The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast

Lean foundations make bets on new, creative ideas for addressing social and environmental challenges. Learn how a foundation with one staff person helped tackle the childcare scarcity in Connecticut, by helping build a new incubator model to help women start and grow family childcare businesses. In this two-part Podcast, Kimberley Russo of the Fund for Greater Hartford shares, step-by-step, how the foundation uses its powers to convene, advocate, collaborate, and champion, to help catalyze a new vision and model for solving a critical issue, while building economic opportunity for women. ----more---- Kimberley Russo is Executive Director of The Fund for Greater Hartford. She is a founding member of the Connecticut Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, past board chair of the CT Network for Children and Youth, and a current board member of CT Voices for Children and the CT Council for Philanthropy. Prior to joining the Fund, Kim was with the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, serving most recently in the role of Director of Community Investment.   

Lean foundations make bets on new, creative ideas for addressing social and environmental challenges. Learn how a foundation with one staff person helped tackle the childcare scarcity in Connecticut, by helping build a new incubator model to help women start and grow family childcare businesses. In the 2nd part of her Podcast, Kimberley Russo of the Fund for Greater Hartford shares, step-by-step, how the foundation uses its powers to convene, advocate, collaborate, and champion, to help catalyze a new vision and model for solving a critical issue, while building economic opportunity for women.   ----more---- Kimberley Russo is Executive Director of The Fund for Greater Hartford. She is a founding member of the Connecticut Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, past board chair of the CT Network for Children and Youth, and a current board member of CT Voices for Children and the CT Council for Philanthropy. Before joining the Fund, Kim was with the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, serving most recently in the role of Director of Community Investment.   

No matter their mission, culture, or focus, every foundation's first steps toward Catalytic Leadership follow a similar path. A foundation staff person, trustee, donor, or family member ventures into the community to listen, get to know people, and become immersed in an issue. Immersing oneself and getting close to people with knowledge reveals opportunities to use grants and the foundation's other resources in targeted, powerful ways. In this Podcast, we explore these early stages in funders' evolution from grantmaker to changemaker through the lens of funders' experience in Exponent Philanthropy's Intro to Catalytic Leadership Program. The program provides skills training in deep listening and asking powerful questions and then guides participants as they venture into their communities to do listening interviews across the landscape. The experiences of Fayth and Jennifer offer an insider's look at how listening leads to transformation.  Podcast Guest Bios A program officer at the Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation, Fayth Paekukui leverages over 12 years of expertise in program management, philanthropy, and development. Fayth is dedicated to fostering impactful initiatives and enhancing opportunities for underserved communities. She balances her professional pursuits with family time, travel, and a deep love for her four beloved dogs.  A registered nurse by training, Jennifer Barborak serves as Executive Director of Buhl Regional Health Foundation. The foundation builds upon collaborative efforts to address health disparities and overcome inequities. Jennifer founded Shenango River Watchers, the City of Sharon Beautification Commission, Friends of MERP, WaterFire Sharon, and the Sharon High School Robotics Team.  Want to Learn More? Join Exponent Philanthropy's upcoming cohort, Intro to Catalytic Leadership Program, beginning March 26. Learn more and register here >>  

Leanly staffed foundations can influence how other foundations practice philanthropy. By working in creative, entrepreneurial ways, these agile funders make new or non-traditional practices more accessible for their peers. Newman's Own Foundation is a lean foundation breaking the mold of corporate philanthropy. Paul Newman's legacy of giving 100 percent of the profits from the food company he established, sets the foundation apart from most models of corporate giving, where the norm is giving five percent or less. Join Alex Amouyel, the foundation's President and CEO, as she explores Newman's vision of generosity, and the unique arrangement established between the foundation and the business to amplify that vision.    ***   Alex Amouyel is President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation whose mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. She leads the foundation's efforts to utilize 100% of the profits from the sale of Newman's Own products in service of this mission.

Developing knowledge and insight into a specific issue positions foundations to catalyze change. Learning deeply about an issue reveals gaps and leverage points where you can target foundation resources in the smartest ways. Malcolm Macleod, Board Chair of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, highlights a powerful way to acquire knowledge and insight - recruiting people in the community and field who have deep knowledge and lived experience, to serve on your foundation board. Malcolm explores how board recruitment has transformed the philanthropy, and how the foundation positions itself to find extraordinary leaders.   *** Malcolm Macleod was born in Canada, practiced law there for 25 years, and became president of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in 2001. He transitioned to board chair in 2020. Malcolm is the author of The Practice of Philanthropy, A Guide for Foundation Boards and Staff. He consults, speaks, and volunteers for foundations and nonprofits in the U.S. and Canada.

Foundations practicing Catalytic Leadership understand that making deeper, lasting progress on a priority issue requires working with organizations across all sectors, and with community members directly. Catalytic leaders use their unique powers to connect, convene, and support collaboration. In this Podcast, President and CEO Debra Jacobs of the Patterson Foundation shares how her foundation applies this systems approach to helping children achieve grade-level reading by the end of third grade. Debra and her colleagues engage and support the persistent involvement of not only educators, but parents, families, caregivers, after-school programs, local businesses, local media, and other people who play a role in childrens' early school success. Fundamental to Debra and her colleagues' approach is to invite conversations across sectors, and elevate understanding and empathy, so community members can work together around shared aspirations.    ***   As President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, Debra Jacobs champions the cause of creative collaboration. She has steered the foundation to work with partners to accelerate positive change by sharing fresh perspectives, contributing innovative ideas, and providing critical resources. Debra has advocated for community development throughout her career. Prior to joining The Patterson Foundation, she served as President of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation in Sarasota, and before then in leadership roles at Ringling College of Art and Design and SunTrust Bank, Gulf Coast.  

