The seeds from which the Women's Philanthropy Institute grew germinated in 1991 when Sondra Shaw Hardy and Martha Taylor established the National Network of Women as Philanthropists (NNWP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. NNWP served as a clearinghouse of information on women's philanthropy. NNWP changed its name to the Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI) and became incorporated as a free-standing nonprofit in 1997. The Women's Philanthropy Institute became part of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University in January 2004.
The Women's Philanthropy Institute provides education, training, and research, and acts as a convener for symposiums on women's philanthropy. WPI's vision is to be the preeminent center for the study and education about women's philanthropy. WPI offers a continuum of research-based educational services to inform donors, fundraisers, institutions, and other constituencies about the transformative role of women's philanthropy.
The Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University also plays an important role in translational research: taking knowledge generated from scientific inquiry and rigorous quantitative and qualitative scholarship and transforming it into best practices and strategic solutions.
Additionally, the WPI convenes an annual symposium which provides an overview of the evolving, versatile women's philanthropy field.
Mission Statement - The Women's Philanthropy Institute furthers the understanding of women's philanthropy through research, education, and knowledge dissemination.
For more information, please visit the Women's Philanthropy Institute website.
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