Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset that transforms lean funders from grantmakers into changemakers. Its four core practices—leading with purpose, centering equity, engaging deeply in community, and making long-term, flexible commitments—help funders amplify their impact and drive systemic change.
This case study highlights how Michael Weinberg, program director at the Thornburg Foundation, puts these practices into action. Through focused giving, deep engagement with partners, and a steadfast commitment to equity and long-term partnership, he has helped advance early childhood education and government reform, showing how philanthropy can catalyze lasting change in the policy arena.
Michael Weinberg’s Path to Catalytic Leadership
Michael Weinberg’s path to catalytic leadership was shaped by his early work in state policy and public finance. As a fiscal analyst for the state’s Legislative Finance Committee, he saw how funding decisions and system design could profoundly shape opportunities for children and families. At the Thornburg Foundation, Weinberg brought this systems-level perspective to philanthropy, helping shift the foundation’s focus toward long-term, equity-centered partnerships and policy reform.
Leading with Focus and Intent
Since joining the Thornburg Foundation, Weinberg has led a strategic shift toward focused giving, an essential step for funders seeking lasting, systemic change. In 2012, the foundation narrowed its work to three policy areas: early childhood education, food and agriculture, and good government reform.
Weinberg’s decision to prioritize early childhood education was deliberate and data-driven. With New Mexico ranking near the bottom in child well-being and income levels, he saw an opportunity to address the root causes of inequity. Concentrating resources in a few high-leverage areas has allowed the foundation to invest deeply, about $1 million annually per policy area, and achieve measurable, long-term results.
Showing Up Where Change Happens
A cornerstone of CLIP is getting out of the office and into the community. For Weinberg, that means engaging directly with the systems and people driving change across New Mexico.
Before joining the foundation, he evaluated education spending for the state’s Legislative Finance Committee, experience that gave him a firsthand understanding of public policy. Today, he uses that knowledge to build bridges between policymakers, educators, and advocates.
Weinberg helped launch a funders advocacy coalition, engage legislators, and champion evidence-based practices such as home visiting. These sustained partnerships contributed to the creation of New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department, one of the state’s most significant policy milestones.
Building Systems That Serve Everyone
Michael Weinberg’s work in New Mexico offers a powerful example of philanthropy grounded in equity. With the state’s high percentages of Hispanic, Native American, and other historically marginalized populations, the challenges and opportunities are distinct. Persistent poverty and a majority-minority population demand approaches that prioritize those most affected by systemic inequities.
From the start, the Thornburg Foundation’s shift toward policy-driven philanthropy has been rooted in equity. Weinberg recognized that meaningful reform in early childhood education and maternal health required confronting racial and economic disparities head-on. His advocacy for early childhood programs is, at its heart, an effort to ensure that all children, particularly those born into poverty, have equitable access to opportunity and support.
Rather than maintaining a top-down approach, he works to elevate community voices and ensure they have a seat at the table, especially in shaping the policies that determine their futures.
Making Long-Term, Flexible Grants
A hallmark of Michael Weinberg’s leadership is the Thornburg Foundation’s commitment to long-term, flexible funding. Rather than relying on short-term, project-based grants, the foundation invests for the long haul, giving grantees the stability and trust needed to pursue lasting, systems-level change.
Weinberg knows that progress takes time. In early childhood education, for example, major milestones, like creating New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department and expanding state investments in child care and home visiting, were the result of years of sustained collaboration and advocacy.
Flexible funding allows partners to adapt as conditions change while staying focused on long-term goals. Weinberg’s approach is built on trust—trust in grantees’ expertise, in long-term partnership, and in the power of steady, consistent work to create meaningful change.
Catalytic Leadership in Practice
Michael Weinberg’s leadership at the Thornburg Foundation shows what Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) looks like in action. Through focused giving, direct engagement with communities, a deep commitment to equity, and long-term, flexible funding, he has helped the foundation become a catalyst for lasting change in New Mexico.
His work reminds us that when funders embrace the core practices of CLIP, they move beyond traditional grantmaking to become true partners in progress. For lean funders everywhere, Weinberg’s example offers a clear takeaway: real transformation happens when philanthropy listens, learns, and leads alongside the communities it serves.
Further Listening
On The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast, Weinberg talks more about advocating for state-level systems change.
Part 1: In this episode, Michael Weinberg of the Thornburg Foundation shares how a small, place-based foundation advanced state-level policy change through research, collaboration, and focused persistence.
Part 2: In this episode, Weinberg explains how bringing funders together in a learning coalition led to stronger advocacy, trusted relationships with policymakers, and lasting change for New Mexico’s children and families.
Part 3: In this episode, Weinberg shares lessons from years of coalition work and offers practical tips for how any foundation can begin advocating for policy-level change.