Staff and board of the Crimsonbridge Foundation know that scholarship dollars have long played an important and familiar role to support student participation in tuition-based education. They've invested in building the capacity of schools from kindergarten through college to create welcoming, inclusive institutions that foster the sense of belonging needed to support student success. So when they looked for solutions to increase the participation of Hispanic students in Catholic schools, they proposed outreach, engagement, and communication strategies that went beyond traditional scholarships. These "beyond the grant" strategies not only increased school capacity, but student enrollment and family engagement.   ***   Danielle M. Reyes is President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation. She has led the strategic development of the foundation's operations and programs since its founding in 2015, and guides the philanthropic strategies of its affiliates Crimsonbridge Group and Crimsonbridge LLC. At Crimsonbridge, she has co-created an innovative entrepreneurial philanthropy model that integrates inclusion, equity, and communications strategies to foster authentic community-based partnerships that drive change in Education, Leadership Development, Communications Capacity Building, and the Environment. Danielle serves as the Board President for the DC Bar Foundation and has contributed her expertise to local organizations and national boards including the Taproot Foundation and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize their presence and agency. Danielle invites us to take a more complex view of foundations' role. In a series of Podcasts, she reminds us that money alone is not enough to make deeper, longer-lasting systems change. She observes that social sector organizations want their funders to do more - to step up and take actions that draw upon foundations' unique abilities, assets, and position. In Part 2, Danielle shares an example how the foundation goes far beyond grants to break through barriers to change, in the field of leadership development for nonprofit leaders of color. *** Danielle M. Reyes is President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation. She has led the strategic development of the foundation's operations and programs since its founding in 2015, and guides the philanthropic strategies of its affiliates Crimsonbridge Group and Crimsonbridge LLC. At Crimsonbridge, she has co-created an innovative entrepreneurial philanthropy model that integrates inclusion, equity, and communications strategies to foster authentic community-based partnerships that drive change in Education, Leadership Development, Communications Capacity Building, and the Environment. Danielle serves as the Board President for the DC Bar Foundation and has contributed her expertise to local organizations and national boards including the Taproot Foundation and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize their presence and agency. Danielle invites us to take a more complex view of foundations' role. In a series of Podcasts, she reminds us that money alone is not enough to make deeper, longer-lasting systems change. She observes that social sector organizations want their funders to do more - to step up and take actions that draw upon foundations' unique abilities, assets, and positions. In Part 1, Danielle explores why the Crimsonbridge Foundation uses all the assets and powers. Parts 2 and 3 highlight examples of how Danielle's team goes far beyond grants to break through barriers to change, in two specific focus areas - leadership development for nonprofit leaders of color, and first-generation college student success.   *** Danielle M. Reyes is President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation. She has led the strategic development of the foundation's operations and programs since its founding in 2015 and guides the philanthropic strategies of its affiliates Crimsonbridge Group and Crimsonbridge LLC. At Crimsonbridge, she has co-created an innovative entrepreneurial philanthropy model that integrates inclusion, equity, and communications strategies to foster authentic community-based partnerships that drive change in Education, Leadership Development, Communications, Capacity Building, and the Environment. Danielle serves on the Board of the DC Bar Foundation and has contributed her expertise to local organizations and national boards including the Taproot Foundation and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

Some say the highest and best use of philanthropy is to drive innovation and creativity. Champions of this role emphasize foundations' and donors' freedom to support - with grants and also connections - entrepreneurial people seeking to develop, test, and scale new approaches to the toughest issues. In this Podcast, meet Brett Howell and Kirsten Midura, the founder and lead staff of the Howell Conservation Fund (HCF). HCF is a lean funder dedicated to supporting innovation and market-based approaches in the environmental field. Across the U.S. and globally, nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs have visionary ideas that can take social and environmental problem-solving to new levels. Often, these leaders cannot find investors willing to back a new approach. Brett and Kirsten remind us that lean funders are perfectly positioned to be "the first funder." Get inspired about driving breakthrough innovation among your grantee partners.  *** Related Blogs: https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/venture-philanthropy-and-the-worlds-most-plastic-polluted-beach/   https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/network-weaving-a-key-factor-in-my-philanthropic-success/  

It was a win-win solution, hiding in plain sight. Community colleges could serve more parents with young children, if parents had easier access to affordable childcare. Head Start Centers, for their part, want to serve more families. Idea: If more community colleges could host Head Start Centers right on their campuses, eligible parents would have immediate access to free child care, colleges could better tap into a population of potential students, and Head Start centers could get free space and access to aspiring teachers. Abigail Seldin, founder of the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation, did what leanly staffed foundations are perfectly positioned to do - she saw the potential of a great idea, and took the initiative to act on it. Abigail brought together the Association of Community College Trustees and the National Head Start Association, and engaged another small funder, the ECMC Foundation, to provide a modest but critical grant to design ways for more Head Start Centers to locate to community college campuses. The idea is already attracting enthusiastic support from community colleges, Head Start programs, Federal Government agencies, and other potential partners. In this podcast, Abigail explores how the idea and vision emerged, and the steps her small foundation took to help make it a reality.  *** Abigail Seldin is CEO of the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF). Under her leadership, SHSF seeded Kids on Campus, a new effort with the National Head Start Association and Association of Community College Trustees to relocate Head Start centers to community college campuses. At SHSF, Abigail also launched a partnership with Getty Images to create new stock photos of today's college students and published new data on transit inaccessibility that has generated bipartisan legislation. Abigail co-founded and sold a tech start-up and studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

