Welcome to a special episode of Women in Philanthropy. It's our Season 1 wrap-up! Thank you to all the listeners who have joined us this season. In this episode, responding to requests, we're turning the tables as I delve into my own experiences and insights after interviewing 14 incredible women in philanthropy this season.

In the spotlight today: my unexpected journey into philanthropy and how curiosity and a research-driven mindset shaped my path. I'll share more about how the podcast came together and what we've learned in the process.

Season 1 brought up several important themes, and I reflect on the context of women in philanthropy, their challenges, and the opportunities. We delved into valuing behind-the-scenes roles, addressing the opacity in philanthropic pathways, and navigating the dichotomies within the field. Challenges, such as the underrepresentation of women in leadership and the presence of bad actors, were not overlooked. However, amidst these challenges, opportunities emerged—driven by purpose, creativity, and the utilization of diverse resources.

In a rapid-fire round, I'll share my thoughts on the worst philanthropic jargon ("Theory of change"), the most inspiring trend ("Mutual Aid"), and my speculation on AI's potential impact on philanthropic roles. Will it streamline processes or introduce biases? The future remains intriguing.

Remember, the spaces we create are not just the end; they're the beginning of meaningful dialogues. Looking ahead, partnerships and the promise of Season 2 are on the horizon—this is just the beginning.

Connect with Michele and the Women in Philanthropy podcast.

TL; DL?: Check out our conversation and resources in the ⁠⁠⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠⁠⁠.

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast created by women, for women working in the giving and social impact sector. This includes fundraisers, grantmakers, and advisors. While giving has a significant impact, it is not always visible who is behind the scenes making it possible. This podcast strives to unite women across the sector and beyond borders. It aims to highlight women's experiences in philanthropy, which are often neglected in research and history.

We look forward to bringing you ~20-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

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The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠⁠⁠.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.

Welcome to the 11th installment of Women in Philanthropy! As we approach the conclusion of Season 1, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast support throughout the past year. Please stay tuned for our upcoming wrap-up episode next month.

Throughout Season 1, we've shed light on the diverse roles within philanthropy. The interconnections between these roles have become increasingly evident as you've followed our episodes. In this particular installment, we delve into how these roles coalesce within a single organization, focusing on the progression from securing donors' contributions to disbursing them to the community. This model is employed by numerous philanthropic organizations, and comprehending the synergy of these roles provides a clearer understanding of how funds are mobilized and how services are extended to both donors and charitable entities.

In Episode 11, we embark on a journey from gifts to grants, accompanied by our guests, Philippa Cornish and Ashling Cashmore, who elucidate the interplay of their roles within the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). Philippa expounds on her work with corporations in crafting strategic gift strategies, which dovetail with Ashling's responsibility of channeling these strategies into meaningful grants.

Our guests also share insights into their prior experiences in client-facing positions and how these experiences aided their transition into the philanthropic sector. They offer perspectives on the evolving landscape of corporate giving, the burgeoning demand for donor advisory services, the imperative for enhanced transparency, and the challenge of addressing philanthropic polarization.

We discuss the jargon of "donators" and of impact, positive trends of the democratization of impact and the upsurge in strategic corporate philanthropy, and wonder about the prospects for more philanthropic futurists and Chief Purpose Officers.

Connect with Philippa and Ashling⁠.

TL; DL?: Check out our conversation and resources in the ⁠⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠⁠.

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast created by women, for women working in the giving and social impact sector. This includes fundraisers, grantmakers, and advisors. While giving has a significant impact, it is not always visible who is behind the scenes making it possible. This podcast strives to unite women across the sector and beyond borders. It aims to highlight women's experiences in philanthropy, which are often neglected in research and history.

We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

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The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠⁠.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.

Welcome to the 10th episode of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, Kari Chaudhry sheds light on social investment as a powerful tool in the realm of philanthropy. She highlights the social power that comes with the combination of women, wealth and investing. Kari also shares her personal experience as a social impact investor, talking about her journey from the fashion industry to promoting social investment across the Atlantic.

Our wide-ranging conversation touches on the barriers which still exist for women and wealth, how we educate our girls on finance, and company diversity which remains more window-dressing than reality.

