At the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation, we have the privilege of working alongside women at every stage of life:
And so many more.
Across generations, women are stepping more fully into philanthropic leadership. Research published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review notes that trillions of dollars will transfer to women over the next decade through inheritance, earnings, and longevity. At the same time, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy confirms what we see locally every day. Women are increasingly guiding charitable decisions within their families, often navigating both the financial and emotional responsibility of stewarding family values.
But leadership in philanthropy is not measured only in financial terms.
Across generations, women are shaping impact through service, mentorship, advocacy, and example. They serve on nonprofit boards. They organize community events. They volunteer in classrooms, shelters, and food pantries. They model generosity for their children and grandchildren long before those children ever sit at a grantmaking table.
Often, a young adult’s first understanding of philanthropy comes not from a financial conversation, but from watching a mother or grandmother show up consistently for a cause.
That is impact across generations.
As women shape the future of giving, their generosity takes many forms, from volunteer leadership to long-term charitable commitments. The community foundation is proud to walk alongside women and families as that impact grows.
Here are three ways we commonly support their philanthropic vision.
For many women, philanthropy becomes a way to involve the next generation in something meaningful.
Sometimes that learning happens in simple, practical ways. A grandmother brings her grandchild to volunteer at a food pantry. A mother invites her teenager to help research local nonprofits before making a year-end gift. A family discusses which causes matter most as they review their charitable giving for the year.
Over time, those moments shape how children and grandchildren understand generosity. They begin to see that giving is not just about money. It is about paying attention to community needs and choosing to respond.
Some families choose to take that one step further by creating a donor-advised fund at the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation. A donor-advised fund is a charitable account established with an initial gift. The assets are invested for potential growth, and the family can recommend grants to nonprofits over time. Many women invite children or grandchildren to serve as co-advisors, helping research organizations, discuss priorities, and recommend grants together.
There can also be financial advantages. Contributions are generally tax deductible in the year they are made, and gifts of appreciated assets, such as stock, can help maximize charitable impact while avoiding capital gains taxes. Families can give in one year and distribute grants gradually, allowing generosity to be both intentional and sustained.
Whether through shared volunteer experiences, thoughtful conversations, or a structured giving fund, the goal is the same: to make generosity part of the family’s identity and to pass along not just resources, but values.
Many women feel deeply connected to a particular cause. Sometimes that connection grows from personal experience. Sometimes it reflects a lifelong passion or a value passed down through family.
As Reagan DeLattre, a volunteer with Common Roots, shared:
“Being part of Common Roots has given me a new sense of agency in Meadville. I’ve found my voice and the ability to make an impact for the community and the people I love. I feel honored to stand alongside volunteers with exceptional skill, heart, and work ethic, each passionate about improving Meadville. I love being able to make a difference while building relationships with incredible people.”
Her experience reflects what often draws women into sustained involvement. A cause becomes personal. It becomes rooted in community, relationships, and shared purpose.
For many, philanthropy is not only about responding to a need today. It is about ensuring that something meaningful continues to thrive for years to come.
An area-of-interest fund allows you to support the type of cause you care about most, rather than a single organization. Instead of selecting one nonprofit each year, you designate the area that matters to you, such as children and youth, the arts, health, education, agriculture, or preservation. Grants are then made to organizations working within that field, allowing your generosity to adapt as needs change over time.
The Bernadene R. and John B. Cooley Fund is one example. Established through Bernadene Cooley’s will, the fund continues to support programs for children and youth in our community. Most recently, a grant from the Cooley Fund supported the Saegertown Area Library Association with the purchase of furniture, technology, toys, and materials to enhance early childhood educational programming.
That is what long-term generosity looks like. A decision made years ago continues to shape learning spaces for children today.
For donors age 70 ½ or older, Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA can be directed to eligible funds at the community foundation, including area-of-interest funds. This can offer a tax-efficient way to support charitable priorities during life. Some women also choose to name a fund as a beneficiary of retirement assets, extending that support even further.
When generosity is anchored in purpose, it builds continuity. It becomes a steady presence in the community, carrying values forward across generations.
Many women begin their philanthropic journey not with a financial decision, but with service.
They volunteer at events. They serve on boards. They mentor youth. They help build programs from the ground up. Over time, their connection to an organization deepens. It becomes personal.
Here in Crawford County, approximately 70 percent of the primary contacts and organizational leaders at local nonprofits are women. They are guiding strategy, supporting staff, raising funds, and responding to real needs in real time. Their leadership carries both responsibility and heart.
Much of the daily work that sustains our community is carried by women.
In many cases, that leadership is paired with long-term vision. Some donors continue supporting their favorite nonprofits through annual gifts that meet immediate needs such as staffing, equipment, or program expansion. Others work alongside nonprofit leadership to establish an organizational endowment, creating a permanent source of support the organization can rely on year after year. An endowment allows generosity to continue even as board members change, staff transitions occur, and community needs evolve.
The Gillian Ford Endowment Fund for Women’s Services is one example. Established through a bequest from Ruby E. Campbell’s estate and later renamed in honor of Gillian Ford’s leadership as Executive Director, the fund provides lasting support for Women’s Services, Inc. and its mission to serve women and children in Crawford County. Today, that endowment helps ensure shelter, counseling, education, and prevention programs remain available to those recovering from crisis.
A decision made years ago continues to provide stability and hope today.
Both forms of generosity matter. One sustains today’s work. The other strengthens tomorrow’s mission.
When women lead, serve, and give in these ways, their impact reaches far beyond a single moment. It strengthens the organizations that hold our community together.
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The community foundation is here to support women, families, and donors at every stage of that journey. It is our honor to help ensure your philanthropy reflects both enduring legacy and evolving purpose. We look forward to the conversation
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