It was a win-win solution, hiding in plain sight. Community colleges could serve more parents with young children if parents had easier access to affordable childcare. Head Start Centers, for their part, want to serve more families. Idea: If more community colleges could host Head Start Centers right on their campuses, eligible parents would have immediate access to free child care, colleges could better tap into a population of potential students, and Head Start centers could get free space and access to aspiring teachers. Abigail Seldin, founder of the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation, did what leanly staffed foundations are perfectly positioned to do - she saw the potential of a great idea and took the initiative to act on it. Abigail brought together the Association of Community College Trustees and the National Head Start Association, and engaged another small funder, the ECMC Foundation, to provide a modest but critical grant to design ways for more Head Start Centers to locate to community college campuses. The idea is already attracting enthusiastic support from community colleges, Head Start programs, Federal Government agencies, and other potential partners. In this podcast, Abigail explores how the idea and vision emerged, and the steps her small foundation took to help make it a reality.  *** Abigail Seldin is CEO of the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF). Under her leadership, SHSF seeded Kids on Campus, a new effort with the National Head Start Association and Association of Community College Trustees to relocate Head Start centers to community college campuses. At SHSF, Abigail also launched a partnership with Getty Images to create new stock photos of today's college students and published new data on transit inaccessibility that has generated bipartisan legislation. Abigail co-founded and sold a tech start-up and studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Any person at a leanly staffed foundation, no matter their role, can embrace Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP). In this special podcast episode, Exponent Philanthropy CEO Paul D. Daugherty and senior advisor, producer, and host of the Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast, Andy Carroll discuss this critical mindset and practice, how it fills a gap in the space, and how anyone can begin to adopt CLIP. *** Andy Carroll is a senior advisor at Exponent Philanthropy and the producer and host of the Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast. Learn more about Andy Carroll » Paul D. Daugherty is the CEO of Exponent Philanthropy. Learn more about Paul D. Daugherty »

In Part 3 of our Podcast exploring the catalyst role of the Earl & Kathryn Congdon Foundation in the economic revitalization of High Point, North Carolina, foundation staff Megan Oglesby and Joe Blosser chronicle the creation of a prototyping and training facility called the Generator. Furniture design and craftmanship has had a long history in High Point. Though manufacturing shifted to other countries, many professional designers and skilled craftspeople continue to reside in the area. To support these creatives and their businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, Business High Point, developed a space downtown for furniture design prototyping and training. Learn how this unique facility contributes to the larger effort, co-led by the Congdon Foundation, to start, scale, and grow businesses, create jobs, and restore dynamism to High Point all through the year.    ***   Megan Oglesby is the Executive Director of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation based in High Point, NC. The foundation board empowers Megan to fully immerse herself in the High Point community so that she is able to create and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit organizations and community leaders, to understand and articulate evolving needs in the city and region. Prior to joining the foundation, Megan held senior positions at Business High Point - Chamber of Commerce. Megan is a High Point native and currently resides in High Point with her husband and three children.    Joe Blosser serves as the Chief Impact Officer of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at High Point University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

In Part 2 of our Podcast exploring the catalyst role of the Earl & Kathryn Congdon Foundation in the economic revitalization of High Point, North Carolina, foundation staff Megan Oglesby and Joe Blosser describe a key part of the project, a coworking space called the Commons. Megan and Joe share how the Commons was designed to promote networking and idea generation, why the foundation and its partners decided to make access free, and the programming offered by the Chamber of Commerce to meet the needs of both nonprofit and for-profit startups. Learn how the scale and design of the Commons evolved beyond the original plan, and how the Congdon Foundation was clear about its specific role - to do what the for-profit sector cannot do to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.    ***   Megan Oglesby is the Executive Director of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation based in High Point, NC. The foundation board empowers Megan to fully immerse herself in the High Point community so that she is able to create and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit organizations and community leaders, to understand and articulate evolving needs in the city and region. Prior to joining the foundation, Megan held senior positions at Business High Point - Chamber of Commerce. Megan is a High Point native and currently resides in High Point with her husband and three children.    Joe Blosser serves as the Chief Impact Officer of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at High Point University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Small, place-based foundations operate in almost every rural region, town, and city in the U.S. Many of these communities have experienced a dramatic loss of jobs in the past decades. As local foundations make grants to meet immediate needs, their leaders consider whether the foundations might also play a part in rejuvenating local economies and lifting opportunity and hope for the residents of their towns and regions. In this podcast, meet the staff of a foundation of two committed to doing just that - nurturing economic development in a city that once flourished with manufacturing jobs that sustained a large middle class. Megan Oglesby and Joe Blosser of the Earl & Kathryn Congdon Foundation in High Point, North Carolina share ways they are devoting the foundation's many assets to help small businesses start, scale, and grow. Megan and Joe explore how a leanly staffed foundation can use its unique role and position to do what government and business cannot do to nurture economic development - by providing long-term strategic thinking and investment, taking higher risks, and supporting activity essential to business development that doesn't offer profit, such as training, equipment, space for entrepreneurs, and networking.   ** Megan Oglesby is the Executive Director of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation based in High Point, NC. The foundation board empowers Megan to fully immerse herself in the High Point community to create and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit organizations and community leaders, to understand and articulate evolving needs in the city and region. Before joining the foundation, Megan held senior positions at Business High Point - Chamber of Commerce. Megan is a High Point native and resides in High Point with her husband and three children.    Joe Blosser serves as the Chief Impact Officer of the Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at High Point University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  

When the Kuni Foundation asked its nonprofit partners in Washington State and Oregon what they most needed, the answer was "data." Their partners knew that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the two states were undercounted, and therefore public funding and services were inadequate. The foundation complied, and the results of the data study not only confirmed the gap but revealed, in a stunning way, a deep gulf between needs and services provided - including in housing designed for people with IDD, a key focus for the foundation. In this Podcast, Foundation President Angela Hult explains how she worked with grantees to package the data, and the diverse ways they shared it with policymakers in state and local government, and with affordable housing providers, to advocate for more funding for services, zoning changes, and other policy shifts. Angela shares some of the specific wins achieved by using the power of data to increase awareness about the needs and preferences of people with IDD, and to advance solutions.    Angela Hult, President, the Kuni Foundation  Angela's career reflects her commitment to service and spans philanthropy, investor relations, global media, strategic communications, and social impact investing. She applies an entrepreneurial approach to developing impactful grantmaking and advocacy programs that advance cancer research and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities throughout Oregon and Washington.  ** Read "Dispelling Fear and Anxiety About Advocacy For Your Foundation Board" by Angela Hult