Kari discusses the need to rebrand philanthropy, the inspiring trend of social impact investing, and the potential for altruism advisors in the field.

You can learn more about Kari's work at the Atlantic Society ⁠here⁠.

TL; DL?: Check out Kari's thoughts and resources on ⁠⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠⁠.

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast created by women, for women working in the giving and social impact sector. This includes fundraisers, grantmakers, and advisors. While giving has a significant impact, it is not always visible who is behind the scenes making it possible. This podcast strives to unite women across the sector and beyond borders. It aims to highlight women's experiences in philanthropy, which are often neglected in research and history.

We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

********************************

The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠⁠.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.

Welcome back to episode 9 of Women in Philanthropy!

In this episode, Jessica Middleton discusses her role as a social insights (not impact) specialist. Drawing together experiences in research, charities, and grantmaking, Jessica weaves together information on emerging needs, funding priorities, and grantmaking approaches.

Jessica challenges us to consider how we approach research and data within the philanthropic field. Are we being intentional about how much we are asking of our grantees and research participants? For which purposes? To what ends?

She describes the power imbalances within funding, but also within research, and challenges that the pursuit of impact might be part of the problem.

Her use of the term "social insights" is an intentional shift away from impact. She is passionate about how we use language in philanthropy, as it often props up the power imbalance through exclusionary and jargon-filled terms.

Listen to why Jessica thinks impact is the worst jargon and how the field needs a role to facilitate greater sharing of organisational processes beyond grantmaking transparency.

(Note: We were so wrapped up in the language conversation I forgot to ask Jessica the "most inspiring trend". Needless to say, I think the conversation on language is an important answer.)

You can learn more about Jessica ⁠here⁠.

TL; DL?: Check out Jessica's thoughts and resources in the Episode Notes linked here.

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We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

Click the ⁠link⁠ for the website & more information on the ⁠⁠Women in Philanthropy podcast⁠⁠.

If you are a Woman in Philanthropy and want to share your story, please email [email protected]

It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus. Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠⁠.

Welcome back to episode 8 of Women in Philanthropy! Thank you for your continued support of this podcast.

In this episode, Danielle Walker Palmour speaks with us about her roles across the philanthropic sector, from research and evaluation to leading a philanthropic foundation. As the Director of Friends Provident Foundation, Danielle's career development points to how one might find roles within foundations and, importantly, how the lack of diversity in these roles excludes many others.

Her approach to foundation work demonstrates the alchemy required to create social change through philanthropic vehicles. Her long-standing career has provided a range of tools which she draws upon in her current work. As she describes, a social issue might not need a grant, and it is within her role to blend the tools in order to address the social issue.

She has spearheaded the Foundation Practice Rating, which grades foundation behaviour based on publically available data in diversity, accountability, and transparency. The goal is to positively change foundation behaviour and eliminate the opacity surrounding foundation work.

Listen to why Danielle thinks movement building is the worst jargon, why accountability is an inspiring trend, and how the field needs behaviour change interventionists as the next roles.

You can learn more about Danielle here.

TL; DL?: Check out Danielle's thoughts and resources in the ⁠⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠⁠.

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We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

Click the link for the website & more information on the ⁠⁠Women in Philanthropy podcast⁠⁠.

If you are a Woman in Philanthropy and want to share your story, please email [email protected]

It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus. Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠⁠.

Welcome back to episode 7 of Women in Philanthropy! Thank you for your continued support of this podcast.

In this episode, Zofia Sochanik and Juliet Valdinger describe their roles as philanthropic connectors. The philanthropic landscape is broad with various stakeholders, from charities, to foundations, to individual donors, government, private wealth advisors, etc. each seeking to create social change. More often than not these stakeholders remain siloed in their industries and organisations, leaving the fields' efforts at change fragmented.

Connectors are the people who are able to link and intersect across spaces. Zofia and Juliet talk about how they've each approached this role, why it is essential, and the effort which it takes. The Connector role is not always visible, and that means its not always fully valued (or funded). Yet, these roles run throughout the field and are essential for making philanthropy work.

You can learn more about Zofia and Juliet on their LinkedIn pages.

