REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT ‘REALISING THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY’
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT ‘REALISING THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY’ SYMPOSIUM
Dia dhíbh a chairde, tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo i bhur measc inniu. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht bhur bhfáilte chaoin agus cneasta. My thanks in particular to Jackie Harrison – one of the many women making a vital contribution to the promotion of philanthropy - for inviting me to this symposium.
Today’s theme focuses on realising the power and potential of women in philanthropy. The past century has been one of revealing the power and potential of women in many spheres from which they were excluded by a toxic amalgam of cultural norms, stereotypes, laws and attitudes. We have not yet reached the one hundred year anniversary of achieving the right of women to vote. We have just passed the one hundred year anniversary of the admission of women to Trinity College. Ninety years ago Cambridge University was still arguing about whether to let female undergraduates attend University lectures. The restriction of women to the domestic sphere, the strong antipathy at the highest levels to their full access to education, had a colossal braking effect on the achievement and influence levels of women in many spheres, in business, in the arts, in politics and in religion. The opportunity for women to themselves make the kind of money which can fund serious philanthropy was very limited – mostly limited to money made by their husbands or fathers, though there are numerous examples among the foundresses of religious orders of wealthy women who dedicated themselves to the service of the poor, the education, health and welfare of the marginalized and in particular to the education of women. They were in many ways the first and the noblest of Irish women philanthropists.
They lived in and transcended the dark days of oppression of women. Those days are fast disappearing. The equality agenda which is still far from complete is nonetheless radically altering the contributions made by women to almost every sphere of life in Ireland, among them philanthropy for now independent, educated and high-achieving women are considerably less rare than they were a couple of generations ago and the scene is set for the emergence of more and more women in a position financially to chose a civic leadership role through philanthropy. I had the pleasure last year of presenting a Philanthropist of the Year Award to one of the speakers here today, Chantel McCabe. This emerging constituency offers us the opportunity to become much more astute and effective problem solvers by harnessing the might of what would otherwise be fragmented resources and creating a new source of power and influence.
Just look at the successful role of the philanthropists among Ireland’s global family. Their work has been crucially important to the Peace Process – in helping estranged communities to engage in shared projects with seed-funding and through their experience of working together to build platforms of shared memory, enhanced mutual understanding and reconciliation. Foremost among those philanthropists is of course the legendary Loretta Brennan Glucksman who sets the gold standard for Irish female philanthropy.
Women’s talents are for the first time, infusing many areas of 21st century life. As more and more women move into positions of leadership and authority, they will play an increasingly prominent role as philanthropic funders and it is very heartening to learn of the establishment of the new Irish Women’s Fund, which will enable women philanthropists to target their support to causes that directly affect women and girls. These include issues such as poverty, violence, the challenges facing single parents and carers, domestic violence, trafficking and prostitution, as well as issues such as literacy and women in the arts; all fields where women can make a real difference to the day to day lives of other women and girls in our communities. Philanthropists are also particularly well placed to identify and support pioneering social entrepreneurs, taking risks on new, as yet, unproven models which have the potential to make a real impact on the target community. This flexibility and independence are critical in making philanthropic foundations effective in complementing broader government activity.
It is said that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
There is an abundance of giving in Ireland. We don’t call it philanthropy generally but we have a culture of individual and collective generosity that is second to none in the world. It is visible in the tapestry of care provided through the Irish community and voluntary sector’s work at home and abroad. It has developed year after year, thanks to well-cultivated relationships with local business, local communities, local and central government and philanthropic funding organizations and individuals. The more such organizations and individuals there are the more effective will be the efforts to “cherish all the children of the nation equally”- that is to give everyone - as the Australians would say “a fair go.”
Philanthropy is about strengthening civic society and enhancing the experience of living within civic society. It is about putting the power of planning into giving. It urges us to greater professionalism and coherence without compromising the generous heart, the solidarity and sense of responsibility which underpins philanthropic giving.
Fostering a climate of greater and more structured giving in these uncertain times calls I know for a lot of courage, for inevitably the world of corporate donations has been hit by financial constraints just as individuals are hurting in their pockets too. But what is interesting and reassuring is the extent to which the culture of giving has shown a resilience and robustness that justifies doing what you are doing – laying careful foundations now so that a dynamic culture of philanthropy becomes enmeshed in the fabric of tomorrow’s Ireland.
Philanthropy Ireland and the Community Foundation for Ireland are both working towards that goal and today’s discussions will make important progress in addressing that special constituency of private philanthropy by women. If that one flourishes you can be sure that Ireland will also be flourishing.
I would like to congratulate all involved in today’s very worthwhile forum and I wish you continued success in your dedicated and worthwhile efforts. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.