Women are shaping philanthropy, and it’s a new era of impact

Women like Melinda French Gates and Mackenzie Scott have become central figures in philanthropy’s landscape, but historically, philanthropy has been dominated by a few wealthy men and institutions that often dictated the direction of social change. Now, women are stepping forward to transform not only the ways in which money is donated, but also how it’s distributed, who it benefits and the goals it seeks to achieve. 

The Global Philanthropy Forum’s ‘Paving the future of philanthropy with bold women at the helm’ session showcased women who are doing this work in profound ways. We heard from Stacey Boyd (Olivela), Yvonne Moore (Moore Philanthropy), Ruby Khan (Private family office), and Amy Dornbush (AtlasDaughters). These speakers highlighted a push toward a diverse, equitable, transparent, reimagined approach to giving, and I believe that this is a direct result of women’s leadership  

These leaders are pushing for greater inclusivity, focusing on long-term sustainability and ensuring that marginalised voices are heard. They’re not only reshaping philanthropy, but challenging norms and creating transformative impact on the ground across the globe. 

The women I met and learned from at this conference have reminded me that, while challenges remain, the tools for creating transformative change are already in our hands. 

I am deeply involved in women’s and girls’ empowerment as Executive director of WomenStrong International, a grantmaking organisation that provides unrestricted funding, organisational strengthening, and peer-to-peer learning to local women-led organisations around the world. To me, the stories shared by the panelists offered blueprints for women to boldly break barriers and lead with impact in a field that has often been dominated by traditional power structures. 

Reimaging philanthropy 

Each speaker brought a unique perspective, but a few common threads wove them together — creativity, collaboration, and community-led power.  

Together, the speakers reinforced the essential principle that donors must hold each other accountable for the values they claim to hold, such as empathy, localisation, and transformation. Philanthropy isn’t only about giving money – it’s also about shifting power, empowering communities, advocating for systemic change, challenging entrenched norms, and investing in bottom-up, community-led approaches. It’s crucial for donors not to lose sight of these core priorities in a sea of good feelings and technical jargon.  

It’s evident to me that the future of philanthropy lies in the hands of women who are not afraid to challenge the status quo, who are innovating, disrupting, and pushing the boundaries of traditional giving and receiving. Countless fearless women such as these around the world have brilliant, effective ideas for solving the global problems at their front doors. Bold philanthropists who have the resources – and hopefully, the vision–can turbocharge their efforts.  

One key takeaway from Yvonne Moore: time is a privilege, and philanthropy is a social justice issue. During this unprecedented moment in time, given the U.S.’s attacks on foreign aid, donors are holding onto their money and waiting for the uncertainty to clear. But this makes it an even more crucial time to move funding in strategic ways and offers an opportunity for those who want to lead. People’s lives are at stake, and now is the time to make big moves, lead with values, and take action. Now more than ever, donors must continue to give, not to pause or pull back. 

Creativity, collaboration, co-investing 

Another powerful insight was that philanthropy can meet this moment in time through creativity, collaboration, and co-investing. Exciting opportunities are evolving, and these collaborations may allow for greater impact than individual giving. They can also foster cross-sector partnerships and enable shared learning and accountability, recognising that complex global challenges require coordinated, multistakeholder efforts. 

In terms of takeaways, the women onstage gave one specific direction that I’d like to highlight: the collective power of donors and civil society for community-driven approaches. 

Providing funding directly to local leaders and organisations shifts focus from paternalistic approaches to the ideas and strategies of communities directly impacted. This shift is critical because it ensures that the people who experience challenges firsthand are the ones driving solutions. This is what we’ve always done at WomenStrong, and we’re thrilled to see others who recognise this clear path forward for donors and organisations alike.  

The call for bold action 

I left this panel with a renewed sense of purpose and urgency about the future of philanthropy. This dynamic, evolving force must be led by people who understand the need for radical change. We are in a pivotal moment in the history of giving, where bold women are not just participants but pioneers, pushing philanthropy to be more equitable, accessible, and effective. 

Real change will require bold actions, compassion, strategic thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Our commitment to justice and inclusivity is key in this unprecedented moment, and we must lean into these qualities as we push forward.  

My plan is to be bold, to be unapologetic about my values, and to lead with my heart. The women I met and learned from at this conference have reminded me that, while challenges remain, the tools for creating transformative change are already in our hands. 

Chisina Kapungu is the executive director of WomenStrong International.