December 9, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
Do men and women give to different types of causes?
It turns out that women are just as likely, if not more likely, as men to give to every kind of cause, according to a study released this week.
But some charities do have an edge when it comes to seeking gifts from women. The largest gender difference the study found was in church giving: A third of women said they were more likely to support religious institutions over other causes, while only a quarter of men shared that view.
In addition, women are significantly more likely than men to give to groups that work overseas, to community groups, for health-care related causes, and to youth and family services.
The new study, conducted by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, follows another research effort using the same data; its results, released in October, found that for the most part, women give more than men.
Debra Mesch, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute and the lead researcher, said previous studies suggested “that men and women give differently, and they give to different causes.” But she says her research found that was not the case. “It seems they’re as likely or more likely to give in every charitable sector as male-headed households.”
Following are breakdowns showing the share of women who said they were likely to give to each cause, compared with men.
