Be Giving Podcast

In the episode, we are joined by Regine Webster. Regine is a philanthropic consultant, guiding foundations to create sustainable and equitable impact. She was the founding executive director and vice president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, an organization aimed at transforming disaster-related giving worldwide. A trusted voice in the sector, Regine has worked to develop the field of disaster philanthropy over the past twenty years. Regine is one of only a handful of people nationwide who have managed a dedicated disaster portfolio for a foundation; including the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, she has worked with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Arabella Advisors. In this episode, we discuss: What disaster philanthropy means and the intersectional nature of disasters How philanthropy can provide support for disaster-related challenges The role technology plays in identifying need and targeting response surrounding disasters

In this episode, we are joined by Ada Williams Prince, an established thought leader at the intersection of philanthropy, equity, and global economic development. A creative leader at the cutting edge of global and domestic philanthropy. Ada has worked for two decades to advance the power and influence of women and girls of color around the world, She has conceived groundbreaking disruptions to philanthropic norms and scalable models to transform the field along the way.  She was the Director of Program Strategy at Pivotal Ventures, founded by Melinda French Gates. Prior to that, she held roles at many organizations for change, such as the Marguerite Casey Foundation, OneAmerica, the Women’s Refugee Commission, the International Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, and the US Aid Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, to name a few. By championing the formation of the first ‘Women and Girls of Color Design Council’ within a premium philanthropic and venture organization, she has envisioned a future in philanthropy and investment built around silo-busting investment strategies and fundamental trust in women and girls at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity and economics. Ada is leading a growing community of funders committed to transforming capital and decision making. In this episode, we discuss: Why an investment in women and girls of color is an investment in everyone The value of funders respecting and trusting the expertise of community members to design solutions for their own lives How longer-term grants allow nonprofits to ensure continuity in their impact and build trust in philanthropy

To kick off Season 2, we are joined by Judy Belk, a Philanthropic Advisor at JVB Consulting and a leading voice on philanthropic change. Judy has held senior executive leadership positions in the government, corporate, and philanthropic sectors. Most recently, Judy served for nine years as the President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic institutions in California with assets over $1 billion and an annual grantmaking budget of more than $65 million. Before Cal Wellness, she served as Senior Vice President for Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Vice President of global public affairs for Levi Strauss & Co. Her insights have been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. Judy is currently working on a book. “Ten Miles from the White House, a collection of personal essays focused on race, justice, and love.” In this episode we discuss: Why anyone—no matter the background—can be a ‘philanthropist,’ and how Judy’s personal experience with philanthropic support drives her work today The importance of wielding influence and resources to ensure a positive impact How listening to and learning from communities to understand their needs allows donors to partner with these communities in a thoughtful way

In this episode, we are joined by Vu Le, one of the most outspoken critics of the power dynamics in the nonprofit sector and the voice behind Nonprofit AF, a blog that offers a candid perspective on the philanthropic space. In this episode we discuss: - How program officers and fundraisers can work together toward shared goals - The ways in which foundations can improve the grant application process - How foundation leaders can engage with the communities they serve

In this episode we are joined by Shilpa Andalkar. Shilpa is a wealth manager at Ensemble Capital, a San Francisco-based firm that provides investment management for families, trusts and foundations.  Earlier in her career, Shilpa worked in the non-profit space —specifically in efforts to improve air and water quality in California. She is passionate about serving mission-minded investors. In this episode we discuss: - Why philanthropy is an important aspect of a financial plan - The benefits of unifying charitable objectives in a more strategic way - How financial advisors can introduce charitable giving to clients

In this episode, we are joined by Dien Yuen. Dien has over two decades of experience in philanthropy, and social impact. She began her career working in wealth management and went on to found the Center for Philanthropy and Social Impact at the American College where she launched a support group for Advisors of Color where she was based when we had this conversation. Most recently, Dien co-founded Daylight Advisors, a modern platform for families and advisors that aims to revolutionize the field of philanthropic advising and maximizing philanthropy’s potential to change lives. In this episode we discuss: - The value of philanthropy in wealth management - How the American College of Financial Services built philanthropy into their curriculum and why - The evolution and importance of Advisors of Color

