Celebrating Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, and it’s a great time to celebrate the remarkable impact of women on philanthropy in the Gunnison Valley. At CFGV, we are honored to work with women in a variety of distinct roles including:
- Women leading nonprofit organizations that provide essential services for our community like Lana Athey and Heidi Sherratt the current and former directors of Gunnison Tough.
- Women guiding nonprofit strategy as board members. There are hundreds of women serving our communities on boards, including on CFGV’s. Get to know a few CFGV board members by reading interviews of Lisa Rodman and Rose Zealand on our blog.
- Women who generously give to local nonprofits. Sanda Cosentino helped found the Gunnison Area Foundation in 1997 and, with her husband John, has partnered with CFGV in many ways over the years to invest in the causes that are important to them.
- And many, many more!
Women’s growing control over wealth is fueling transformative potential to reshape philanthropy. According to research-based analysis published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, over the next decade, trillions of dollars will transfer to women through inheritance, earnings, and outliving male partners in heterosexual couples.
What’s more, research from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, including Women Give 2024: 20 Years of Gender & Giving Trends, supports what many are seeing firsthand: women are increasingly leading charitable decisions within their families. Sometimes this shift happens gradually—a daughter becomes more involved in conversations about family giving, or a spouse who once deferred decisions begins shaping philanthropic priorities more directly. In other cases, the transition is sudden and deeply personal, such as after the death of a spouse or parent, when a woman assumes sole responsibility for stewarding both financial assets and charitable intent.
You’re likely familiar with high-profile examples such as MacKenzie Scott and Melinda Gates. But the trend is much more widespread than just a few big names. Indeed, women often give more generously, more broadly, and more collaboratively than men. Notably, the ways women approach philanthropy differ significantly from men, especially with respect to motivations such as empathy, personal priorities, and firsthand involvement.
As women step more fully into philanthropic leadership, thoughtful planning can help ensure that their giving remains impactful and sustainable. Here are three ways CFGV can partner with women and families to implement philanthropic intentions:
Creating a family philanthropy vehicle
A donor advised fund (DAF) at CFGV can provide a flexible structure for collaborative giving. Many women choose to involve children or grandchildren as co-advisors, turning grantmaking into an opportunity to share values and learn together about community needs. These funds can be established with tax-efficient assets—such as appreciated stock or other complex assets—helping maximize both impact and stewardship.
Focusing on a cause for the long term
For donors who feel called to support a particular issue—education, healthcare, the arts, emergency assistance, or another area of personal significance—a field-of-interest fund can provide both focus and flexibility. For donors age 70 ½ or older, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to certain types of funds at the community foundation (excluding donor-advised funds) from an IRA may offer an efficient way to support charitable priorities during life. Furthermore, naming a DAF as an IRA beneficiary can extend that support well beyond the donor’s lifetime.
Strengthening a favorite organization
Some women dedicate years of service to a specific nonprofit. In these cases, strategic planning can ensure that commitment endures. Grants can address immediate needs such as staffing or infrastructure, while a designated fund (an eligible recipient of a QCD) can provide dependable annual support for generations to come.
Women’s philanthropy continues to shape the Gunnison Valley in profound ways. Whether leadership transitions happen gradually or through life-changing events, the opportunity to align generosity with long-term purpose is powerful.
As always, CFGV is here for women and here for everyone who loves the Gunnison Valley. It is our honor to support your philanthropy—helping ensure it reflects both enduring legacy and evolving purpose. We look forward to our next conversation!
Simplified Summary
March is Women’s History Month. Women have a big impact on charities in the Gunnison Valley. We are honored to work with women who want to make a difference. Women can hold a wide variety of roles:
- Leading nonprofits
- Serving on boards.
- Donating.
- And many more!
Women are starting to lead giving for their families in new ways. MacKenzie Scott and Melinda French Gates are two examples. Women tend to give more and collaborate more than men do. They also have different reasons for giving and different priorities.
CFGV can help you set up a donor advised fund (DAF) so you can make a tradition of giving in your family. We can also help you invest in an issue that matters to you through a field of interest fund. Or if you feel a connection to a specific nonprofit, we can help you set up a designated fund. These are all ways for you to make a big impact for a long time.
CFGV is grateful to women who care about the Gunnison Valley. We are here to be a partner to anyone who wants to do good. If you would like to give to the Gunnison Valley, let’s talk.