When the Kuni Foundation asked its nonprofit partners in Washington State and Oregon what they most needed, the answer was "data." Their partners knew that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the two states were undercounted, and therefore public funding and services were inadequate. The foundation complied, and the results of the data study not only confirmed the gap but revealed, in a stunning way, a deep gulf between needs and services provided - including in housing designed for people with IDD, a key focus for the foundation. In this Podcast, Foundation President Angela Hult explains how she worked with grantees to package the data, and the diverse ways they shared it with policymakers in state and local government, and with affordable housing providers, to advocate for more funding for services, zoning changes, and other policy shifts. Angela shares some of the specific wins achieved by using the power of data to increase awareness about the needs and preferences of people with IDD, and to advance solutions.    Angela Hult, President, the Kuni Foundation  Angela's career reflects her commitment to service and spans philanthropy, investor relations, global media, strategic communications, and social impact investing. She applies an entrepreneurial approach to developing impactful grantmaking and advocacy programs that advance cancer research and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities throughout Oregon and Washington.  ** Read "Dispelling Fear and Anxiety About Advocacy For Your Foundation Board" by Angela Hult

The David and Lura Lovell Foundation supports its nonprofit grantees to engage in a wide range of issue advocacy activities. Through this support, the foundation acts on its mission to help its partners achieve wins that not only alleviate issues but may actually solve persistent or urgent social problems. Among the successes of its grantee partners is the passing of two bipartisan federal bills that protect survivors of sexual misconduct from being silenced. In this Podcast, foundation Executive Director John Amoroso offers a step-by-step guide to funding issue advocacy. The process begins by educating your board and staff about the legal safe space to fund advocacy, with the help of expert legal counsel. Once you know the parameters, engage your grantees in conversations to learn how you can help advance their advocacy work. Then begin supporting them. John emphasizes how any foundation can fund this game-changing work.   ** John Amoroso is executive director of The David and Lura Lovell Foundation, supporting work in mental health, integrative health and wellness, youth access to the arts, and gender parity. Previously, John collaborated on community building, organizational management, fund development, capacity building, and grantmaking in nonprofit, government, and private sectors.  ** This Podcast is a companion to Exponent Philanthropy's Advocacy Field Guide for Lean Funders and to Exponent's Primer on the Legal Aspects of Advocacy Grantmaking DISCLAIMER: Exponent Philanthropy is not a law or accounting firm. The information contained here is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for expert legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Exponent advises all foundations to seek independent counsel, for any tax, accounting, or legal issues.

When the board of a foundation dedicated to innovation in healthcare delivery asked, "What could we achieve with advocacy?", the question changed the entire trajectory of its philanthropy. Executive Director Jennie Riley of the Rx Foundation began learning about advocacy, organizing, and civic engagement from other funders and communities. In this Podcast, Jennie shares how the foundation journeyed to pursue its current goal - to build and nurture long-term community power to advance health justice. The Rx Foundation empowers community residents of all backgrounds to call on leaders and elected officials to take action on the community's needs for health and wellness, encompassing clean water and air, nutritious food, affordable housing, racial and gender equity, and access to healthcare. The foundation works to help residents hold their leaders accountable at the local and national levels. Learn how a foundation with one staff person uses all its resources to build the power and agency of communities nationwide.  ** Jennie Riley is the Executive Director of the Rx Foundation, where she led a transformation of mission and philanthropic practice to advance health justice throughout the United States. Jennie is a graduate of Smith College and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. ** Read "Pivoting to Advocacy and Organizing: Changing Grantmaking Tactics in Service of Our Core Mission" by Jennie Riley >>  

When the board of a foundation dedicated to innovation in healthcare delivery asked, "What could we achieve with advocacy?", the question changed the entire trajectory of its philanthropy. Executive Director Jennie Riley of the Rx Foundation began learning about advocacy, organizing, and civic engagement from other funders and communities. In this Podcast, Jennie shares how the foundation journeyed to pursue its current goal - to build and nurture long-term community power to advance health justice. The Rx Foundation empowers community residents of all backgrounds to call on leaders and elected officials to take action on the community's needs for health and wellness, encompassing clean water and air, nutritious food, affordable housing, racial and gender equity, and access to healthcare. The foundation works to help residents hold their leaders accountable at the local and national levels. Learn how a foundation with one staff person uses all its resources to build the power and agency of communities nationwide.  ** Jennie Riley is the Executive Director of the Rx Foundation, where she led a transformation of mission and philanthropic practice to advance health justice throughout the United States. Jennie is a graduate of Smith College and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. ** Read "Pivoting to Advocacy and Organizing: Changing Grantmaking Tactics in Service of Our Core Mission" by Jennie Riley >>  

Listening to community members and people with field experience is an essential practice of funders who make outsized impact. Listening to the community revealed to the Tzedek Social Justice Fund in Asheville, North Carolina the need to offer respite and recognition to individuals who have devoted years of paid and unpaid labor to supporting fellow residents. Many of these individuals have worked to tear down systemic racism, gender inequality, and religious prejudice. The foundation decided to lift up and celebrate these often unrecognized leaders with grant awards. Libby Kyles, Director of Community Led Grantmaking, shares with us two kinds of awards the foundation makes to community leaders and portrays examples of the work awardees have done to weave the community together and dismantle systems of injustice.    ** Libby Kyles is the Director of Community Led Grantmaking for Tzedek Social Justice Fund. A native of Asheville, Libby spent 20 years in North Carolina classrooms while also completing her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University. Libby co-founded Youth Transformed for Life (YTL) and served as the Executive Director until June 2019. Libby continues to work in the community as the Chair of the Board for Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust. She is also the founder and principal consultant for Changing LENS Consulting.  

