Giving Beyond Dollars By Henry Berman I speak often about how we as funders can support our nonprofit partners and communities, beyond giving funds. Among the methods we have at our disposal—conveying, advocating and offering connections. Recently, I spoke with Jalen Benson, a first-year medical student, and his colleague Julia Walczak, a nursing student. They’re... Read More
Many foundations avoid being the first funder of new initiatives. For the Blackstone Ranch Institute, being first-in is often the ultimate sweet spot. For over a decade, our foundation has been placing early philanthropic investments in a broad range of new initiatives in the environment and sustainability fields. Very often they have been the first... Read More
A message from Henry Berman, CEO of Exponent Philanthropy One week ago today, we witnessed an assault on our nation’s Capitol. One week from today, that same Capitol will host the inauguration of our new president. Both events will be defining chapters in tomorrow’s history books. But tomorrow is not today. We cannot stand idly... Read More
In 2020, the pandemic upended our daily lives and the philanthropic landscape. But the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation‘s board saw this crisis as an opportunity to transform their giving, investment focus and protocol — proactively aligning the assets of the foundation with its mission. The pandemic and ensuing hardships gave the board the impetus to... Read More
The National Recreation Foundation (NRF), with roots going back to 1919, supports youth development through recreation. It believes all young people should have the opportunity to have positive recreational experiences, regardless of their geographic, social or economic status. When these experiences are accessible to everyone, everywhere, they build strong kids and communities. Historically, the NRF... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy recently launched, Mind the Gap: Exploring the Role of Diversity and Racial Equity in Leanly Staffed Foundations. To develop this publication, we talked with members about how their foundations incorporate racial equity into their work. We learned a lot from these one-on-one conversations. Moreover, hearing members talk to one another about their racial... Read More