The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast

Phil Li — Trust Puts You in a Learning Stance

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.

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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.

Michael Weinberg — Advocating for State-Level Systems Change Part 1

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.

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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

Sheena Solomon — The Power of Proximity

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. 

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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.

John Richardson — Finding and Supporting Breakthrough Ideas Part 2

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. 

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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

John Richardson — Finding and Supporting Breakthrough Ideas Part 1

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. 

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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

Mary Anthony — Rejuvenating a Field by Backing Creative New Approaches

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.

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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