Women in Philanthropy Podcast

20-minute episodes:
What is your role?
How did you find or create it?
How does it enable giving?
What issue in philanthropy needs airing?
Four rapid-fire questions.

#WomeninPhilanthropyPodcast

Latest Episode

Season 1 Wrap Up & Reflections

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.

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.

Previous Episodes

Dilys Winterkorn, Philanthropic Advisor

Welcome to the first pilot episode of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, we speak to Dilys Winterkorn about her role as a Philanthropic Advisor, moving from a fundraiser to the creation of grantmaking programs for large charities. We also delve into diversity, equality, and inclusion within the philanthropic sector and how she brings all aspects of her identity into her work.

Robin Heller, The Athena Advisors

Gosia Brzezinska, Co-Founder, BB Partners

Dr. Steph Haydon and
Dr. Janis Petzinger, Philanthropic Researchers

Anna Bruni Sabhaney, Boundary Spanner

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.

Veronica Bamford-Deane, Business for Good

Welcome back to episode 6 of Women in Philanthropy! In this episode, Veronica Bamford-Deane describes the potential of business for good. As a relationship builder between charities and businesses, Veronica talks about how she’s engaged businesses in supporting social good. She offers a contemporary look at the tools businesses can use, how charities can see businesses as collaborators, and where businesses might need to focus next. Most importantly, she describes how businesses can create change through simple actions and collaborate successfully with charities through honest conversations.

Zofia Sochanik & Juliet Valdinger, The Connectors

Welcome back to episode 7 of Women in Philanthropy! 

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.

Danielle Walker Palmour, The Alchemist

Welcome back to episode 8 of Women in Philanthropy! 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.

Jessica Middleton, Social Insights Specialist

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.

Kari Chaudhry, Social Impact Investor

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.

Philippa Cornish & Ashling Cashmore, From Gift to Grant

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. 

In this episode, 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.

You can find Women in Philanthropy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Anchor.fm.

Dr. Michele Fugiel Gartner, CAP®, is a multifaceted philanthropic expert known for her research, advisory, and educational contributions. Her doctoral research, specializing in family foundations, offers profound insights into the world of foundation professionals. Michele’s expertise extends to advisory services, where she guides individuals, couples, and family foundations in their philanthropic endeavours. Her deep understanding of the field, coupled with her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation earned in 2016, equips her to provide strategic and informed guidance. Additionally, Michele is a dedicated educator in nonprofit management, committed to nurturing the next generation of nonprofit leaders. She is an esteemed member of the Global Philanthropy Advisory Group with the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners (STEP). Michele’s holistic approach, blending research, advisory, and education, positions her as a valuable resource for those seeking to make a profound and purposeful impact in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors.

mfgartner@mfgchange.com