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Welcome back to episode 5 of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, Anna Bruni Sabhaney shares her journey moving between civil engineering and the nonprofit sector. She prioritised her learning and the voices of those closest to the issue. In launching The Confluencers, Anna aims to help nonprofit founders connect with funders by shifting traditional funding power dynamics. She describes the elements of engineering which have helped her make the transition to the nonprofit sector and examples of funding agreements which could better help align all stakeholders.

Anna describes how admin/project costs are the worst jargon, how flexible funding is an inspiring trend, and how complex system communicators might advance the philanthropic sector.

You can learn more about Anna and the Confluencers here.

TL; DL?: Check out Anna's thoughts and resources in the ⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠.

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast by and for women working in the giving and social impact sector. Fundraisers, grantmakers, advisors. You can't always see behind the scenes in giving, which means you can't see who enables this giving. This podcast hopes to connect women across the sector and borders. It seeks to amplify women's experiences working in philanthropy, which have too often been overlooked in our research and histories.

We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

********************************

The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.

Welcome back to episode 4 of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, Dr. Steph Haydon and Dr. Janis Petzinger speak about their experiences and perspectives as academic researchers. As they share, philanthropy is full of hard questions which need examining. Research helps to develop questions and answer them in ways that improve understanding and influence practice. In their work, they use the lenses offered by management to study philanthropic institutions and people. Research helps to raise the right questions and provides a rigorous process for interrogating the knowledge we use to conduct our philanthropic work. Their research spans philanthrocapitalism, high net-worth givers, NHS charities, engaged giving, trust-based philanthropy, and the impact of Covid-19.

Janis and Steph speak about why impact is the worst (and most violent) jargon, how trust-based philanthropy and unrestricted giving are inspiring trends, and why philanthropy needs translators, negotiators, and emissaries to bridge across stakeholders.

You can learn more about Dr. Haydon here and Dr. Petzinger here.

TL; DL?: Check out the Drs.' thoughts and research on ⁠Episode Notes Available Here⁠.

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast by and for women working in the giving and social impact sector. Fundraisers, grantmakers, advisors. You can't always see behind the scenes in giving, which means you can't see who enables this giving. This podcast hopes to connect women across the sector and borders. It seeks to amplify women's experiences working in philanthropy, which have too often been overlooked in our research and histories.

We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

********************************

The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: ⁠https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/⁠.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.

Welcome back to episode 3 of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, we speak with Gosia Brzezinska, founder of BB Partners, an Advisory for Social Change. Gosia talks about her experience in political communications and her shift into philanthropy and change-making. In her role, she supports philanthropists and their organisations in their communication efforts - sharing their work, partnering with others, and expressing impact. In Gosia's words, "communication plays a critical role in enabling giving" through raising awareness and building trust. Yet, Western philanthropy receives most of our attention and interest, leading to gaps in our understanding of other giving cultures and how best to support all philanthropists.

Gosia shares why impact investing is the worst jargon, how donor collaboratives are an inspiring trend, and why the next role in philanthropy needs to find a way to blend philanthropic advisory and investing skills.

You can learn more about Gosia's work at BB Partners. 

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Women in Philanthropy is a podcast by and for women working in the giving and social impact sector. Fundraisers, grantmakers, advisors. You can't always see behind the scenes in giving, which means you can't see who enables this giving. This podcast hopes to connect women across the sector and borders. It seeks to amplify women's experiences working in philanthropy, which have too often been overlooked in our research and histories.

We look forward to bringing you ~15-minute episodes, connecting you with amazing women and hearing the stories of their philanthropic work.

********************************

The podcast is generously supported by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. VSSN functions to promote the advancement of knowledge about, and understanding of, organisations between the market and the state. It provides a virtual and actual meeting point for scholars and researchers both outside and within the voluntary (third or non-profit) sector(s), with a shared analytic interest in this set of institutions. It is multidisciplinary, seeking to engage economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, policy analysts and others. It aspires to a UK-wide focus.

Membership is invited from academics and practitioners. For more information, look at the website: https://www.vssn.org.uk/about-us/.

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Thank you for listening and for your continued support! Please subscribe to be alerted to the release of our upcoming episodes.