As shifts to federal policy and funding profoundly impact domestic nonprofits and civil society as well as international aid, it has never been more vital that donors act decisively, urgently, and wisely.  

 This season, on the Giving Done Right podcast, hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette dive deep with philanthropic and nonprofit leaders and experts to shed light on the rapidly shifting landscape of need and the crucial but complex role of charitable giving in filling critical gaps. They’ll tackle pressing questions many donors are grappling with right now, from how to think about their giving as key government institutions and social safety nets are dismantled, to how everyday donors can effectively support democratic institutions. Follow along with season five of Giving Done Right for crucial, informative, and uplifting conversations about how to make your charitable giving as effective – and joyful — as it can be.

Nashlie Sephus, Ph.D. brought her passion for technology and experience as an entrepreneur back to her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi to bridge the technology gap and plant the seeds for a thriving community. Nashlie joins Phil and Grace in the season four finale to share how the nonprofit she founded, Bean Path, went from informal drop-in hours at the local library to a vital community organization with event spaces, expert-taught courses, and a growing track record of success in helping people of all ages gain essential tech skills. Nashlie also shares what surprised her about moving from the business world to running a nonprofit and offers advice for other donors with a vision.

The Bean Path

Praxis

Society of Women Engineers

Philanthropy has been the subject of intensifying criticism, so how should donors think about their role in creating a better world? Beth Breeze, Ph.D., director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, has spent more than a decade examining and responding to critiques of philanthropy, most recently authoring the 2021 book, “In Defence of Philanthropy.” In conversation with Phil and Grace, she makes the case that the critics are largely getting it wrong, overlooking the positive results of giving and the unique role that civil society and nonprofits play in any thriving democracy.

In Defence of Philanthropy by Beth Breeze

University of Kent Centre for Philanthropy

Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas

Munk Debate on Billionaire Philanthropy: Rob Reich vs. Beth Breeze

The Roddick Foundation

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

As we begin a new year, we’re sharing a classic from the Giving Done Right archive in which Phil and Grace talk with Paul Niehaus, co-founder and chairman of GiveDirectly. Paul discusses the power of direct cash transfers – how they work, why trusting those in need with cash can be extremely effective, and when certain issue areas might warrant a different philanthropic approach. They also discuss the effective altruism movement and how to consider giving domestically versus internationally.

GiveDirectly

Cash transfer research via GiveDirectly

GiveWell

The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically by Peter Singer

Universal Basic Income project in Kenya

From his days as mayor of San Antonio, Texas to serving as a Cabinet Secretary under former President Barack Obama to leading the nation's largest Latino-serving foundation, Julián Castro has always sought to create positive change in people's lives. As CEO of the Latino Community Foundation, Julián joins Phil and Grace to discuss his vision for a thriving Latino community in the U.S., sharing how philanthropy can enhance civic engagement and improve educational, health, and employment outcomes for Latinos. They also delve into the implications of the 2024 election results, including the shift rightward among at least a segment of Latino voters, the incoming Trump administration’s potential implementation of mass deportations, and challenges to the nonprofit sector broadly including proposed legislation in Congress.

Latino Community Foundation

UnidosUS 

H.R.9495 - Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act

Jeff and Tricia Raikes, co-founders of the Raikes Foundation, join Phil and Grace to share their path to philanthropy, their focus on creating supportive systems and fostering belonging for youth, and their belief in proximity and partnership with both nonprofits and beneficiaries of their funding. They discuss what they learned as they transitioned to full-time philanthropy and how donors can avoid common pitfalls. Phil and Jeff also debate the merits of comparing giving to investing.

Raikes Foundation

CEP’s Grantee Perception Report

YouthTruth

Giving Compass’ Learning Center

CEP’s Resources for Individual Donors

Solidaire Network

Women Donors Network

Find your local community foundation

Stephen Heintz, president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, joins Phil and Grace to discuss the results of the 2024 presidential election, whether there is merit to the argument of journalist Ezra Klein and others that certain nonprofit organizations are having an outsized impact on the Democratic party, the role of nonprofits in a functioning democracy, and what it will take to rebuild trust across ideological divides. Stephen offers insight into the long-term, community-based work he believes will help nurture civic engagement and bolster democracy, suggesting both where donors can give as well as actions they can take. He also shares the story behind the Rockefeller Brothers Fund decision to be a leader in the movement to divest from fossil fuels, and the unexpected ripple effects that created.

When Will Democrats Learn to Say No? by Adam Jentleson in the New York Times

The End of the Obama Coalition - Michael Lind on The Ezra Klein Show

“The New Class War: Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite” by Michael Lind

Ezra Klein on Where Democrats Go From Here - Pod Save America 

Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Brennan Center for Justice

Dēmos

Eric Liu on Revitalizing Faith in American Democracy - The Giving Done Right Podcast

Citizen University

Habits of the Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture

Trust for Civic Life

Father-daughter duo Mike Bontrager and Stephanie Almanza join Phil and Grace to share their approach to building both for-profit and nonprofit ventures in their local community that are rooted in trust, partnership, and shared goals. Mike offers insight into how he found success in the financial industry by putting trust ahead of profit and how that principle has informed his philanthropic and entrepreneurial ventures in his hometown of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The two also discuss how they chose to invest locally and the way they work in partnership with other community nonprofits, city government, and their neighbors to help build a thriving community.

Square Roots Collective

Voices Underground Project

Praxis Labs

The War Before the War: Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for America’s Soul From the Revolution to the Civil War by Andrew Delbanco

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

What can donors do to address the seemingly intractable problem of homelessness? Susan Thomas, president of the Melville Charitable Trust, joins Phil and Grace to discuss the systems and barriers in place in the U.S. that result in well over a half million unhoused Americans. Susan draws on her own personal and familial story as well as decades of experience, arguing that homelessness and structural racism are intrinsically linked, both historically and today.

Melville Charitable Trust

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

Listen to “Heather McGhee on the Zero Sum Lie” on the Giving Done Right podcast

Phil and Grace invite their CEP colleagues Elisha Smith Arrillaga and Kevin Bolduc to the recording studio for a candid and lively conversation that covers nonprofit-donor relationships, big gifts, trust in philanthropy, and the challenges facing nonprofits right now. The four bring their considerable collective experience and CEP’s data-based insights to bear on crucial questions like how donors can best support the causes they believe in, what everyday donors can learn from MacKenzie Scott’s approach to giving, how to think about trust in donor-nonprofit relationships, how to be an effective nonprofit board member, and more. For donors looking to embrace nuance and up their giving ‘game,’ this episode is a must-listen.

State of Nonprofits 2024: What Funders Need to Know

CEP’s research on the impact of MacKenzie Scott’s giving: “Giving Big: The Impacts of Large, Unrestricted Gifts on Nonprofits” and “Emerging Impacts: The Effects of MacKenzie Scott’s Large, Unrestricted Gifts”

More CEP research

Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Candid’s insights on nonprofit leadership demographics

Resources on board effectiveness from BoardSource

CEP’s Grantee Perception Report and other assessments