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Giving Done Right

Giving Done Right
Author: The Center for Effective Philanthropy
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From the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), Giving Done Right is the show with everything you need to know to make an impact with your charitable giving. Whether you’re donating a few hundred dollars a year, a few thousand, or a few million, you might find yourself wondering: Where should I give? How do I know which nonprofits are effective? How do I know if I’m really making a difference with my donation? Join hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette as they welcome leaders and experts from throughout the nonprofit sector to answer philanthropy’s burning questions and bust some myths that have long plagued donors and nonprofits alike. In a time when effective giving is especially crucial, Giving Done Right cuts through the noise and focuses on what you need to know to put your money to work.
55 Episodes
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What does it mean to tell the Muslim American story of generosity? Why is it important to talk about "religious justice" in philanthropy alongside other forms of justice? These are questions that President of the WF Fund and philanthropic advocate Dilnaz Waraich explores with hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette as she shares her journey from kitchen table conversations about giving back to leading narrative change work that highlights Muslim American generosity.
In this episode, Dilnaz discusses Islamic principles behind charitable giving, why trust-based philanthropy requires humility, and how interfaith bridge-building strengthens communities. She also offers candid insights about her mistakes as a donor, the power of storytelling in philanthropy, and why "you're just enough" might be the encouragement hesitant donors need to hear right now.
Additional Resources
WF Fund
Inspired Generosity: stories of Muslim American generosity
National Center for Family Philanthropy
Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy
“The Next Day” by Melinda French Gates
Connections for the Homeless
Equal Justice Initiative
PBS documentary series: “American Muslims: A History Revealed”
President of the Democracy Fund Joe Goldman offers both urgency and clarity for donors concerned about the U.S.’ democratic backslide into authoritarianism in this conversation. As the second Trump administration consolidates power, he offers a practical three-part framework for strategic, democracy-focused giving: strengthening guardrails, powering breakthrough strategies, and working toward reconstruction.
In a conversation that grapples with difficult questions about donor fear and the paralyzing sense of overwhelm that many feel when considering the breadth of threats to democracy right now, Goldman shares specific examples of organizations doing critical work, and an array of ways that donors can get involved. His message is clear: "Courage breeds more courage. Solidarity breeds more solidarity."
Additional Resources
Democracy Fund
Democracy Fund Voice
Free DC
Press Forward
More Equitable Democracy
Protect Democracy
Democracy Forward
Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law
Government Accountability Project
GovAct
States United
Community Change
New America
Demos
Unite in Advance
“Hope in the Dark” by Rebecca Solnit
“Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil” by Hannah Arendt
As ICE raids and warrantless arrests by masked federal agents take place around the U.S., Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights), joins hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette to discuss the unprecedented scale of current immigration enforcement and its implications for everyone.
Angelica sheds light on what is happening on the streets and in processing and detention centers, including how individuals are being "disappeared,” due process is being denied, and the infrastructure supporting immigrant integration is being systematically dismantled. She also shares how CHIRLA and other immigrant rights organizations are fighting back through rapid response, documentation, advocacy, and in the courts. She offers hope through the remarkable story of how CHIRLA’s community stepped up to support them and the gathering tide of courage shown by advocates, activists, donors, and others.
In what she calls "a defining moment for our country" with implications well beyond immigration, she urges donors to support the ecosystem of immigrant rights, and shares her optimism that the U.S. can continue to be a country “built out of the many.”
Additional Resources:
CHIRLA - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
Raids Rapid Response Network (California)
Center for Migration Studies
National Day Labor Organizing Network
“Trump is Building His Own Paramilitary Force,” The Ezra Klein Show - The New York Times Opinion (podcast mentioned by Grace)
International Institute of Los Angeles
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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.
Additional Resources
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
Nearly everyone will age or be in a caregiving role for aging relatives at some point in their life, yet relatively few major donors or foundations make aging an explicit priority. In this episode, Phil and Grace discuss the importance of enabling everyone to age with dignity with Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of the National Council on Aging, and Chad Federwitz, manager of Pitkin County Senior Services in Aspen, Colorado. Ramsey and Chad offer insight into the numerous opportunities for donors to support aging programs, from research and advocacy to local community efforts and discuss the vital role that senior centers and community programs play.
Additional Resources
National Council on Aging (NCOA)
Grantmakers in Aging
Information on the Older Americans Act for advocates
Eldercare Locator - find services for older adults and their families
What role do leaders play in the success of nonprofits and how can donors better support effective nonprofit leaders? Phil and Grace chat with Yolanda Coentro, president and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice about her own journey to leadership and the unique set of challenges that nonprofit leaders face. They also discuss funding dynamics that prioritize programs over people, burnout, and the role of identity as a leader.
Additional Resources
Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP)
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Fund the People
CEP’s State of Nonprofits 2024: What Funders Need to Know
Find CEP’s reports on grantmaker responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and greater focus on racial equity here.
Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
What happens when you give cash to those in need? In this episode, Phil and Grace discuss direct cash transfers in conversation with Jesús Gerena, president and CEO of UpTogether. Jesús shares insight into how individuals who receive cash transfers invest in themselves, their families, and their communities. Jesús, Grace, and Phil consider attitudes of paternalism and mistrust of the poor among donors. They also discuss related concepts and ideas such as basic income movements and effective altruism.
Additional Resources
UpTogether
The Urban Institute’s evaluation of the Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot
Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania
GiveDirectly
CEP’s research on the impact of MacKenzie Scott’s giving