There was a time when philanthropy was mostly the purview of men.

But as women have gained financial clout - both in earning power and in controlling family finances - nonprofits are paying more attention to how to harness their charitable giving.

That's one of the reasons why the Women's Giving Alliance has grown into one of Jacksonville's major funding sources for groups that work to improve the lives of girls and women in the city. If its annual meeting on Wednesday was any indication, the alliance is on the leading edge of a growing trend.

The Women's Giving Alliance, which is an initiative of the Community Foundation in Jacksonville, is a national leader, said Sondra Shaw-Hardy, an expert in the field who has helped start similar giving circles around the country.

Why? They researched the community before making priorities, and have done plenty of education with members about philanthropy, said Shaw-Hardy, who spoke to the group.

Working together, they can have a greater strategic impact on improving the lives of women and girls in need, said Barbara Harrell, president of the alliance, which has made nearly $2.5 million in grants over the last eight years.

Overall, women's financial decisions are having a greater impact both philanthropically and otherwise.

With more women working full-time - and with fewer women than men being laid off during the most recent recession - their earning power is greater than before. And they have more decision-making responsibility. A 2008 Pew Research study found that among couples, 43 percent said the woman made decisions in more areas than the man, whereas a quarter said men make more decisions, and 31 percent said decision-making was split equally.

Becoming a member of the Women's Giving Alliance requires a $1,500 annual gift, and its members are also encouraged to volunteer.

Many of the women are accomplished in their field of business, said Shereth Coble, who is in her third year with the group.

"They bring those skills to the table," she said. Like many of the women she has met through the group, Coble said, she likes it because they can be sure that each dollar donated is used effectively.

"It's not haphazard," she said.

Despite the downturn in the economy, the alliance has held steady this year, Harrell said. Since starting in 2001 with 163 members, it has grown to 225 today.

It all leads to new horizons for charities, especially those who focus on girls and women.

Among them is the Reed Educational Campus, a home away from home for pre-teen girls in the Royal Terrace neighborhood. It's open every day after school, and the girls who attend get math, science and reading lessons with certified teachers, as well as cooking and art classes, gardening, computer training, Spanish classes, health instruction and physical activities.

A mental-health counselor, whom the girls call "The Listener," is always there to talk. They also learn public speaking and do volunteer work.

The holistic approach was one that the program's director, Gertrude Peele, knew was necessary to help lift girls out of neighborhoods troubled by poverty and violence.

It also resonated with grantmakers at the alliance, which focuses on four fields of interest: public educa
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