Can we talk about...? A podcast on leading for racial equity in philanthropy

Today the Sewall Foundation board’s primary purpose isn’t to protect their portfolio and assets. It’s to steward the foundation’s values. But that wasn’t always the case.

In this episode, Gabriela Alcalde, executive director of the Sewall Foundation, shares how the board evolved its definition of fiduciary duty and adopted a board purpose statement that puts community and mission impact first. 

Tune in to hear the tangible steps they’ve taken as an organization and new practices they’ve adopted like ‘fist to five’ voting and open board recruitment, and how these changes are shaping the ways they show up for their communities today and into the future. 

References & Resources

• Mares kicks off the episode with a question inspired by TGP’s Evolutions Exercise, a tool designed by our senior advisors.
• Gabriela shares Sewall Foundation’s Definition of Fiduciary Duty.
• Gabriela mentions that the board now votes using the Fist to Five method. 

Wait, wasn’t Season 1 also about boards? Turns out there’s more to talk about. Can we talk about..? veterans Monika Kalra Varma and Kevin Walker join us to share why we’re revisiting this topic in Season 4, and how foundation staff can harness the potential of their boards to accelerate their missions and values. 

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Northwest Area Foundation board’s decision to double its grantmaking dollars, an exploration of the "right" percentage of time CEOs and EDs should spend on board work, and tips and tricks to get the best use of your board members' limited time. 

References & Resources

• Monika shares the four principles of Purpose-Driven Leadership as defined by BoardSource, and a new resource:  Authorized Voice & Power in the Board Room: Reimagining Governance to Fulfill Philanthropy’s Purpose. 
• Kevin shares what it took for Northwest Area Foundation to double their grant dollars in 2025. Learn more in their video: CEO Kevin Walker—Doubled Funding for 2025 to Continue in 2026

Season 4 is here! And no, you’re not experiencing déjà vu. Mares is back, and so is the very first topic we tackled together on this podcast: foundation boards and governance.

So what’s new this season?  

• Video
  Our guests are waving hello to the camera! This season we’re bringing you full video episodes on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  
   
• Shorter Episodes
  Mares will have all of 35 minutes each episode – give or take a few – to tackle one aspect of board service. Think fiduciary duty, board recruitment and on-boarding, decision-making, and what each piece of board work looks and feels like when equity and community are at the center.
   
• Live! Episode
  Join us for a very special live episode recording with our friends at Break Fake Rules this season as we celebrate Philanthropy Northwest’s 50th anniversary at PNW26 in Anchorage.
   

Follow us, tune in and we’ll see you on the pod! 

Valériana Chikoti-Bandua Estes, executive director of Social Justice Fund Northwest and Maya Thornell Sandifor, managing director of the Kataly Foundation, join Mares for the final episode of season 3 focused on community philanthropy and equity.

The episode begins with a conversation on power, and how community philanthropy typically underutilizes the power and influence they have. Together they share the need to move against the status quo for greater justice for their communities.

They also discuss the necessity of overcoming fear, being politically active and building deep relationships with the community to move philanthropy toward equity and justice through collective liberation. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Katie Carter, President of Pride Foundation, and Mindie Reule, President & CEO, Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, sit down with Mares to discuss tangible ways that philanthropy can be more accountable to the community it serves. They begin the conversation by naming how the structures that currently exist do not hold philanthropy accountable to the communities they serve, and discuss ways in which funders can develop accountability mechanisms that lead to greater transparency across the sector.

Together, they share insights into the nuances of accountability, such as how to receive grantee feedback without burdening communities, as well as considerations for feedback given that communities are made up of diverse partners.

Finally, they offer examples of the importance of developing internal accountability, with both the board and staff. Katie and Mindie share the various ways in which their foundations have embedded accountability mechanisms through their racial equity work. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

In episode 6 of our season on community philanthropy, Aisha Al-Amin (Development Director, Social Justice Fund), Heidi Pelletier (Chief Development Officer, Yakima Valley Community Foundation) and Musu Bakoto Sawo (Director of Fundraising and Grants, Community Foundation of Snohomish County), sit down with Mares to discuss that while grantmaking has shifted, donor relationships and fundraising is stuck in the past. They share both the challenges and joys of working with donors on creating more equitable and long-term giving strategies. 

Together, they discuss what it looks and feels like to say “no” to donors, and how, by grounding fundraising in their organization’s values, these difficult conversations can ultimately strengthen donor relationships. 

Finally, they share practical examples of how their foundations have worked to educate donors on issues such as class and race, which deepened their donors' alignment with the foundation and ultimately strengthened support for the community. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Mauri Ingram (CEO, Whatcom Community Foundation) and Esra Khalil (Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation of Southwest Washington) join our podcast to counter a narrative we hear too often: “we don’t have the budget and time to do equity work.”

In this episode, they explore what it means to truly resource equity — not just with dollars, but with time, energy, creativity and intention. Both leaders share how their organizations have embedded equity into budgets, professional development, board governance and daily practices, reminding us that a budget is a values statement and that thriving communities “don’t happen by accident.”

They share practical examples on redirecting existing funds, shifting board agendas, leaning on partnerships instead of recreating the wheel and big mindset shifts, like moving from scarcity to abundance. As Mauri and Esra remind us, equity work requires a willingness to let go of business as usual in order to prioritize what truly matters: relationships, values and community love. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Lilliane Ballesteros (Executive Director, Latino Community Fund) and Lindsay Boswell (Chief Program Officer, Yakima Valley Community Foundation) join us to challenge philanthropy’s biggest myths and self-imposed rules.

Together they explore what it looks like to move money differently: from buying pom poms for community events to setting up ESG investment portfolios and even to making grants directly to individuals – and yes, all while staying in compliance. They share how they embrace compliance not as a barrier, but as a creative tool for showing up for community in authentic ways.

This episode underscores a central truth: relationships don’t happen over email. They happen when philanthropy shows up where community already is — at BBQs, celebrations and neighborhood gatherings — and when funders rethink data, time and compliance as levers for equity rather than excuses for delay. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Seth Kirby (Chief Impact Officer, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation) and Sharon Miracle (President and CEO, Yakima Valley Community Foundation) sit down with Mares for a conversation on the notions of neutrality and risk in philanthropy. 

They discuss how their organizations have reoriented their thinking around risk so that the central question is not, “what is the risk to our organization?,” but rather, “what is the risk to our community?” – and share tangible examples of what navigating risk with their communities looks like in our current context.  

Finally, Seth and Sharon share strategies they use when technical and adaptive challenges arise within their foundations, highlighting the need to strengthen cross-departmental relationships to build trust and learn together. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Karri Matau (CEO, Community Foundation of Snohomish County) returns to the podcast alongside Matt Morton (President, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington) to explore what it looks like to lead for racial equity at the staff level.

They offer insights into how they are taking an interconnected approach that allows them to stay rooted in their values while adjusting to the changing context. They discuss the importance of continually showing up in their communities and supporting staff to do the same.

Furthermore, both Matt and Karri offer tangible practices and policies that their foundations have worked on to best support their staff, and how these shifts can ripple out to building stronger communities. See the full episode guide.

Each episode of season 3 spotlights lessons from Toward Transformation, Philanthropy Northwest’s equity-focused guide, and brings you real-world case studies, tough questions and tangible ideas you can bring back to your organization.