Giving Voices

John Farnam and Paul Heitzenrater describe the myriad ways they engage with their community (Denver) from collecting and donating socks and suitcases, growing and giving away fresh produce, to chairing galas that raise $1 million. Their combined generosity of time, treasure, talent (and ties and testimony) fulfills both urgent and basic needs as well as addresses systemic issues, even as they each approach philanthropy differently. In this episode, they share personal experiences that inform both their individual and joint perspectives. We all can learn something from these two beautiful humans and their embodiment of the literal meaning of the word 'philanthropy.'
Bonus: Here are just three of the organizations John & Paul support --
Urban Peak
Mount View Boulevard Presbyterian Church
Metro Caring, and here's a wonderful article about the organization that also spotlights their work

Do you have a story to share? Reach out at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you!
Stefanie Borsari, Linked In
Artwork by Justin Novick
Special Thanks to Daya Ottley

Much has been studied and written about Generation Z, commonly considered to encompass those born between the mid-1990s (around 1995) to the mid-2010s (around 2010 or 2012). Whether any of what has been written is true I don't know, but I do agree with previous guest Emily Goodstein's assessment that "all the wisdom in the world is held by girls." Here is one such girl, LJ Borsari, who shares some of her thoughts about systemic issues and how philanthropy can be “the thing” that everyone can and should engage in to help solve those issues. (Full disclosure: LJ is my teenage daughter.)

Bonus: Global Giving is the organization through which LJ designated her $100 contribution. Since its founding in 2002, Global Giving has helped deploy nearly $925 million in support of more than 36,000 projects in 175+ countries. And UnCharitable is the movie we referenced early in the episode. Although there are mixed reviews and varying levels of receptiveness to the film, LJ noted that it helped her understand what philanthropy is and what her mom does for work.

Do you have a story to share? Reach out at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you!
Stefanie Borsari, Linked In
Artwork by Justin Novick
Special Thanks to Daya Ottley

Founder + CEO of Greater Good Strategy Emily Goodstein joins Giving Voices in today’s episode that centers around the theme of communication. We cover all manner of topics ranging from our mutual disappointment in the results of Exponent Philanthropy’s survey, “How Grantees Think Funders Should Improve” to whether Pinterest is still relevant, with lots of personal nuggets and professional observations in between.
Bonus: Here's that report from Exponent Philanthropy: How Grantees Think Funders Should Improve. What do you think? Drop me a line at [email protected]!

Do you have a story to share? Reach out at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you!
Stefanie Borsari, Linked In
Artwork by Justin Novick
Special Thanks to Daya Ottley

Trustees from two generations of the sunsetting Donley Foundation, Tom Donley and Jenny Convey, speak frankly about the history, evolution, and decision to dissolve their family’s foundation. In just over one year following the board’s decision to spend-down, the assets were distributed, and the foundation closed. They’re honest, direct, reflective, and generous in sharing their experience and perspectives on helping to shepherd the next phase of the family’s philanthropy.

Bonus: Here are some excerpts from the brochure Tom mentions at the end of the episode: Jim Collins’ Good to Great and the Social Sectors.

Do you have a story to share? Reach out at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you!
Stefanie Borsari, Linked In
Artwork by Justin Novick
Special Thanks to Daya Ottley

What do stories about a rug, a cat, and the minister of a Congregational church have in common, and what do they have to do with philanthropy? You’ll understand once you hear Mary Phillips, founder and senior advisor of GMA Foundations, one of the country’s first philanthropic advisory firms, help explain myriad governance options for private foundations. If you’re contemplating starting a private foundation, this is a MUST LISTEN as you move forward!

Bonus: Mary spotlights one of her favorite professional stories – that being her early experience with a funder who desired to improve a neighborhood in Roxbury/North Dorchester, MA. The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, which continues to be an active and thriving grassroots organization, grew out of an important encounter between that funder and residents of the neighborhood the funder wished support. For a deeper understanding of DSNI, check out their website, the book Streets of Hope: The Fall and Rise of an Urban Neighborhood and see if you can track down the documentaries Holding Ground: The Rebirth of Dudley Street (1996) and its sequel, Gaining Ground (2013).

Do you have a story to share? Reach out at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you!
Stefanie Borsari, Linked In
Artwork by Justin Novick
Special Thanks to Daya Ottley