Giving Back: Women's Entrepreneurial Philanthropy

Abstract

The origin of philanthropy in the United States and itsfinancial impact, the linkages of philanthropy and entrepreneurship, and the role of women in philanthropy are explored. Entrepreneurship traditionally has been considered as a for-profit enterprise. A new form of entrepreneurship has been recognized: creating businesses or organizations for the greater good of a community, region, nation, or the world. Social entrepreneurs use money that they made or inherited to establish organizations from a missionary and visionary posture. Women have had significant but little recognized roles in entrepreneurial philanthropy. Brief biographical sketches are provided of important women philanthropists, including Margaret Sage, Katherine Drexel, Henriette Delile, and Juliette Low. (TNM)

Keywords: History, Females, Philanthropy, Not-for-profit organizations, Social entrepreneurs, Social entrepreneurship