Women healthcare philanthropists: Sharing their resources with community healthcare systems

Healthcare philanthropy is one of the sectors of philanthropy that will continue to grow in importance due to the rapidly changing healthcare service industry. The changing landscape of philanthropy and healthcare are challenging development professionals to work in new ways to sustain and increase the philanthropic support for healthcare organizations in the future, especially for community hospitals and healthcare systems.;This dissertation is an examination of women philanthropist in the healthcare. Focusing on women and understanding their philanthropic choices, values and motivations will only gain importance as women control more than half of the wealth in the United States and are expected to end up in charge of the ;The purpose of this study was to examine the motivations and underlying values of women healthcare philanthropists. Specifically, to explore: 1. What is the role of philanthropy in the women's life? 2. What motivated the women to give to healthcare organizations? 3. What are the views of the impact of the current economic and financial environment on healthcare philanthropy?;The framework used in the study was Schervish's (1997) identification model of care, which recognizes philanthropy as a social relationship. Schervish identifies eight motivational factors that are generally applicable to all donors. Five of the eight motivations are grouped in the Identification Model of Care: communities of participation, frameworks of consciousness, direct requests, discretionary resources and models and experiences from one's youth.;Through a phenomenological approach, 15 major women donors were interviewed for a not-for-profit community healthcare organization in the northeastern part of the state of Wisconsin. Six categories were used to analyze the data: defining philanthropy and charity, perceptions of self as philanthropists, influences on philanthropy, motivations to give, philanthropic decision-making, and the future of healthcare philanthropy. Themes emerged within each category giving voice to the women healthcare philanthropist. In addition, evidence and support was found for the five motivating factors of Schervish's (1997) Identification Model of Care.