“What makes us happy?”

This question has been posed for centuries, starting with the ancient Greek philosophers and persisting with today’s celebrities, researchers, and the media. Research has shown a link between life satisfaction and physical and emotional health, which spurs us to identify the things that make us happier and healthier.

WPI sought to understand: does the “joy of giving” lead to a happier life? Women Give 2017 is a step forward in understanding what makes us happy. It delves deeply into the connections between happiness and charitable giving, and looks at this relationship through a gender lens.

Women Give 2017 is the eighth in a series of signature research reports conducted at the Women’s Philanthropy Institute that focus on gender differences in giving to charitable organizations.