In this episode, we are joined by award-winning director, writer, and producer, Stephen Gyllenhaal, and Executive Director at Inclusive Action for the City, Rudy Espinoza. In this conversation, we discuss some of the key themes from UnCharitable, a provocative documentary about the non-profit sector. The film is an educational expose and a powerful call to action to rethink how we approach charitable work and funding. The movie is directed by Stephen and shares the personal journey of Dan Pallotta and also features other notable figures in philanthropy, including Rudy, who’s organization serves as a platform for innovation in economic development and community building. His work centers around identifying investment opportunities in low-income communities for the private sector, specifically organizing efforts to revitalize neighborhoods. In this episode we discuss: - What inspired the making of UnCharitable - The ways in which we reward charities for their goals and accomplishments - How foundations can allocate their funds more effectively To view UnCharitable and bring the film to your community, you can fill out this quick form to license the film. To donate and sign the giving pledge, visit the Get Involved page on the UnCharitable website.

In our inaugural episode, we are joined by Nick Flores from Caprock, a multi-family office and certified B corporation. Nick has developed a career-long passion for impact investing – helping wealth serve as a catalyst for generating positive, measurable impact alongside a financial return. At Caprock, Nick oversees $6 billion in assets and works directly with clients to align their portfolios with their social, environmental and financial priorities. In this episode we discuss: - The merits and misconceptions about impact investing - Why aligning investments with your values does not mean sacrificing financial returns - What the differences between traditional versus impact investments mean for foundations

In this episode, we are joined by Suzanne Elise Walsh. With a background in philanthropy, higher education, community development, and law, today, Suzanne is the President of Bennett College, where she has served since August 2019.   Suzanne is also the Founder and Manager of Discerning SEWlutions, an organization that works with foundations, nonprofits, colleges, and universities to uncover, imagine, and plan for future possibilities. Previously, Suzanne also served as Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, where she developed a portfolio of over $70 million in postsecondary investments. Additionally, she has held roles at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, the Lumina Foundation for Education, and The Heinz Endowments. She has received national recognition for her portfolio of work with organizations at the intersection of innovation, technology, and learning.   In this episode, we discuss: ·   The concept of VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, and how it informs Suzanne’s role as a leader in higher education ·   How nonprofits and funders can build transparent, effective relationships that lead to better results ·   The value of funders working with grantees as partners and making space in portfolios for nonobvious partners

In this episode, we are joined by Kerry Dolan, an Assistant Managing Editor at Forbes where she examines the world’s wealthiest people and their philanthropic legacies. As part of her work, she oversees Forbes’ annual list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women and the list of America’s Biggest Givers. Her coverage has ranged from a rare interview with Mark Zuckerberg last year on the eve of Meta’s 20th birthday to a recent story about how the next-gen think about their philanthropic endeavors. An award-winning journalist, Kerry has been reporting for over two decades, making her privy to the companies, trends, and people changing the giving landscape. Her reporting has taken her to many corners of the globe – 17 countries on four continents, from the streets of Manila to palaces in Saudi Arabia to Chile’s Atacama Desert, giving her a unique vantage point. In this episode, we discuss: The role of tax benefits in American philanthropy How Forbes defines a philanthropic contribution and scores philanthropists on their generosity Trends in next-gen, billionaire, and ultra-wealthy charitable giving

In this episode, we are joined by Deepa Iyer who played many roles over two decades supporting social movements: weaver, frontline responder, storyteller, and guide. Her political and community homes include Asian American, South Asian, Muslim, and Arab ecosystems, where she spent many years in policy advocacy and coalition building in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the ensuing backlash.    Today, Deepa is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Building Movement Project, a national non-profit organization that catalyzes social change through research, relationships, and resources. Deepa is also a writer of three books including We Too Sing America and Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection.   Most recently, she is bringing her social change ecosystem map to young children and their caregivers in a new children's book, 'We are the Builders', with learnings about social change.   In this episode, we discuss:   ·   The components of the social change ecosystem map – core sacred values, showing up in the ten roles of the ecosystem, and understanding connections between the roles ·   The importance of funders being open to exploring new directions with their nonprofit partners and approaching funding through a multidimensional framework ·   How funders and nonprofit partners can both be storytellers who talk about the work they’re doing