What if one of the greatest opportunities for transformative philanthropy has been hiding in plain sight? Explore 6 ways advisors can guide clients toward investing in gender justice.
At 17, Dulce remembers the exact moment her thinking changed. At her old school, lessons were “copy and paste.” Then, she arrived at MAIA and something shifted. “My brain expanded,” she says. “My way of thinking became much more critical.” Raised by a mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her family, Dulce carries forward a legacy of perseverance as she prepares to become the first in her family to attend college.
As Dulce’s story shows, when women and girls have access to opportunity, the impact extends far beyond a single individual. It can reshape family trajectories, expand economic opportunity and strengthen communities for generations to come. Giving to projects that support women and girls have also been shown to strengthen a range of different causes including climate action, economic growth, health and education.
Imagine the progress the world could make if every girl had the opportunity to learn, lead and shape her own future. And yet, despite this proven ripple effect, gender-focused philanthropy receives only 2% of philanthropic giving.
For wealth advisors, helping clients support women and girls can be a powerful way to translate deeply held values into lasting social change.
Frame gender justice as one of philanthropy’s most powerful long-term investments. Clients understand that smart investments have compounding benefits, and this is our sector’s version. Supporting women and girls creates ripple effects across education, health, and economic opportunity, helping to strengthen communities around the world.
Case studies of women-led change help translate abstract metrics into tangible outcomes that resonate across generations in family wealth conversations. A story of a girl who becomes the first in her community to finish school can be as powerful for legacy planning as a story of wealth creation, because it reframes abundance as something shared and far-reaching, rather than individual. Advisors can share these stories to spark more values-based conversations with clients. Here’s an example from one of our partners:
Donations made through GlobalGiving helped Sahar Education support women in Kabul to rebuild their independence and confidence through the Threads of Hope program. For many, it marked the first time they were able to earn an income and support their families.
As one participant, Habiba, put it:
“Now I believe education is power.”
GlobalGiving’s nonprofit partners are currently fundraising for more than 1,400 projects advancing gender justice, with stories like Sahar Education’s work in Kabul showing the tangible impact donor support can have for women and girls. You can browse more examples in GlobalGiving’s Learn Library, including this story on women and girls breaking barriers through education and economic opportunity.
For clients that have shown interest in impact investing, giving to women and girls can reflect many of the same principles. Both take a strategic, outcomes-oriented approach focused on lasting systems change rather than short-term relief. For advisors, framing support for women and girls as investment in community wellbeing can help clients see how their giving generates measurable social returns.
For clients familiar with environmental, social and governance standards (ESG), gender-focused philanthropy may feel like a natural extension of values they already apply to their investment decisions. In the same way, established frameworks such as the 2X Criteria have helped build broader recognition of investing in women’s economic participation and leadership.
Through GlobalGiving, advisors can apply similar principles philanthropically by connecting clients with community-led organizations advancing gender justice around the world.
For clients who want to support broader movements for change, pooled funds can be an effective option. Much like a mutual or index fund, they allow donors to support a diverse group of organizations working toward a shared goal rather than concentrating on a single organization or geography.
Funding decisions are guided by people with deep expertise and close connections to the communities they serve, helping direct resources where they are needed most.
The GlobalGiving Girl Fund is our version of this! The fund pools donations to support a portfolio of community-led organizations advancing gender justice around the world.
For clients who care deeply about legacy, supporting women and girls is a powerful way to create change that extends across families and communities for generations. It’s also an area that resonates strongly with younger generations, many of whom increasingly value social justice alongside traditional wealth stewardship. Advisors can use this shared commitment to foster meaningful conversations across generations.
Clients don’t have to choose between supporting global issues or focusing closer to home. Local progress drives global change, and advisors can help clients pair global and local investments, making the impact both personal and scalable. Flexible vehicles enable clients to support themes or geographies that matter to them while sustaining local progress. This dual approach resonates with clients who want their giving to reflect both their roots and their wider worldview.
By drawing these strands together, advisors can help clients see how supporting women and girls weaves personal values into lasting change, from local communities to global impact.
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