The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize their presence and agency. Danielle invites us to take a more complex view of foundations' role. In a series of Podcasts, she reminds us that money alone is not enough to make deeper, longer-lasting systems change. She observes that social sector organizations want their funders to do more - to step up and take actions that draw upon foundations' unique abilities, assets, and position. In Part 2, Danielle shares an example how the foundation goes far beyond grants to break through barriers to change, in the field of leadership development for nonprofit leaders of color.

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Danielle M. Reyes is President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation. She has led the strategic development of the foundation’s operations and programs since its founding in 2015, and guides the philanthropic strategies of its affiliates Crimsonbridge Group and Crimsonbridge LLC. At Crimsonbridge, she has co-created an innovative entrepreneurial philanthropy model that integrates inclusion, equity, and communications strategies to foster authentic community-based partnerships that drive change in Education, Leadership Development, Communications Capacity Building, and the Environment. Danielle serves as the Board President for the DC Bar Foundation and has contributed her expertise to local organizations and national boards including the Taproot Foundation and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize their presence and agency. Danielle invites us to take a more complex view of foundations' role. In a series of Podcasts, she reminds us that money alone is not enough to make deeper, longer-lasting systems change. She observes that social sector organizations want their funders to do more - to step up and take actions that draw upon foundations' unique abilities, assets, and positions. In Part 1, Danielle explores why the Crimsonbridge Foundation uses all the assets and powers. Parts 2 and 3 highlight examples of how Danielle's team goes far beyond grants to break through barriers to change, in two specific focus areas - leadership development for nonprofit leaders of color, and first-generation college student success.  

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Danielle M. Reyes is President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation. She has led the strategic development of the foundation’s operations and programs since its founding in 2015 and guides the philanthropic strategies of its affiliates Crimsonbridge Group and Crimsonbridge LLC. At Crimsonbridge, she has co-created an innovative entrepreneurial philanthropy model that integrates inclusion, equity, and communications strategies to foster authentic community-based partnerships that drive change in Education, Leadership Development, Communications, Capacity Building, and the Environment. Danielle serves on the Board of the DC Bar Foundation and has contributed her expertise to local organizations and national boards including the Taproot Foundation and Asian Americans Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

When the Kuni Foundation asked its nonprofit partners in Washington State and Oregon what they most needed, the answer was "data." Their partners knew that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the two states were undercounted, and therefore public funding and services were inadequate. The foundation complied, and the results of the data study not only confirmed the gap but revealed, in a stunning way, a deep gulf between needs and services provided - including in housing designed for people with IDD, a key focus for the foundation. In this Podcast, Foundation President Angela Hult explains how she worked with grantees to package the data, and the diverse ways they shared it with policymakers in state and local government, and with affordable housing providers, to advocate for more funding for services, zoning changes, and other policy shifts. Angela shares some of the specific wins achieved by using the power of data to increase awareness about the needs and preferences of people with IDD, and to advance solutions.   

Angela Hult, President, the Kuni Foundation 

Angela’s career reflects her commitment to service and spans philanthropy, investor relations, global media, strategic communications, and social impact investing. She applies an entrepreneurial approach to developing impactful grantmaking and advocacy programs that advance cancer research and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities throughout Oregon and Washington. 

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Read "Dispelling Fear and Anxiety About Advocacy For Your Foundation Board" by Angela Hult

The David and Lura Lovell Foundation supports its nonprofit grantees to engage in a wide range of issue advocacy activities. Through this support, the foundation acts on its mission to help its partners achieve wins that not only alleviate issues but may actually solve persistent or urgent social problems. Among the successes of its grantee partners is the passing of two bipartisan federal bills that protect survivors of sexual misconduct from being silenced. In this Podcast, foundation Executive Director John Amoroso offers a step-by-step guide to funding issue advocacy. The process begins by educating your board and staff about the legal safe space to fund advocacy, with the help of expert legal counsel. Once you know the parameters, engage your grantees in conversations to learn how you can help advance their advocacy work. Then begin supporting them. John emphasizes how any foundation can fund this game-changing work.  

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John Amoroso is executive director of The David and Lura Lovell Foundation, supporting work in mental health, integrative health and wellness, youth access to the arts, and gender parity. Previously, John collaborated on community building, organizational management, fund development, capacity building, and grantmaking in nonprofit, government, and private sectors. 

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This Podcast is a companion to Exponent Philanthropy's Advocacy Field Guide for Lean Funders and to Exponent's Primer on the Legal Aspects of Advocacy Grantmaking

DISCLAIMER: Exponent Philanthropy is not a law or accounting firm. The information contained here is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for expert legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Exponent advises all foundations to seek independent counsel, for any tax, accounting, or legal issues.

When the board of a foundation dedicated to innovation in healthcare delivery asked, "What could we achieve with advocacy?", the question changed the entire trajectory of its philanthropy. Executive Director Jennie Riley of the Rx Foundation began learning about advocacy, organizing, and civic engagement from other funders and communities. In this Podcast, Jennie shares how the foundation journeyed to pursue its current goal - to build and nurture long-term community power to advance health justice. The Rx Foundation empowers community residents of all backgrounds to call on leaders and elected officials to take action on the community's needs for health and wellness, encompassing clean water and air, nutritious food, affordable housing, racial and gender equity, and access to healthcare. The foundation works to help residents hold their leaders accountable at the local and national levels. Learn how a foundation with one staff person uses all its resources to build the power and agency of communities nationwide. 

