Forbes.com just released a column by Betsy Brill about how women are taking the lead in philanthropy.

Ms. Brill writes that a Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund survey found that women donors were more likely to be public about their gifts than their male counterparts.

Is it because women need their horns tooted more than men? Most likely not. She notes that women probably want to share to inspire others and “imbue a philanthropic spirit.”

We write in The She Spot that women are twice as likely to pass on information than men and that women like to share things with their communities. They may see announcing their gift as a call to action to friends. If NGOs can help tastefully assist these gift announcements they may see a multiplier effect with the initial gift.

She also noted the importance for women to have their children continue their philanthropic giving. One great way to facilitate this is to provide ways for families to give and get involved. This might be an online video game aimed at school-aged children or making sure that fund-raising/friend-raising events are kid friendly. The Humane Society of the United States does this well through a special kid portal and numerous games.

Finally, she notes that despite the stark economic downturn, groups like the Global Fund for Women and the Women’s Funding Network’s Women Moving Millions Campaign have either broken records or exceed fundraising goals in 2009.  She credits this to the momentum in women’s philanthropy.