Research and Insights
Foundation Professionals & Foundation Work
Canadian Philanthropy and Philanthropic Foundations
Writing & Articles
From Philanthropoid to Foundation Professional: Reflecting on a Century of Staff Role Development in U.S. Private Foundations
What do we know about foundation staff roles, and how have they changed over time? Using literature on foundation staff roles in the US from the 20th century, my colleagues, Tobias Jung, Alina Baluch, and I explored these issues in our new article, published in The Foundation Review.
Breaking the Mould: Advising Clients Across the Giving Spectrum
Changing the philanthropic advisory landscape requires us to challenge some fundamental assumptions – not least about what philanthropy is, and who can be a philanthropist.
The enormity of issues facing modern society can feel overwhelming – climate change, equity and equality, recession and inflation, food insecurity, global health, and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, they are human-made, meaning that humans have agency in their solutions. There are tools we can use. The challenge is knowing what they are and linking to the people who are best placed to enable their use.
A Better Blend: Strengthening Philanthropic Research & Practice
Sixteen years ago, I fell into my first role in philanthropy at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. My background was in public diplomacy and international studies. While I had heard of the Foundation’s work in global health, I didn’t know anything about working in a philanthropic foundation. As I started in my role, I realised that other people had a similar experience of stumbling into philanthropy. I began to wonder who we all were and how we got here. It was the seed of a research idea I would carry for over a decade.