Empowering Donors to Meet the Moment: 2026 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 […]
What Do We Really Need to Know About Change? Reflections for Philanthropy Practitioners Working with Families and Staff
📷 credit: RawPixel If you work in philanthropy – especially with family-led foundations or mission-driven teams – you’re likely familiar with the feeling of walking a tightrope between the historic ways of doing things and better-aligned strategies to who we are now. Change is always in the room. And yet, we often underestimate what people […]
Ktisis Capital Is Now a Certified B Corporation
We are proud to share that Ktisis Capital is now a Certified B Corporation, joining a global community of companies using business as a force for good. Becoming a B Corp affirms what has always been true about our firm: our work is founded in a belief that purpose and performance must move together if […]
From Fellow to Associate: Reflections on A Year with Ktisis
As I reflect on my fellowship and transition into the role of Associate, I’m reminded of the story of my arrival to Ktisis. About a year ago, Ricky Benavidez and Michele Bookie emailed to let me know that after two rounds of interviews, I was one of three final candidates for the Ktisis Communications Fellowship. […]
Welcome Cindy Mathew: Our New Senior Director
We are pleased to welcome Cindy Mathew to Ktisis starting this November as a part-time Senior Director facilitating day-to-day team coordination, strategic planning, internal policy and system development, and select client engagements. The rest of her time will be spent as Chief of Staff of the Lares Group, a newly formed venture incubator and family […]
Philanthropy’s Role in a Volatile Political Climate
📷 credit: Miguel Bruna on Unsplash The philanthropic sector is facing a defining moment, as we’ve talked about in previous blog posts, with strategies to defend democracy and specific funding recommendations. The choices funders make today will set the tone for generations to come. While that has always been true, the volatility of our current […]