This increasingly vital role of women in philanthropy is being tracked and studied by several major universities and research centers including by not limited to: the University of Michigan, UCLA, and Indiana University. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has funded a program since 1997 called the Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI) "to help women understand their full potential and capabilities as financial donors, and to inspire women to fulfill their philanthropic potential." WPI lists the following as reasons that motivate women to give:

• Create: Women want to create new solutions to problems. Women like to be entrepreneurial with their philanthropy.
• Change: Women give to make a difference. Women are less interested in providing unrestricted support to preserve the status quo of an organization or institution.
• Connect: Women prefer to see the human face their gift affects. Women want to build a partnership with people connected with the project they fund.
• Commit: Women commit to organizations and institutions whose vision they share. Women often give to the organization for which they have volunteered.
• Collaborate: Women prefer to work with others as part of a larger effort. Women seek to avoid duplication, competition, and waste.
• Celebrate: Women seek to celebrate their accomplishments, have fun together, and enjoy the deeper meaning and satisfaction of their philanthropy.
• Control: Women are taking control of their lives, their finances, and their philanthropy.
• Confidence: Women have gained the confidence to become philanthropic leaders.
• Courage: Women have the courage to challenge the old way of doing things and take risks with their giving to bring about change.