The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast

Catalyzing Community-Led Change, by Helping People Find New Ways of Solving Issues Together

Discover how lean funders can nurture the fundamental conditions for any systems-change effort, no matter the specific issue or goal - by helping to build the civic cultu

To Drive Systems-Level Change, a Foundation Embraces Constant Learning and Adaptation

Systems change requires understanding the entire landscape and ecosystem of an issue - the people and organizations who touch the issue in all sectors; the economic, soci

Centering Families' Voices in Systems Design - Part 1

The Steelcase Foundation in Michigan is taking an in-depth look over ten years, at how the social service and business landscape in their community impacts the lived expe

Centering Families' Voices in Systems Design - Part 2

The Steelcase Foundation in Michigan is taking an in-depth look over ten years, at how the social service and business landscape in their community impacts the lived expe

A Master Class in Making Change - Building a New Field

When board and staff of The Music Man Foundation shifted from funding immediate needs to focusing on long-term systemic change, the foundation went all-in. Engaging partn

Asking "What Do You Need?" Led Us to Fund AI & Other Trainings for Nonprofits

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund shifted its grant reporting process from written reports to inviting conversations with partners. Executive Director Lauren Scott approa

Making a Case for Foundations Spending More to Meet the Moment

During a year of massive funding cuts to the nation's social service providers, the Weissberg Foundation is challenging traditional assumptions in philanthropy about foun

How a Lean Foundation Doubled Its Spending to Meet Urgent Needs

The Weissberg Foundation, a leanly staffed foundation in Virginia, chose to double its spending to support partners and communities in a year of massive funding cuts to n

Building Alliances Between a City's Nonprofits and Its Business Community

In Oklahoma City, the Expressions of Hope Foundation, the corporate foundation for Express Employment International, leverages its ties to Oklahoma City businesses to bui

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy: Expanding Childcare by Nurturing New Childcare Businesses - Part 1

Lean foundations make bets on new, creative ideas for addressing social and environmental challenges. Learn how a foundation with one staff person helped tackle the child

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy: Expanding Childcare by Nurturing New Childcare Businesses - Part 2

Lean foundations make bets on new, creative ideas for addressing social and environmental challenges. Learn how a foundation with one staff person helped tackle the child

Breaking Down Walls Between Foundation and Community: How Transformation Begins

No matter their mission, culture, or focus, every foundation's first steps toward Catalytic Leadership follow a similar path. A foundation staff person, trustee, donor, o

Catalyzing Generosity: Newman's Own Foundation Models Giving 100% for Philanthropy

Leanly staffed foundations can influence how other foundations practice philanthropy. By working in creative, entrepreneurial ways, these agile funders make new or non-tr

Supercharging Impact: Recruiting Community Leaders for Our Foundation Board

Developing knowledge and insight into a specific issue positions foundations to catalyze change. Learning deeply about an issue reveals gaps and leverage points where you

Debra Jacobs - Catalyzing Systems Change by Fostering Wide Participation Around Shared Aspirations

Foundations practicing Catalytic Leadership understand that making deeper, lasting progress on a priority issue requires working with organizations across all sectors, an

Danielle Reyes - Going Beyond Scholarships to Increase Student Participation in Tuition-Based Education

Staff and board of the Crimsonbridge Foundation know that scholarship dollars have long played an important and familiar role to support student participation in tuition-

Danielle Reyes - Money Alone Won't Make Systemic Change. Our Foundation Uses Our Full Social and Human Capital - Part 2

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize th

Danielle Reyes - Money Alone Won't Make Systemic Change. Our Foundation Uses Our Full Social and Human Capital

Danielle Reyes, President and CEO of the Crimsonbridge Foundation, observes that many times, discussions about improving philanthropy call upon foundations to minimize th

Brett Howell and Kirsten Midura - Being The First Funder: Empowering Investment in New Projects, Organizations, and Visionary Ideas

Some say the highest and best use of philanthropy is to drive innovation and creativity. Champions of this role emphasize foundations' and donors' freedom to support - wi

Abigail Seldin - Creative Philanthropy: Catalyzing a New Way to Help Parents Attend College - Part 2

It was a win-win solution, hiding in plain sight. Community colleges could serve more parents with young children, if parents had easier access to affordable childcare. H