In this episode of PhilanthroThink, Jonathan Harline and Mekayla Dionne speak with Lisa Wolverton, President of Forward Global and Director of the Wolverton Foundation, about family philanthropy, giving with trust, and how wealth holders can move more resources toward urgent work. Lisa shares how her path began with community-based work focused on families and children, and later grew through board service, foundation work, and her role helping build Forward Global’s Canadian community.
A key part of the conversation is the idea of “enoughness”: asking what families truly need, what they want to leave behind, and what capital they can move now. Lisa explains how that reflection can help open up more funding for climate, Indigenous-led solutions, women’s leadership, and community-led change, while also challenging funders to think differently about power, legacy, accountability, and trust.
Takeaways
-Philanthropy often starts at the family table.
-Communities know what communities need.
-Trust-based giving is about partnership, not stepping away.
-“Enoughness” can help families move more capital now.
-Peer learning can shift how wealth holders think and act.
-Long-term support helps organizations grow with confidence.
-Legacy doesn’t always mean holding capital forever.
-More resources need to reach the people closest to the work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to PhilanthroThink
00:59 Lisa Wolverton's Journey into Philanthropy
04:01 The Impact of Arts and Music on Communities
10:17 Family Philanthropy: Values and Legacy
14:08 Building Community and Navigating Power Dynamics
17:37 The Evolution of Philanthropic Roles
19:57 Navigating Philanthropy in a Changing World
23:09 The Evolution of Impact Investing
25:15 Building Trust in Philanthropy
28:08 Redefining Legacy and Enoughness
30:42 Mobilizing Capital for Indigenous Solutions
34:25 Trust-Based Philanthropy in Action
40:41 A Vision for the Future
44:41 AI and the Future of Philanthropy
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Guest
Lisa Wolverton
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawolverton/
Forward Global
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fwd-global/
Website: https://forward-global.org/
Hosts
Jonathan Harline
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankharline/
Mandy Pui
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-pui-2259617b/
Titilayo Adedeji
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titilayoadedeji/
Mekayla Dionne
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekayla-dionne-57b091234/
Production
Keenlii
Website: www.keenlii.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/
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About PhilanthroThink
PhilanthroThink is a podcast series from Carleton University’s Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program. Each episode features wealth creators, philanthropic leaders, and innovative thinkers sharing insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector in Canada and beyond.
