Women’s contributions to social good have created a powerful ripple effect, driving lasting change in both the causes they champion and the lives they transform. Many working at Bonterra can trace their volunteerism and charitable efforts to the influence of women they’ve known. But women’s influence on social good is more than anecdotal. While the giving rate has been stuck at 2.5% of GDP in the U.S. for over 50 years, women have been contributing their fair share, despite barriers they’ve faced.
For example, women make an average of 15-42% less than their white male counterparts (depending on race) and yet—single women donate more of their income — and more money on average – than single men. They also share more of the responsibility (46% compared to 35% of men) of passing on philanthropy to their children, according to one recent study. Women make up an estimated 60-75% of the nonprofit workforce in the U.S., despite most of those organizations being led by men.
For Women’s History Month, we want to highlight those women and the nonprofits they continue to impact. Here are four lessons that Bonterrans learned from important women in their lives and how they’re giving in their honor.
1. Lead by example
Clare Conner has an early memory of holding anti-war signs with her mom, Linda, at a protest in Baltimore shortly after 9/11. While Clare wasn’t raised Quaker, she attended a private Quaker school where her mom also worked as a teacher. The family was deeply influenced by the school’s teachings of simplicity, peace, integrity, equality, community, and stewardship. “Volunteering just felt right,” says Clare, customer success manager at Bonterra. “It felt like a duty but not an obligation.” Linda passed away from cancer when Clare was 19, but her legacy of service and perseverance lives on through her children. Clare says her mother taught her to live her life in a way that inspires other people to do the same.
In her honor: Clare likes to support causes her mom would have chosen, like Love in the Trenches, which works to support parents and loved ones of those living with addiction. Clare also honors the work of Cecile Richards by supporting reproductive rights groups like PP of Greater Texas and local abortion funds.
2. Help others against the odds
“Everyone deserves respect,” says Thomas Galambos, data engineer at Bonterra, echoing the words he often heard from his mother, Sarah, as a young person. She was a physician, the first in her family, and Thomas watched her navigate the male-dominated medical field and fight against gender discrimination where she lived in communist Eastern Europe. “She advocated for herself and other women, speaking up against unfair practices and paving the way for more female representation,” he says. “Her resilience and courage in the face of those trials were admirable.”
In her honor: Thomas supports women’s healthcare organizations, like the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, in honor of his mother. “It’s a cause that I believe my mother, as a trailblazing female doctor, would have been deeply passionate about.”
3. Have compassion for others
How do you choose one woman to highlight when you grow up surrounded by women who show you support, love, and patience? Cameron Navarro looks to his partner, Mel, who gave him the gift of life through a kidney donation. Mel continues to impact Cameron’s sense of generosity and patience. “Every vacation we go on, she greets and helps every person experiencing poverty or homelessness, asking if she can get them something at a store or restaurant,” says Cameron, an onboarding consultant at Bonterra. “She knows that it’s better for all if we use our privilege of time off and disposable income to support others as guests in their home.”
In her honor: Cameron likes to support organizations that show love and compassion and celebrate those who are being targeted with hate and violence, like LGBTQ Saves, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Rachel’s Gift, which supports those who are dealing with pregnancy and infant loss.
4. Be a safe place for others
Cat Nunnery, senior director of professional services, reflects on her high school counselor Ms. Mohr as someone who made an impact on her. Cat participated in Ms. Mohr’s club, created to match kids with younger students to form supportive “big brother/big sister” relationships. “She inspired me to help others even when I didn’t feel like I had my own life figured out,” says Cat. She remembers Ms. Mohr’s office as a safe haven for anyone who needed it. “I’m sure she was often tired of us barging in and demanding attention, but she never showed it; she just kept the couch open for us in a judgement-free space.”
In her honor: In an effort to pay forward Ms. Mohr’s kindness and acceptance, Cat supports Jane’s Due Process, which she says is always in need of volunteers for their phone and text hotlines.
Make an impact one person at a time
As women continue to grow their wealth and influence in the economy, their oversized charitable efforts will be an important factor in achieving the vision of 3% by ‘33. At a time when it feels there’s much to be done to create change in our world, it’s encouraging to remember that one person can have long-lasting influence on others and their communities.
Do you remember who first inspired you to give? Donate to the charity of your choice in their honor or #InHerHonor for Women’s History Month to celebrate the efforts of women in the social good space.
