Inside Philanthropy recently released its list of the 15 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy, a roster of some of the most formidable female leaders in America. You already know that women are just as innovative and influential in the realm of philanthropy as their male counterparts, right? Even still, it’s always great to be reminded that just because they’re not necessarily making headlines as often, the following women are changing our world for the better.
The list of the 15 most powerful women in U.S. philanthropy is as follows:
- Melinda Gates
- Susan Buffett
- Patricia Harris
- Marilyn Simons
- Susan Dell
- Pam Omidyar
- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey
- Jennifer Buffett
- Carol Larsen
- Laurene Powell Jobs
- Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen
- Laura Arnold
- Priscilla Chan
- Margaret Cargill
- Cathy Catalyst
According to David Callahan, who spearheaded the formation of this list, “Women are a fast-rising force in philanthropy. More women are making their own fortunes than ever before and women are also exercising growing leadership in family philanthropy, shaping how wealth made by spouses or earlier generations is given away,” he says. Additionally, women are often top networkers and innovators of modern philanthropy.
Women who made this list of powerful female philanthropists had to meet the following criteria: “(A) She directly, or jointly, controls a boatload of money, or strongly influence how a huge fortune is used; (B) She’s actively deploying that money for philanthropic ends in a hands-on way; and (C) She’s having an impact with her philanthropy, either directly or through her ideas and the example she sets, or both.” Given such a strong list of inspiring women, I think it’s safe to say that many of them possess all three of these categories, and are not only making the world a better place because of their fiscal generosity, but because of how they inspire others to follow suit.
Learn more about these women and what it means to be a “powerful philanthropist” by visiting www.insidephilanthropy.com.