Catalytic Leadership Virtues: A Case Study of Bold Philanthropy

Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset that transforms lean funders from grantmakers into changemakers. Rooted in humility, passion, curiosity, and patience, CLIP encourages funders to build deep relationships, understand the systems in which they work, and use every asset at their disposal—not just dollars—to spark lasting change.

This case study shows how Colleen O’Keefe, executive director of the Sauer Family Foundation, embodies these virtues—listening with humility, committing boldly with passion, rethinking strategy with curiosity, and advancing systemic change with patience in Minnesota’s child welfare system.

Colleen O’Keefe’s Path to Catalytic Leadership

Colleen O’Keefe never imagined she’d be redefining philanthropy—especially within the complex and often misunderstood child welfare field. As executive director, she stepped away from traditional grantmaking models, immersing herself in an intricate, fragmented system. In doing so, she embodied all four virtues of catalytic leadership: humility, passion, curiosity, and patience.

Leading with Humility

“I really have to go listen,” O’Keefe recalls, reflecting on her early days as the foundation shifted its focus to child welfare. In a world that often celebrates confidence and authority, humility is rarely seen as a leadership strength. But for O’Keefe, it became her most essential asset.

When she first entered the child welfare field, she had no formal training or expertise. “I’ve never been a social worker. I’ve never had to remove kids from their parents,” she admits. It would have been easy for her, as a funder, to stay behind her desk, make educated guesses, and rely solely on polished grant proposals. Instead, she chose to listen.

O’Keefe’s humility helped her recognize that, despite years of experience in education and philanthropy, she had much to learn about the complexities of child welfare. By acknowledging her limits, she built trust and forged deeper connections with people throughout the system—from caseworkers to parents to government officials. That willingness to listen and learn became a cornerstone of her catalytic leadership.

Passion That Sparks Bold Change

While humility opened doors for conversation, it was O’Keefe’s passion for change that propelled her forward. The Sauer Family Foundation had a strong tradition of thoughtful grantmaking, but O’Keefe wanted more than incremental progress—she sought transformation, especially for the vulnerable children caught in Minnesota’s child welfare system.

Her passion became a driving force, pushing her to reimagine how the system could better serve children and families. Despite its dysfunction, she found kindred spirits—dedicated individuals at every level who shared her vision. “You pick up on people’s passion and their concerns, and you see their love for children and families underneath what is a broken system,” she reflects. This shared commitment fueled conversations about changing not just policies and practices, but the very mindset around child well-being.

Her passion proved contagious. Even as the foundation’s sole staff member, she inspired her board to think bigger. In 2021, they drastically increased the foundation’s assets and committed $100 million over the next decade to strengthen child well-being efforts, with a focus on preventing families from entering the child welfare system altogether. This bold decision, sparked by O’Keefe’s relentless drive, marked a pivotal shift in the foundation’s work.

Curiosity as a Strategic Tool

Curiosity may seem like a simple trait, but for O’Keefe, it was the driving force behind her learning journey. She could have relied solely on reports, data, and expert opinions to shape her grantmaking strategy, yet she chose a different path: to ask questions and seek out the lived experiences of those closest to the work. “I went out with a curious mind,” she says. “I wanted to understand how the system worked as a whole.”

Her curiosity led her to conversations with people at every level of the child welfare system. She approached each exchange without a predetermined agenda, asking open-ended questions and letting the dialogue reveal how the system’s many parts connected—or didn’t. By listening deeply to intake workers, foster care administrators, and families, she developed a holistic picture of systemic challenges and pain points.

This curiosity reshaped the Sauer Family Foundation’s strategy, shifting its approach from traditional, transactional grantmaking to a focus on prevention and systemic change. It also surfaced deeper, often overlooked issues, including the disproportionate number of children from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities entering foster care because of factors such as poverty.

The Power of Patience

Change is rarely quick—especially when it requires dismantling and reimagining long-standing systems. For O’Keefe, patience became one of her greatest assets as she brought together stakeholders across government agencies, nonprofits, and community groups. Over two years, she facilitated countless meetings and conversations, resisting the urge to rush to conclusions.

“Let things unfold,” she advises. This mindset helped her build trust and align participants around shared goals. Her efforts culminated in a two-year collaboration to map the entire child welfare system, giving everyone—from intake workers to long-term foster care staff—a clearer view of how their roles fit into the bigger picture.

Progress was gradual, but her patience paid off. Conversations shifted away from blame and toward a common goal: improving child well-being. This reframing sparked new systemic strategies, including preventive services designed to support families long before child protection cases arise.

Lasting Impact Through Steady Leadership

O’Keefe’s leadership demonstrates how humility, passion, curiosity, and patience can create transformative change. By listening deeply, building trust, and committing to long-term solutions, she has redefined the Sauer Family Foundation’s role in philanthropy. In a world often searching for quick fixes, her steady, thoughtful approach is a reminder that real change takes time, collaboration, and persistence. Guided by the question, “How can we help this system do the best work it can do for children and families?” she proves that lasting impact is built not on grand gestures but on consistent, relationship-driven leadership.

Further Listening

Explore more in The Catalytic Philanthropy Podcast, where Colleen O’Keefe shares how a lean foundation leveraged relationships and persistence to spark big change:

Part 1: “We never would have made this impact by relying on grant proposals” — How listening and building relationships allowed a small foundation to catalyze transformation.

Part 2: “We never would have made this impact by relying on grant proposals” — Continuing the story of how persistence and partnership drove lasting impact.