Who's More Generous: Women or Men?

Women have surpassed men as the biggest givers, usually choosing cash over more complex forms of giving, according to a new study of tax data.

Women outgave men -- perhaps reflecting higher earnings and more independence -- by almost $5 billion in 2005, the latest year for which the Internal Revenue Service included gender information on its gift tax return data.

That's a reversal from 1997, the I.R.S.'s last study of gender, when men greatly outstripped giving by women, said Grant Thornton's National Tax Office, which conducted the study.

Female donors were a lot more generous, reporting that they gave $21.7 billion in gifts in 2005 compared to $16.8 billion for male givers. That was up significantly from a decade ago when women gave $14.7 billion versus men who gave $16.8 billion.

Grant Thornton tabulated the data based on gift tax returns, which taxpayers generally must filed if they give an individual more than the yearly gift tax exemption, which was $11,000 in 2005. Typically such gifts are made to heirs and are not charitable tax deductions.

About 26 percent of men give through trusts, compared with 22 percent of women. Women are more likely to give cash; men gave a larger percentage of stock and partnerships.

by Elizabeth Olson