Dan Ely, Vice President and former Board Chair of the 1772 Foundation, shares the actions board and staff took as soon as they uncovered the connection between the foundation and profits made from the labor of African peoples enslaved in the late 18th century by the forebears of the benefactor, Stewart B. Kean. One operating principle of catalytic funders like the 1772 Foundation, is taking responsibility for an issue and acting creatively and decisively. By taking a series of steps immediately upon learning this information, the foundation offers other funders an example of action and accountability. Thanks to Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi, Director, Equity and Inclusion, at Exponent Philanthropy, for partnering on this episode. ** Dan Ely is a trustee of the 1772 Foundation and is former president of the foundation's board. Dan had a 40-year career with First National City Bank (now Citibank N.A.), serving in corporate banking and risk management positions, and later as managing director. Dan is on the board of the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson and also serves Raritan Headwaters Association in Gladstone, NJ. He was a volunteer fireman with the Ralston Engine Company for 17 years.

In Part 2, Joey Borgogna of the Speranza Foundation shares the techniques he uses to build a peer learning community for the foundation's artist fellows, and personalize learning and technical assistance to individual artists' needs. The leadership program encompasses one-on-one coaching, peer interviews to learn about the artists' work and life, individualized training and technical assistance, group workshops, in-person visits to experience artists' work, and celebrations. Joey urges foundations working in any field to connect people in their network and nourish their growth as leaders and as human beings.  Related Blog: Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change ** Joey Borgogna is a creative producer and coach at the intersection of art, philanthropy, culture, and community, whose work is inspired by humanitarian and cultural expeditions spanning 21 countries on 5 continents. He currently serves as Director of the Speranza Foundation where he manages the Lincoln City Fellowship, an annual enrichment program for individual artists.

The pandemic underscored challenges faced by artists and performers, and at the same time, the indispensable role they play in sustaining our culture and connecting us. As Joey Borgogna, director of the Speranza Foundation, puts it, "We get the gift of artists being in the world." The foundation shifted from supporting arts creation, to the more hands-on work of building community among its artist fellows, to nurture renewal, growth, and leadership in ways personalized to the artists' individual needs. In Part 1 of this Podcast, Joey explains the "Why?" of this shift; in Part 2 he describes how he designs the training and builds the peer learning community.  Related Blog: Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change ** Joey Borgogna is a creative producer and coach at the intersection of art, philanthropy, culture, and community, whose work is inspired by humanitarian and cultural expeditions spanning 21 countries on 5 continents. He currently serves as Director of the Speranza Foundation where he manages the Lincoln City Fellowship, an annual enrichment program for individual artists.  

When working to advance its mission, the Pascale Sykes Foundation in New Jersey has never backed away from challenge and the need to venture into new kinds of work. The foundation focuses on nurturing opportunity and success for working families. Recognizing that lack of jobs and transportation in rural South Jersey undermined hope for families, the foundation built relationships with organizations in other parts of New Jersey to target resources to this underserved region. Richelle Todd-Yamoah explains how the relationships and expertise the foundation tapped into made it possible to fill gaps in the larger system that affects families. The foundation's work focused attention on South Jersey and catalyzed additional investment in this region by a factor of five.  Related Blog: How We Help Black Business Enterprises Access Capital To Grow and Thrive ** Richelle Todd-Yamoah is Vice President of Programs and Operations at the Pascale Sykes Foundation, responsible for helping to strengthen the capacity of grantees in support of the foundation's mission and Whole Family Approach. She has developed and maintained relationships with key philanthropic, government, and private stakeholders to encourage investment and partnership in this vital work. Richelle serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of South Jersey and Mural Arts Philadelphia.   

Colleen O'Keefe, Executive Director of the Sauer Family Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota, points out that all grantmaking is done in the context of large systems encompassing nonprofits as well as government agencies. Colleen realized she needed to talk with people who work in different parts of the child welfare system to understand the system as a whole and where the foundation could add real value. In this two-part Podcast, Colleen shares how listening without preconceptions, inviting people to step back and reflect, and convening staff from diverse agencies re-framed and transformed the work. By listening and convening, the foundation was able to look at underlying causes, focus on prevention, and target its support to remove barriers and scale up services that had potential to change the way children and families were served, and address racial disparities.     Related Blogs https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/listening-in-on-a-system/ https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/targeting-racial-disparities-in-child-welfare/ ** Colleen O'Keefe is the Executive Director of The Sauer Family Foundation, whose mission is to invest in strengthening the well-being of children, so they thrive in their families and communities. In Minnesota she led a systems reform effort for the Child Welfare system and continues to work alongside colleagues on the reform efforts. Colleen has facilitated conversations for Exponent Philanthropy's national community of lean funders on aligning philanthropic work for greatest impact, and the importance of listening.

Colleen O'Keefe, Executive Director of the Sauer Family Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota, points out that all grantmaking is done in the context of large systems encompassing nonprofits as well as government agencies. Colleen realized she needed to talk with people who work in different parts of the child welfare system to understand the system as a whole and where the foundation could add real value. In this two-part Podcast, Colleen shares how listening without preconceptions, inviting people to step back and reflect, and convening staff from diverse agencies re-framed and transformed the work. By listening and convening, the foundation was able to look at underlying causes, focus on prevention, and target its support to remove barriers and scale up services that had potential to change the way children and families were served, and address racial disparities.     Related Blogs https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/listening-in-on-a-system/ https://www.exponentphilanthropy.org/blog/targeting-racial-disparities-in-child-welfare/ ** Colleen O'Keefe is the Executive Director of The Sauer Family Foundation, whose mission is to invest in strengthening the well-being of children, so they thrive in their families and communities. In Minnesota she led a systems reform effort for the Child Welfare system and continues to work alongside colleagues on the reform efforts. Colleen has facilitated conversations for Exponent Philanthropy's national community of lean funders on aligning philanthropic work for greatest impact, and the importance of listening.

