Men and women are just different.

Pretty tough to argue that. But the Kansas University Endowment Association took that basic notion and made use of it by creating an organization of women philanthropists who are interested in KU.

“It’s not a program or a club,” says the Endowment Association’s Judy Wright, who leads a steering committee of the group that was formed four years ago. “It’s an initiative. The point is to get women more involved through programming and to offer opportunities for leadership on campus.”

Wright said that the group, Women Philanthropists for KU, was part of a national trend to reach out to women who want to be philanthropically involved. The effort tries to interact with women the way they want.

“We know that, generally, women like to get more involved with causes or programs they want to support,” she said. “Men say, ‘It sounds great; here’s some money.’ Women say, ‘It sounds great; how can I be of service?'”

Deanell Reece Tacha of Lawrence, a federal judge and one of the organization’s two co-chairwomen, said women are often looking for causes to support that focus more on children’s issues and on health care. Both Tacha and Wright were quick to add, though, that women often choose to give to the same causes as men. Athletics and the sciences are also popular causes for women philanthropists.

Generally, the group tries to hold programs every year that will connect women who are interested in KU with others, as well as with the university. The group’s first program this year is scheduled for Sept. 7, and will be a luncheon with Margaret May Damen, who leads a group that focuses on the creation of wealth by women. Tensie Oldfather and Polly Bales, who have long been associated with philanthropy in Lawrence, will also address the group.

Tacha said the difference that women have made in this community is remarkable.

“It’s not a new phenomenon,” Tacha said. “It’s a phenomenon that in this community has been around for a long time.”

Elizabeth Miller Watkins left the vast majority of her sizable estate to the university a number of years ago.

The proof of that is all around. There’s the Watkins Community Museum of History downtown, and Kansas University has the Watkins and Miller scholarship halls, Watkins Memorial Hospital and even the Outlook, her former home where the chancellor resides.

Other programs have included introducing women to the Audio Reader program as well as visiting the new Lifespan Institute at the Kansas University Medical Center.

“I had women come up to me after the Audio Reader program and ask me how they didn’t know it even existed,” Wright said. “I suspect many of those women are still volunteering there today.”

Another important service the group provides is a fund administered by the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center that provides grants to female undergraduate seniors and graduate students to help advance their professional careers.

Wright said that if a woman needs to travel for an interview or needs money or a new suit, there’s a fund that will help them with the costs.

“And that was driven by interest by our women,” Wright said. “And it’s not a fund we do fundraising for. It’s funded entirely through this organization.”

Wright said the 33 women on the advisory board, with their spouses if married, have donated more than $6 million to the university since the program was founded. While it would be impossible to say how much they would have donated without the program, Wright thought the program had probably influenced their decisions.

Beverly Smith Billings, another member of the group’s advisory board, said the group has truly evolved in its four years.

“It’s provided wonderful educational and informational opportunities for many KU alums,” she said.

More importantly, according to Tacha, the group has become a source of wonderful friendships.

“It’s so energizing to be with a group of women who are so committed to philanthropy, all KU women,” she said. “What they can accomplish for the university and community as individuals is impressive, but having that mutual support is even better.”