Showing Up Authentically in Advising, Exploring Where Values Lead Us
📷 credit: Pexels Back in November, I had the opportunity to speak to students in the Masters in Philanthropic Studies program at the Centre for Philanthropy within the University of Kent. The group was in the middle of Ethics Week during their Advising Donors course, reflecting on the question of neutrality in philanthropic advising. For instance, […]
Learning Club: Addressing Frustration Honestly to Build Trust
📷 credit: Pexels Our monthly Learning Club sessions are invitations for staff and affiliates to gather, deepen our shared understanding of a topic, spark new ideas, and build alignment. Given the complexity of our work, we use this regular internal learning as an opportunity to experiment and shake up our thinking. We based our January Learning […]
Announcing Dr. Samir K. Doshi as CEO of the Hopper-Dean Foundation
The Hopper-Dean Foundation is excited to welcome Dr. Samir K. Doshi as their inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Samir brings an impressive background and a strong alignment with the Foundation’s commitments to advancing human rights, social justice, and ecological justice. Since its founding in 2011, the Hopper-Dean family has deployed over $150 million in philanthropic […]
How to Give Better in 2026: Some Ideas to Kick the Year Off Well
Beyond considering the specific issues or causes you are giving to, have you paused to ask how to be more effective and fulfilled as a donor this year? A few weeks ago, a friend asked on a listserv about how others were approaching their giving in the new year. They shared two great ideas: they’re […]
Great New Collection Offers Powerfully Authentic Donor Organizing Stories
Free the People to Free the Money to Free the People is a gift to those involved in donor organizing and advising. Reading this new book reminded me how easily we forget how opaque this work can be to anyone outside of progressive philanthropy (or even many inside). This book offers a warm invitation to […]
Empowering Donors to Meet the Moment: 2025 Democracy Learning Cohort
📷 credit: Pexels As we kick off the new year, it is increasingly important for all donors to embrace the role we play in building the future of our democracy. The current administration is wreaking havoc both domestically and abroad: invading communities, undermining the rule of law, and dismantling democratic institutions before our eyes. For donors, […]
Year-End Giving: How to Make Your Philanthropy More Meaningful
📷 credit: Pexels As the year draws to a close, I always get questions about was to manage year-end giving better. Many of us turn our attention to charitable giving in these final days of the year – whether fulfilling pledges, taking advantage of tax benefits, or simply acting on the generous impulses that the season […]
On Growth, Gratitude, and What’s Next
With a mix of gratitude and clarity, I am writing to share that after five years I will be transitioning out of my full-time role at Ktisis Capital mid-January. My time at Ktisis has been formative – shaping not only how I approach philanthropy as a practice, but how I think about power, responsibility, and […]
Heartbroken in Australia this Hanukkah
📷 credit: Pexels Waking up in Melbourne to the news of the Hanukkah shooting at Bondi Beach, I sat in my hotel room heartbroken, answering frantic texts assuring people I was safe and checking in on friends. Amidst the texting, my mind kept jumping between memories. As someone of mixed Jewish and Catholic heritage I have […]
What Communities Teach Us About Power and Belonging
📷 credit: RawPixel For the past year, our nation and sector have been defined by division and fear. But the past month has provided a rare glimpse of renewal and hope. Across the country, grassroots campaigns led by immigrant organizers, first-generation Americans, and working-class coalitions have demonstrated that a politics grounded in dignity and care […]