Families that welcome the engagement and ideas of their next generations open up the potential for innovation and new opportunity. Kimberly Quintero, Program Associate at the Pincus Family Foundation, explains how foundation staff facilitate involvement by the 3rd generation, their collaboration with the board, and partnership with grantees.  Hear how the next generation of foundation leaders honors the founders' values while linking the mission to address current and emerging issues. This evolution thrives because of mutual respect among the generations, constant conversation, and the support of talented and experienced staff. .   ** Kimberly Quintero is the Program Associate of the Pincus Family Foundation located outside of Philadelphia, PA. She has been instrumental in supporting the foundation's next generations and the junior board in their development as grantmakers, and the executive team with grantmaking. Kimberly is passionate about sharing knowledge and reducing barriers to accessing resources. Before joining PFF, Kimberly co-founded and oversaw Aquinas Center Immigration Legal Services.  https://pincusfamilyfoundation.org/

What impact can result when a funder collaborative engages deeper and deeper with nonprofits, and keeps challenging how it does philanthropy? The journey of a collaborative catalyzed by the McCune Foundation, a small foundation in New Mexico, led to the design of a platform enabling a wide variety of private and public funders to build capacity and leadership in Native American communities, in ways prioritized by tribal leaders and community members. Henry Rael of the McCune Foundation shares how the platform structure also builds capacity of Native American-led groups to apply for millions of Federal dollars, and to direct these funds in ways determined by the communities themselves.   ** Henry Rael, Director of Strategy and Initiatives at the McCune Foundation in New Mexico, has 20 years of experience with innovative enterprise design and development across for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Notable projects include a start-up Bluetooth semiconductor company, a cooperative of small farms, a communications firm serving nonprofits, and several collaborative funding structures.  https://nmmccune.org/

What impact can result when a funder collaborative engages deeper and deeper with nonprofits, and keeps challenging how it does philanthropy? The journey of a collaborative catalyzed by the McCune Foundation, a small foundation in New Mexico, led to the design of a platform enabling a wide variety of private and public funders to build capacity and leadership in Native American communities, in ways prioritized by tribal leaders and community members. Henry Rael of the McCune Foundation shares how the platform structure also builds capacity of Native American-led groups to apply for millions of Federal dollars, and to direct these funds in ways determined by the communities themselves.   ** Henry Rael, Director of Strategy and Initiatives at the McCune Foundation in New Mexico, has 20 years of experience with innovative enterprise design and development across for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Notable projects include a start-up Bluetooth semiconductor company, a cooperative of small farms, a communications firm serving nonprofits, and several collaborative funding structures.  https://nmmccune.org/

Creative, high-impact philanthropy is practiced by donors of all types - foundations, donor advised funds, social venture funders, and collective giving organizations. We visit with Sandy Cook, a leader at Impact100 Metro Denver, one of several hundred womens collective giving organizations around the country. Find out why Impact 100 Metro Denver invites nonprofits to step back and consider what they need to make significant shifts in how they work. Sandy shares examples how investing in nonprofits' unglamourous infrastructure needs, such as redesigning space, and buying trucks and equipment, helps organizations achieve exponentially more impact.   https://impact100metrodenver.org/ https://philanos.org/ ** Sandy is a board member of Philanos, an international network of collective giving organizations with a mission to strengthen collective giving and promote informed impactful grantmaking. Following a career in academia and a role as partner with Hewitt Associates (now AON Hewitt), Sandy's “second career“ has been philanthropy - particularly collective giving. She is a founding member of the Women's Giving Alliance in Jacksonville, Florida. At Impact100 Metro Denver, Sandy is a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the DEI task force..

Creative, high-impact philanthropy is practiced by donors of all types - foundations, donor advised funds, social venture funders, and collective giving organizations. We visit with Sandy Cook, a leader at Impact100 Metro Denver, one of several hundred womens collective giving organizations around the country. Find out why Impact 100 Metro Denver invites nonprofits to step back and consider what they need to make significant shifts in how they work. Sandy shares examples how investing in nonprofits' unglamourous infrastructure needs, such as redesigning space, and buying trucks and equipment, helps organizations achieve exponentially more impact.   https://impact100metrodenver.org/ https://philanos.org/ ** Sandy is a board member of Philanos, an international network of collective giving organizations with a mission to strengthen collective giving and promote informed impactful grantmaking. Following a career in academia and a role as partner with Hewitt Associates (now AON Hewitt), Sandy's “second career“ has been philanthropy - particularly collective giving. She is a founding member of the Women's Giving Alliance in Jacksonville, Florida. At Impact100 Metro Denver, Sandy is a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the DEI task force..

Galvanized by a statewide landscape scan revealing deep concern for the future of Maine's young people, the board of the Emanuel and Pauline A. Lerner Foundation shifted from a portfolio of annual grants, to a laser-focused, multi-year commitment to a cohort of groups to raise youth aspirations. The Lerner board and staff also focused their own time in building relationships with grantee partners. Executive Director Don Carpenter shares how this big bet inspired the Lerner Foundation board to transform its philanthropy.   ** Don Carpenter, executive director of the Lerner Foundation based in Portland, Maine, has more than 30 years of senior management experience dedicated to relationship-centered leadership. Don has dedicated his life to the business of relationship building through the creation of innovative student-centered youth development organizations that empower young people to thrive. He believes that relationships – not programs - change people's lives.

Galvanized by a statewide landscape scan revealing deep concern for the future of Maine's young people, the board of the Emanuel and Pauline A. Lerner Foundation shifted from a portfolio of annual grants, to a laser-focused, multi-year commitment to a cohort of groups to raise youth aspirations. The Lerner board and staff also focused their own time in building relationships with grantee partners. Executive Director Don Carpenter shares how this big bet inspired the Lerner Foundation board to transform its philanthropy.   ** Don Carpenter, executive director of the Lerner Foundation based in Portland, Maine, has more than 30 years of senior management experience dedicated to relationship-centered leadership. Don has dedicated his life to the business of relationship building through the creation of innovative student-centered youth development organizations that empower young people to thrive. He believes that relationships – not programs - change people's lives.

