While men used to be the primary targets of nonprofit fundraising initiatives, women are becoming increasingly important contributors, according to a recent article in The New York Times. There are a few reasons for this change. One is that women are working more and taking on high-paying positions. Another is that they are outliving men and responsible for managing funds and philanthropic efforts. Finally, there is the perception that women are typically taught to be more empathetic and altruistic.

A study by the Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University revealed that women of all ages, races and levels of education tend to give more generously, whereas the demographic of men who are powerful donors tend to be more limited, Debra Mesch, director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute, told the Times.

"When you think of philanthropists, you think about Warren Buffett and Andrew Carnegie. You think about all those older white men," said Ms. Mesch.

Yet, there are more women cropping up on the list of influential philanthropists, according to a list compiled by BusinessWeek. Between 2004 and 2008, Marguerite Hoffman, Veronica Atkins, Oprah Winfrey and Shelby White made the list of top American Philanthropists for their giving efforts.

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