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Jennie Riley is the Executive Director of the Rx Foundation, where she led a transformation of mission and philanthropic practice to advance health justice throughout the United States. Jennie is a graduate of Smith College and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.

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Read "Pivoting to Advocacy and Organizing: Changing Grantmaking Tactics in Service of Our Core Mission" by Jennie Riley >>

When the board of a foundation dedicated to innovation in healthcare delivery asked, "What could we achieve with advocacy?", the question changed the entire trajectory of its philanthropy. Executive Director Jennie Riley of the Rx Foundation began learning about advocacy, organizing, and civic engagement from other funders and communities. In this Podcast, Jennie shares how the foundation journeyed to pursue its current goal - to build and nurture long-term community power to advance health justice. The Rx Foundation empowers community residents of all backgrounds to call on leaders and elected officials to take action on the community's needs for health and wellness, encompassing clean water and air, nutritious food, affordable housing, racial and gender equity, and access to healthcare. The foundation works to help residents hold their leaders accountable at the local and national levels. Learn how a foundation with one staff person uses all its resources to build the power and agency of communities nationwide. 

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Jennie Riley is the Executive Director of the Rx Foundation, where she led a transformation of mission and philanthropic practice to advance health justice throughout the United States. Jennie is a graduate of Smith College and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.

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Read "Pivoting to Advocacy and Organizing: Changing Grantmaking Tactics in Service of Our Core Mission" by Jennie Riley >>

Listening to community members and people with field experience is an essential practice of funders who make outsized impact. Listening to the community revealed to the Tzedek Social Justice Fund in Asheville, North Carolina the need to offer respite and recognition to individuals who have devoted years of paid and unpaid labor to supporting fellow residents. Many of these individuals have worked to tear down systemic racism, gender inequality, and religious prejudice. The foundation decided to lift up and celebrate these often unrecognized leaders with grant awards. Libby Kyles, Director of Community Led Grantmaking, shares with us two kinds of awards the foundation makes to community leaders and portrays examples of the work awardees have done to weave the community together and dismantle systems of injustice.   

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Libby Kyles is the Director of Community Led Grantmaking for Tzedek Social Justice Fund. A native of Asheville, Libby spent 20 years in North Carolina classrooms while also completing her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University. Libby co-founded Youth Transformed for Life (YTL) and served as the Executive Director until June 2019. Libby continues to work in the community as the Chair of the Board for Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust. She is also the founder and principal consultant for Changing LENS Consulting.  

Dan Ely, Vice President and former Board Chair of the 1772 Foundation, shares the actions board and staff took as soon as they uncovered the connection between the foundation and profits made from the labor of African peoples enslaved in the late 18th century by the forebears of the benefactor, Stewart B. Kean. One operating principle of catalytic funders like the 1772 Foundation, is taking responsibility for an issue and acting creatively and decisively. By taking a series of steps immediately upon learning this information, the foundation offers other funders an example of action and accountability. Thanks to Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi, Director, Equity and Inclusion, at Exponent Philanthropy, for partnering on this episode.

** Dan Ely is a trustee of the 1772 Foundation and is former president of the foundation's board. Dan had a 40-year career with First National City Bank (now Citibank N.A.), serving in corporate banking and risk management positions, and later as managing director. Dan is on the board of the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson and also serves Raritan Headwaters Association in Gladstone, NJ. He was a volunteer fireman with the Ralston Engine Company for 17 years.

In Part 2, Joey Borgogna of the Speranza Foundation shares the techniques he uses to build a peer learning community for the foundation's artist fellows, and personalize learning and technical assistance to individual artists' needs. The leadership program encompasses one-on-one coaching, peer interviews to learn about the artists' work and life, individualized training and technical assistance, group workshops, in-person visits to experience artists' work, and celebrations. Joey urges foundations working in any field to connect people in their network and nourish their growth as leaders and as human beings.  Related Blog:

• Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change

** Joey Borgogna is a creative producer and coach at the intersection of art, philanthropy, culture, and community, whose work is inspired by humanitarian and cultural expeditions spanning 21 countries on 5 continents. He currently serves as Director of the Speranza Foundation where he manages the Lincoln City Fellowship, an annual enrichment program for individual artists.

The pandemic underscored challenges faced by artists and performers, and at the same time, the indispensable role they play in sustaining our culture and connecting us. As Joey Borgogna, director of the Speranza Foundation, puts it, "We get the gift of artists being in the world." The foundation shifted from supporting arts creation, to the more hands-on work of building community among its artist fellows, to nurture renewal, growth, and leadership in ways personalized to the artists' individual needs. In Part 1 of this Podcast, Joey explains the "Why?" of this shift; in Part 2 he describes how he designs the training and builds the peer learning community.  Related Blog:

• Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change

** Joey Borgogna is a creative producer and coach at the intersection of art, philanthropy, culture, and community, whose work is inspired by humanitarian and cultural expeditions spanning 21 countries on 5 continents. He currently serves as Director of the Speranza Foundation where he manages the Lincoln City Fellowship, an annual enrichment program for individual artists.