Many foundations want their favorite grantee partners to expand their sources of support. But fewer take an active role in helping partners become more sustainable. The Pascale Sykes Foundation connects partners with many kinds of organizations working in the same field. Jackie Edwards shares how the relationships that result have led to greater coordination, synergy, and to new revenue streams.   ** Jackie Edwards serves as Vice President of Strategic Engagement at the Pascale Sykes Foundation. With a deep understanding of the many challenges faced by disadvantaged, low-income families, Ms. Edwards has been a steadfast and outspoken advocate for more than 30 years.

What opportunities emerge when a foundation focuses more deeply? Caroline Wertz of the Scheidel Foundation shares how she spent more time with a smaller number of grantee partners, and engaged them in conversations. Deep listening allowed Caroline to understand challenges that were common to several organizations working in the same field, and identify gaps. This opened the door to opportunities for collective impact, and systems-level change. The journey all started with focusing.   ** Caroline Wertz is Senior Director of Programs at the Scheidel Foundation, which supports college success for underrepresented students, and advances the field of integrative cancer care. In her prior positions, she focused on providing capacity building, leadership coaching, and training to help community-based nonprofits become more effective and sustainable.

The John Gogian Foundation began its philanthropy by supporting individuals and families. As staff learned about challenges facing grantee partners and the field, it shifted its entire approach. Hear how listening deeply to nonprofit partners transformed the way a foundation worked - from supporting programs to strengthening organizations.   ** Lindsey Stammerjohn served as executive director of the John Gogian Family Foundation, where she developed deep, long-term relationships with leaders of partner organizations. For a dozen years, Lindsey provided training and capacity building to the foundation's key partners, convened them and built a networked community, and encouraged peer learning and mutual support. Ultimately, Lindsey and the foundation strengthened their partners' long-term sustainability. Lindsey retired in the fall of 2021; the relationships and trust she nurtured is a legacy that will endure for many years. Exponent is deeply grateful to Lindsey for serving as a teacher, guide, and mentor to many philanthropic leaders around the country.

The John Gogian Foundation began its philanthropy by supporting individuals and families. As staff learned about challenges facing grantee partners and the field, it shifted its entire approach. Hear how listening deeply to nonprofit partners transformed the way a foundation worked - from supporting programs to strengthening organizations.   ** Lindsey Stammerjohn served as executive director of the John Gogian Family Foundation, where she developed deep, long-term relationships with leaders of partner organizations. For a dozen years, Lindsey provided training and capacity building to the foundation's key partners, convened them and built a networked community, and encouraged peer learning and mutual support. Ultimately, Lindsey and the foundation strengthened their partners' long-term sustainability. Lindsey retired in the fall of 2021; the relationships and trust she nurtured is a legacy that will endure for many years. Exponent is deeply grateful to Lindsey for serving as a teacher, guide, and mentor to many philanthropic leaders around the country.

Working on health access and economic development on the Texas - Mexico border, Bonnie Gonzalez uses her mentoring and coaching skills to help community members fulfill their goals, and realize their full potential. Hear how a foundation leader plays a mentoring role to build capacity and leadership in her community.   ** Bonnie was named founding chief executive officer for Knapp Community Care Foundation in late 2013. KCCF invests in prevention/wellness, direct health services, health related education and behavioral health. Bonnie has been involved in public and higher education, health care, and public nonprofit work throughout her career. She is currently on the board for Philanthropy Southwest, advisory board for Western Governor's University-Texas, and Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

A small foundation with four staff amplifies its work by engaging dozens of community members from all walks of life - government, business, civic, and nonprofit. Diane Brown explains how she and colleagues structure the work of volunteers, and make participation meaningful and fulfilling. As an example, the foundation collaborated with nonprofits and city leaders to establish a social purpose grocery store in a neighborhood without access to fresh food.   ** Bio: A life-long resident of the Binghamton NY area, Diane Brown has been involved in nonprofit and community service for over 40 years. Currently she is chair of the board of New York State Habitat and has led the Community Foundation for South Central New York since 2006.

Michael Weinberg reflects on what he learned working in a successful advocacy coalition over several years, and shares tips for how foundations of any size can lay the ground to catalyze significant policy-level change on issues they care about.    *** Bio: Michael Weinberg is a Policy Officer at the Thornburg Foundation. His previous roles include program evaluation manager for New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee, public school teacher, and principal. Michael earned his doctorate in education from the University of New Mexico and lives in Albuquerque with his wife and two teenage daughters. Michael's blogs: Advocating For State-Level Systems Changes: Policy Work By a Small Foundation

A coalition is a powerful way for a group of foundations to learn together and build skills to do advocacy. Each member brings a different and valuable perspective. Michael Weinberg shares how a group of funders he brought together in New Mexico on early childhood got involved in advocacy, built relationships and trust with the state's legislature, and helped catalyze long-term public investments in the state's children and families.   *** Bio: Michael Weinberg is a Policy Officer at the Thornburg Foundation. His previous roles include program evaluation manager for New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee, public school teacher, and principal. Michael earned his doctorate in education from the University of New Mexico and lives in Albuquerque with his wife and two teenage daughters. Michael's blogs: Advocating For State-Level Systems Changes: Policy Work By a Small Foundation

Over the course of 12 years, the Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation in Hawai'i convened a group of organizations working in a new approach to education focused on the environment. Over time, the foundation and its partners nurtured and developed this emerging field through peer learning, developing different models of program delivery, and demonstrating impact. Organizations around the state are taking notice, creating the potential for larger numbers of children and youth to benefit. Learn how convening, a strategy available to the smallest foundations, can help catalyze large-scale change.   *** Bio: Janis has served as the Executive Director of Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation in Honolulu, Hawai‘i since April, 2008, and joined its board in 2011. Before coming to the foundation, she served as Vice President of Hawai`i Community Foundation and was the principal of a consulting practice focused on organizational development. She has masters degrees in social work and in business administration. Her home is on O‘ahu in Nu‘uanu with her husband and two dogs.

