On a warm spring afternoon in Toronto recently, Queen鈥檚 welcomed 85 alumni to a Celebrating Women as Philanthropists event. The intent was to spark conversation about what influences women鈥檚 decision-making regarding philanthropy.
Sponsored by TD Canada and hosted by Queen鈥檚 Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Palk, Arts鈥73, the event highlighted a new report from TD Wealth, called 鈥淭ime, Treasure and Talent, Canadian Women and Philanthropy鈥 which was presented by Jo-Anne Ryan, Vice-President, Philanthropic Advisory Services at TD Waterhouse Canada. Among the report鈥檚 sometimes unexpected findings:
- Over the past five years, the number of female donors in Canada has greatly exceeded that of male donors
- Women are more likely than men to research and become engaged with a charity, often through volunteering, before deciding to support it
- Canadian female donors distribute their support to fewer charities but with a larger donation than male donors, so they can have a greater impact
- Affluent women are nearly twice as likely as men to say that charitable giving is the most satisfying part of having wealth
A convergence of women from across the Queen鈥檚 spectrum 鈥 including deans, university leaders, faculty, staff, students, members of the Board of Trustees, University Council, the Grant Hall and Royal Legacy Societies, leaders from the Alumni and Student Alumni Associations and the Ban Righ Foundation 鈥 the audience engaged with each other and with the panelists, who brought a diversity of perspectives and expertise spanning multiple decades.
In a spirited discussion moderated by former Queen鈥檚 staff member Alison Holt, Artsci鈥87, they spoke candidly about their reasons for becoming involved in philanthropy, what it has meant to them, lessons learned, and their vision for the future role of women in this area. Topics ranged from philanthropy in Africa to the importance of good governance, and the trap of the 鈥渃ost per dollar raised鈥 as a criterion for choosing which charities to support.
Amma Bonsu, Artsci鈥03, a winner of the Queen鈥檚 University Alumni Association Humanitarian Award, credited her Ghanian grandmother as an important role model in giving. 鈥淚 have been a huge recipient of others鈥 help,鈥 she said, acknowledging the Ban Righ Centre鈥檚 invaluable support during her years at Queen鈥檚. 鈥淲e are part of a cycle of women giving back. We don鈥檛 need to wait for wealth to come before starting to return the favour.鈥
Noting the increasing percentage of women on charity boards, former Grant Hall Society Chair and Trustee Katie Macmillan, Artsci鈥78, urged audience members to 鈥渟tep forward confidently in leadership positions. We must get past the idea that 鈥榳omen鈥檚 work鈥 is restricted to galas and bake sales,鈥 she said.
Anne Raymond, Sc鈥88, currently V-P of Giving on the QUAA Board, suggested that philanthropy gives people a sense of fulfilment and meaning in their lives which financial success alone may not provide. 鈥淚t can be the way to build a legacy and find real balance.鈥
For Patsy Anderson, Artsci鈥75, a member of the Order of Canada and the recipient of numerous awards recognizing her volunteerism, philanthropy with her husband has 鈥渆nriched our lives unbelievably. We are lucky to have the opportunity to give, and tried to engage our children, when they were younger, in talking about priorities to support,鈥 she said.
