comes to giving, and that women and gender feature more prominently in philanthropic thinking and dialogue than was the case a decade ago.

Perpetual, Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation, Reichstein and Trawalla Foundations were among the early adopters and many, like the Fouress Foundation and the Wheelton Foundation, have not only embraced the gender-wise approach but have become champions for women and girls which is great to see. We were particularly thrilled to see Carol Schwartz AO celebrated as Philanthropy Australia’s Leading Philanthropist in 2020 given her longstanding commitment to gender equity across her many interests and particularly through philanthropic giving.

What’s the most frequently asked question you hear in relation to gender-wise philanthropy? 

There are a few – some people ask about the data and, while we have some research indicating that 12 per cent of grants in Australia target women and girls, the lack of gender data is problematic and is an area where our applying gender-wise toolkit will ensure we improve the data. The other key question is: ‘What do you mean by a gender-wise approach?’

My response is always to explain that it’s about asking, ‘How will this impact women? What does it mean for women? Then, what do we need to do?

Some people think a gender-wise approach obliges them to fund 50/50 in every issue and while,  women do make up half the population, equitable funding might suggest in some instances that women would receive more than 50 per cent because they start from so far behind. Being gender-wise means having an intentional focus on women and girls, understanding how an issue affects them and knowing that investing in women will strengthen society for everyone, not just the women themselves given the central role they play in families and communities.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities to progress gender-wise philanthropy?  

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring women’s voices have equal weight at the decision-making table, particularly on the larger philanthropic boards which have traditionally been very male-dominated. I’m pleased to say that the gender balance has improved since we began tracking it and trustees have told me how much it has changed their thinking and understanding of social issues when women are part of the Board discussions.

Still, the lack of robust data continues to be a challenge and we are keen to ensure that philanthropic systems and infrastructure build gender data into grant making systems as part of best practice.

Do you notice a difference in the way younger philanthropists embrace gender-wise giving? Do you anticipate generational shifts?

Yes, we do see that younger philanthropists are more attuned to gender equity as a core value and this came through in my Churchill Fellowship examining strategies to grow gender-based giving. I am however cautious about trusting that time will take care of gender inequality.  We’ve seen how slow the world is to change on these deeply entrenched issues. We need to see our policies, practices and systems include an intentional focus on gender equity if this and future generations of women and girls are to achieve their full potential.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #ChooseToChallenge which seems like a good call to action for Australian funders to consider/challenge the status quo in philanthropic giving?  

I couldn’t agree more, and we have a challenge for the sector: to commit to gender-wise giving, adopt our toolkit and start moving those great intentions into actions that will have a positive impact on their giving. We have a suite of free gender-wise resources to help them put this commitment into action and look forward to welcoming more donors into this growing global movement.

For more information about gender-wise giving, visit the Australians Investing in Women website