This year's International Women's Day theme, 'Give To Gain', emphasises the mutual benefits of generosity - a concept that fits well with the world of philanthropy. As wealth advisers working with private clients, we are witnessing a shift in who gives, how they give and why they give – with women increasingly at the heart of this evolution. In this article, produced in collaboration with CAF, we explore the role of women in philanthropy.
Research from CAF’s UK Giving Report 2025 reveals that women are already engaged givers: 87% of women participated in charitable or civic activities in 2025, compared to the population average of 83%. However, the more striking finding comes from CAF’s recent High Value Giving Report. While the UK's high-net-worth population is predominantly male (81% men vs 19% women), women are significantly over-represented among the most generous donors. Remarkably, 29% of the top 10% of donors (by proportion of wealth donated) are women. Women are also more than twice as likely to have inherited their wealth.
This finding carries interesting implications as we approach what commentators have termed the "Great Wealth Transfer". CAF estimates that £5.5 trillion is expected to pass between generations by 2050 in the UK – the largest wealth transfer in history. Notably, wealth is expected to shift not only from older to younger generations but also, for the first time on this scale, increasingly towards women.
So what does this mean for philanthropy? If women who inherit wealth remain amongst the most generous donors, charitable giving patterns may shift significantly. CAF's research suggests that the next generation of donors will be the most significant in history, and with more women among them, the landscape of giving could be transformed.
Beyond simply giving more as a proportion of their wealth, women tend to approach philanthropy differently - embodying the 'Give To Gain' ethos. Research suggests women take a more considered approach to their giving, investing time in researching causes and evaluating impact. Women are also drawn to collaborative forms of giving, such as giving circles – groups where members pool their resources and make collective decisions about where to direct their contributions. This approach reflects a broader trend: women often seem to view philanthropy as a social activity, valuing shared decision-making and recognising that giving enriches both the giver and the recipient.
For advisers working with wealthy clients, these trends present a valuable opportunity to facilitate meaningful conversations about giving. CAF's Philanthropy Advantage report found that 86% of high-net-worth individuals give to charity, compared to 50% of the general public, and for many it is an important part of their lives. CAF also found that 93% of high-net-worth individuals who discussed philanthropy with their advisers found it beneficial, and 76% of those who had not yet had such a conversation would be open to their adviser raising it. Yet most advisers say the topic rarely or never comes up – missing an opportunity to strengthen relationships with clients and help donors achieve greater impact with their charitable contributions.
As more women come into wealth through inheritance, entrepreneurship and career advancement, the philanthropic sector stands to benefit enormously. CAF's High Value Giving report estimates that high-net-worth individuals in the UK already donate around £8 billion annually to good causes. If female wealth holders increase in number and maintain similar patterns, the effect on charitable giving could be substantial. CAF calculates that if all high-net-worth individuals donated just 1% of their investable assets, they would collectively give £19.9 billion annually - an extra £12 billion for charities. The message from the data is therefore clear: women give generously, and more women are about to have more to give. In the spirit of International Women's Day 2026, we recognise this encouraging insight - that when women give, everyone gains.
