HOW POLICY CIRLCE MEMBER TERRA SEIDEL IS ADVANCING NATIONAL RESEARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Women shape communities every day through their leadership, service, and generosity. Yet too often, their stories and impact go unseen and unmeasured.
Policy Circle member Terra Seidel is working to change that.
A seasoned nonprofit leader and philanthropy professional, Terra holds a Master’s in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Now pursuing her doctorate, Terra is partnering with Women Doing Well and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University to lead the national research study, “Women, Wealth, and Faith,” which explores how Christian women give, volunteer, and lead and how faith shapes their civic engagement.
She’s inviting The Policy Circle community to add their voices. The survey is open through December 8, 2025.
Take the Survey: Women are invited to participate. Men are encouraged to share the survey with the women in their lives.
A CALLING ROOTED IN WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY
Terra’s journey in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector spans two decades, serving organizations such as the Educational Media Foundation and the National Christian Foundation. As she observed women’s invisible but meaningful acts of generosity – time spent, volunteering done, gifts given – she recognized that many of these contributions were not captured in conventional philanthropy metrics.
“Women’s generosity shows up in so many ways that aren’t captured on end-of-year tax receipts,” Terra shared. “I wanted to make sure women’s gifts of time, leadership, encouragement, and financial support are truly recognized.”
As the wealth landscape evolves, women increasingly become creators and inheritors of wealth. Terra saw an urgent need to revisit foundational research initially done through “Directions in Women’s Giving” by Women Doing Well in 2012. “So much has changed,” she said. “Back then, online giving didn’t exist. Today, it’s central. And with the massive transfer of wealth underway, women are becoming creators and inheritors of wealth at unprecedented levels. The time to understand this moment is now.”
A STUDY BUILT IN COLLABORATION
Terra brought together a coalition of ministries, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners to help shape the study. She chose to conduct the research through the Lake Institute to ensure academic rigor and the ability for the findings to be replicated and expanded in the future.
“This is only the beginning,” she said. “My hope is that researchers and leaders in other faith traditions will build on this work. Women’s generosity deserves to be fully seen.”
DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE POLICY CIRCLE’S FAITH & CIVIC LIFE INITIATIVE
The Policy Circle’s Faith & Civic Life Initiative, which launched in Fall 2024, offers a meaningful anchor point for Terra’s work. That initiative was framed around the idea that faith communities and civic engagement are deeply intertwined. Yet, faith is too often missing from conversations about public policy, leadership, and community building. The associated Faith and Civic Life Brief provides historical context, data, and practical steps for strengthening civic life through faith-connected institutions.
Terra’s focus on Christian women’s philanthropy and how faith shapes giving, volunteering, and leadership aligns with the Initiative’s emphasis on the “unique position” faith-based institutions have to address local problems.
Terra shared, “When I saw The Policy Circle’s Faith & Civic Life Initiative, I thought: here’s a place that recognizes faith as a meaningful part of civic leadership. That really resonated with me.”
The survey Terra is championing acts as a practical next step: providing real stories and data that extend The Policy Circle Brief’s findings into actionable insights for women’s leadership and civic engagement.
ALIGNED WITH THE POLICY CIRCLE’S FAITH & CIVIC LIFE INITIATIVE
This research aligns closely with The Policy Circle’s Faith and Civic Life Initiative. The Initiative examines the ways faith communities enhance civic life and how women exercise leadership within these communities.
The Faith and Civic Life Brief highlights how:
- Faith-based institutions play a crucial role in strengthening trust and civic participation
- Women are central to the health and leadership of these institutions
- Declines in faith affiliation affect civic engagement and community well-being
WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS
“So many women wonder if their giving or volunteering counts,” Terra shared. “This study is about showing women that they are not alone. They are part of a powerful movement of generosity that strengthens communities across the country.”
Policy Circle members have a unique opportunity to contribute to this national research effort.
PARTICIPATE BY DECEMBER 8TH
Women in The Policy Circle community are invited to add their voice before the survey closes.
Take the survey before it closes on December 8.
Your participation helps tell the full story of women’s generosity, leadership, and civic engagement.
