Services

Giving Practices

We work closely with individuals and families via various philanthropic vehicles – donor advised funds, pooled funds, private and family foundations, and personal giving – to develop and/or run  streamlined and effective grants management programs for charitable advocacy and political giving. We help individual donors and foundations design and implement grantmaking strategies       from conception through identification, due diligence, and long-term grants management and manage grantee relationships and feedback loops. We do this work through a progressive lens of participatory models, collaborative approaches, and centering those most affected by the issues at hand. We work with donor advised fund providers, home offices, and financial/investment advisors to guide philanthropic activities, but we do not hold or move funds within the firm.

Strategy & Program Design

Through iterative and transformational processes, we work with individuals and families to build funding programs that align with your passion areas and geographic priorities and push your philanthropy to have the most profound impact. Our team of consultants help to create short- and long-term strategies for individual giving plans, family and collaborative giving processes, donor advised funds, and private/family foundations. Engagements can last from one-day immersive strategy sessions to ongoing and continued advising as you build your philanthropic strategy and implement your giving programs.  

Program & Operational Support

We provide a range of services that enable clients to effectively manage everything from special projects to foundation operations. We regularly serve as added capacity for clients for one-time or emerging projects not yet ready for full-time staffing. We also support existing program management teams with shifting and complex organizational management challenges. This can look like developing a grantmaking program, processes and procedures, to ensuring continuity by staffing a program during leadership transition and serving as a sounding board and confidential advisor during planning and ideation of program development.

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Governance

We provide the experience and person-power to develop and maintain family philanthropy and board governance, structures and policies. This includes serving as the confidential advisor and thought partner to family leaders, private and family foundation directors, and board chairs and trustees regarding staffing family, foundation, and collaborative governance processes. In addition, we have expertise in navigating family dynamics around philanthropic decision-making, generational transitions, foundation and donor advised fund governance procedures, and in developing, maintaining, and revising decision-making processes.

Research

We work with clients to develop and refine their areas of interest and are experts at cultivating a network of field and movement leaders. We perform landscape scans and topical research, pulling together large amounts of data and information from the field and distilling to consumable and accessible formats, providing our clients with the information needed to make informed decisions.

Learning

We design, develop, and deliver tailored learning programs for group and family philanthropy, as well as customized personal learning opportunities and coaching for individuals. Whether you are looking to go deep on a specific topic, learn the ropes of managing your own philanthropy, or bring the next generation up to speed on the policies and practices of the field, our team of consultants can tailor any learning experience to your specific needs.