Seattle, Washington, United States
Known for my curiosity and warm presence, I bring people together, orient them toward possibility, and catalyze coalitions of changemakers to drive global impact. I am increasingly convinced that we are at a significant inflection point for the field of philanthropy, and that donors see their opportunity to seed impact in new ways. Not only is this shift urgently needed, it can (and should be!) joyful. With a keen ability for authentic, purposeful storytelling and genuine relationships built over 18 years working with new and seasoned philanthropists, I elicit participation, remove barriers, and spur creative solutions. Whether I am building a culture of care within a team, advising on strategy, partnering with a philanthropist to navigate their giving journey, or building connections between like-minded entities, I know that trust, mutually beneficial relationships, and vision that is grounded in community will generate meaningful, lasting change. As a trusted bridge between philanthropists, their teams, and nonprofit leaders, I often act as a cultural translator, helping new partnerships form and flourish. Driven to support generosity that values the wisdom of social sector leaders closest to the problem, I have partnered with influential global visionaries on giving strategy, developed engaging curricula and winning models for social impact, and frequently act as moderator for in person and virtual executive convenings. Specialties: philanthropic vision | expansive thinking | global giving initiatives | donor strategy | transformative investment | charitable innovation | international philanthropy | executive thought partnership | idea synthesis | coalition building | collaborative funding | facilitation | convenings | social sector partnerships | corporate philanthropy | building strong team culture | mentoring | coaching | motivational story telling | inspirational leadership | keynote speaking
Managing Director of Phila Engaged Giving, a full suite philanthropic advising firm that engages with clients to connect money to values, especially through the lenses of racial justice, social justice, and holistic philanthropic practices. Along with Phila's amazing team, I partner with high-net-wealth and/or high-profile individuals and families who seek to activate all of their assets to achieve impact with their giving. I also consult with and advise foundations on donor collaboration, next gen engagement, strategic relationships, and other areas. My role also includes innovating on the firm’s offerings to help individuals and families align their resources with their values and impact goals, writing and philanthropic sector thought leadership, and developing strategies for sector partnerships to advance Phīla’s mission. Areas of expertise include: Getting Started | Philanthropic Vision & Action Strategies | Charitable Entity Selection | Multi-Gen Engagement | Donor Learning & Collaboration | Peer Cohorts | Social Sector Partnerships | Board Governance | Succession Planning
As an affiliated advisor through Phila Engaged Giving, I work with Phila Venture Fund to design and implement philanthropic strategies through pooled funds, fiscal sponsorship, and other charitable vehicles.
About: SVP Seattle is a community of people and organizations working together to advance racial justice in philanthropy. Role: Helped each donor-partner – from the newest giver to the most seasoned philanthropist – develop an individualized plan for engaging at SVP Seattle. Oversaw the matching of donor volunteers with the needs of nonprofit grantee partners, with the goal of amplifying the work of nonprofits through capacity building, grantmaking, and skilled volunteering. Designed and led SVP Seattle’s educational curriculum for donors and volunteers.
Offered strategic advice, guidance, and inspiration to help high net wealth givers turn their vision for social change into action. Designed and scaled creative solutions and donor strategies and collaborations grounded in real world practicalities and field experience. Worked with US and international individuals, families, and foundations.
About: The Giving Pledge is a movement of philanthropists who commit to give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes, either during their lifetimes or in their wills. In addition to the public element of the Giving Pledge to inspire generosity among the ultrawealthy, the Giving Pledge is an energized community of some of the world’s most engaged philanthropists who convene regularly to discuss challenges, successes, and failures, and to share ideas to get smarter about giving. Since its inception in 2010, over $1 trillion has been committed to philanthropy by more than 230 individuals and couples. Role: Principal point of contact with Giving Pledge signatories, meeting them at their current stage of giving and helping them advance to new levels of generosity and impact. Developed and managed a team to support the community of Giving Pledge signatories through world-class educational curriculum, community building, experiential learning and site visits, and tools and resources to navigate the global giving landscape. Key highlights: - Developed a community of global givers who connects with one another and pushes each other toward greater impact, resulting in new philanthropic partnerships and new ideas and innovations for philanthropy - Directly managed and oversaw strategy that resulted in over $1B in new gifts in 15 months during the pandemic - Led the design of philanthropic discussions among global business leaders at the World Economic Forum and acted as facilitator for round table discussions in Davos, Switzerland for three years in a row Skills: philanthropy advising | strategy and vision | continuous adaptation and learning | facilitation | team management | program evaluation