Catalytic funders work to understand the ecosystem of their issue or community. They find out what grantees need to perform well and be strong and sustainable. Doug Bauer talks about how listening also allows him to understand the relationship between the nonprofit and public sectors in New York State, and how engaging with diverse organizations connects him to this big ecosystem. By engaging constantly with other funders and networks, Doug becomes an active participant in the policy landscape, and empowers his foundation to play a role in making sure billions of dollars in state and federal money is spent in ways that are accountable to people in the community.   *** Bio: Doug is the Executive Director The Clark, Scriven and Fernleigh Foundations in New York. Doug has more than 20 years of experience in the field of philanthropy and currently serves three foundations. The Clark Foundation focuses on helping individuals to lead independent and productive lives and supports nonprofits and programs in New York City and Cooperstown, NY. Doug is also executive director of The Scriven and Fernleigh Foundations.

A powerful thing happens when philanthropists demonstrate humility through listening and respect - they earn trust. Trust allows funders to learn how they can support grantees to do bold, ambitious work. Trust also builds relationships with partners who are essential to advocacy and systems change. Phil Li, one of the country's foremost champions of a trust-based approach to philanthropy, explores how power dynamics undermine trust, and offers first steps to building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with grantees. *** Bio: Phil is president of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, which aims to create a more just and vibrant New York. Previously, he worked on Wall Street and ran a nonprofit. Phil serves on the board of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and was board chair of Philanthropy New York.

Small, place-based foundations are uniquely positioned to make change in the policy arena. In this three-part Podcast, Michael Weinberg chronicles the Thornburg Foundation's move into advocacy, the first steps, the unfolding journey, and what the advocacy coalition ended up accomplishing, which surpassed expectations. Michael explores how successful advocacy work is grounded in research and data, collaboration, and focused persistence.  Part 2 will be published in June. *** Bio: Michael Weinberg is a Policy Officer at the Thornburg Foundation. His previous roles include program evaluation manager for New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee, public school teacher, and principal. Michael earned his doctorate in education from the University of New Mexico and lives in Albuquerque with his wife and two teenage daughters. Michael's blogs: Advocating For State-Level Systems Changes: Policy Work By a Small Foundation

The Gifford Foundation is small, but its dedication to listening gives it a very big presence in Syracuse, New York. Executive Director Sheena Solomon sees listening to community members and building trust as a mindset; she calls it "Proximity." Proximity empowers Sheena and her staff to be better at the capacity building work they specialize in. Sheena wants to know what nonprofits' real needs are, and she wants to hear directly from diverse community members. Learn how Proximity helps the Gifford Foundation not just pursue Equity, but embody Equity in all its work.  *** Bio: Sheena Solomon is Executive Director of the Gifford Foundation in Syracuse, New York. She has been instrumental in the design and planning of Nourishing Tomorrow's Leaders, a leadership development training that focuses on increasing the diversity and inclusiveness of nonprofit boards. Sheena is passionate about fostering growth in others. Sheena also serves on local and national boards such as You Can't Fail Inc, the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation, and The Near Westside Initiative. In her role as Executive Director she remains fully committed and engaged in racial justice and equity work.

A challenge for people with promising ideas is to have someone believe in their work and offer the first grant. Philanthropy has the freedom to provide this risk capital, and small foundations excel in early-stage funding, backing ideas that later attract the attention of large foundations and government. Meet a small funder whose purpose is to find creative entrepreneurs in the environmental and energy fields, and provide early support -- plus the encouragement -- to begin turning powerful ideas into reality.  *** Bio: John is the founding executive director of Blackstone Ranch Institute, which provides early seed grants and strategic advice to emergent initiatives across a broad array of environmental and sustainability fronts. During the 1990s he was a global troubleshooter for UNICEF, where he investigated the effectiveness of their role in the world's most complex humanitarian relief operations. John's blogs: Making the Early Grant, and Very Often the First How You Can Discern and Inspire Promising New Ideas—Before Anyone Else

A challenge for people with promising ideas is to have someone believe in their work and offer the first grant. Philanthropy has the freedom to provide this risk capital, and small foundations excel in early-stage funding, backing ideas that later attract the attention of large foundations and government. Meet a small funder whose purpose is to find creative entrepreneurs in the environmental and energy fields, and provide early support -- plus the encouragement -- to begin turning powerful ideas into reality.  *** Bio: John is the founding executive director of Blackstone Ranch Institute, which provides early seed grants and strategic advice to emergent initiatives across a broad array of environmental and sustainability fronts. During the 1990s he was a global troubleshooter for UNICEF, where he investigated the effectiveness of their role in the world's most complex humanitarian relief operations. John's blogs: Making the Early Grant, and Very Often the First How You Can Discern and Inspire Promising New Ideas—Before Anyone Else

Small foundations have the agility and openness to make bets on new ideas and mavericks, and help revitalize entire fields -- while unleashing creativity and sparking new collaborations. Meet a funder who became so knowledgeable about their field, that they could see the potential of a completely new way to do the work. Mary talks about the power of this "Insider/Outsider" role, and how her foundation nurtured and spread the new idea. *** Bio: Mary has served as the director of the 1772 Foundation since 2003. The foundation is committed to farmland conservation and historic preservation and is particularly interested in historic properties redevelopment programs or “revolving funds” to which it funds approximately $1 million each year through training, recapitalization, convenings, and program related investments. Mary's blogs: By Going on the Road Together, Our Foundation Board and Staff Travel Far After 400 Requests for Funding, We Refined Our Grantmaking Goals in These 4 Steps