Donors looking to make a difference in their local communities can turn to community foundations — local philanthropic institutions driven by giving “of, by, and for the people” and rooted in the goal of creating thriving communities. In this episode, Phil and Grace are joined in conversation by three community foundation leaders: Dick Ober, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, LaTida Smith, president of the Winston-Salem Foundation, and Alesha Washington, president and CEO of the Seattle Foundation. 

In sharing their experiences and approaches, these CEOs encourage donors to embrace their power to engage and effect change in their own community. They reflect on thorny issues including working across ideological lines, supporting often under-appreciated nonprofits and their staff, and the proliferation of giving options for donors. They also explore how to ensure money doesn't sit in institutions, but gets out the door to organizations working in communities.

Additional Resources:

CEP Report: What Donors Value: How Community Foundations Can Increase Donor Satisfaction, Referrals, and Future Giving

Community Foundation Locator, by Council on Foundations

Winston-Salem Foundation

Seattle Foundation

New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

Data on Declining U.S. Donor Participation, from the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University

CEP Reports: State of Nonprofits 2025, 2024, and 2023

What happens when $2.83 billion disappears from women's rights funding globally? Conversely, what is possible when donors break out of traditional silos to work collaboratively with the goal of abundance and liberation for all? Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette talk with Happy Mwende Kinyili, co-executive director of global feminist fund Mama Cash to explore this unprecedented crisis — and discover surprising reasons for hope.

Happy shares powerful stories from Kenya to Argentina, explaining how participatory grantmaking creates lasting change and why "the people who've gotten us into this mess aren't going to get us out of it." For donors feeling overwhelmed by massive global needs or the frustrating retrenchments of recent years, Happy offers their own mother's wisdom: "Don't try to do everything, do something." Learn how small actions can have huge impact, why trust-based philanthropy works, and how co-leadership models are reshaping organizations.

Additional Resources

Mama Cash

Green Girls Platform

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Urgent Action Fund

Mark Suzman on the Giving Done Right Podcast

CEP’s Three Year Study on the Impact of MacKenzie Scott’s Large, Unrestricted Gifts

As federal funding cuts shift more responsibility for food insecurity to local communities, Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette talk with Julie Butner, president and CEO of the Tarrant Area Food Bank, one of the largest food banks in the United States serving 13 counties around Fort Worth, Texas.

Julie reveals that food bank clients are often working families who simply can't afford basic necessities and explains how modern food banks have evolved far beyond emergency food distribution to address root causes through healthcare partnerships, nutrition education, and community gardens. This eye-opening conversation challenges common misconceptions about who needs food assistance and addresses debates about the roles of government and private philanthropy. Julie also offers practical guidance on how donors can make the greatest impact, whether through volunteering, financial support, or advocacy.

Additional Resources

Tarrant Area Food Bank 

United for ALICE data

Feeding America food bank locator

The dismantling of USAID has created the most profound crisis in international development in decades, threatening to reverse years of progress in public health globally. In the season five premier of Giving Done Right, Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette talk with Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, about what this means and how donors can respond.

Suzman also shares candid insights about the Gates Foundation's work, including its evolving strategy and Bill Gates' recent announcement committing to spending down $200+ billion in assets by 2045. He offers advice to donors on making a difference in large-scale, global efforts, shares why "one of the huge comparative advantages of philanthropy is being able to take a little bit of risk," and speaks to the role of AI in programs from math education to innovative HIV prevention.

Additional Resources

Gates Philanthropy Partners

CARE

Save the Children

UNICEF

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

Friends of the Global Fight

The End Fund

YouthTruth

YouthTruth report, “Making Sense of Learning Math: Insights From the Student Experience”

The Gates Foundation’s announcement about spending down

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