Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset that helps lean funders move from grantmakers to changemakers. Grounded in humility, passion, curiosity, and patience, CLIP encourages funders to build deeper relationships, understand the systems they operate in, and leverage all their assets, not just grant dollars, to spark lasting change. In this final case study,... Read More
Philanthropy doesn’t always have to be big to be bold. Sometimes, the most powerful change starts with a small, timely investment. Seed grants are often the first spark that allows a nonprofit to test an idea, take a risk, or prove a concept. They’re not about guaranteeing success, but rather creating the conditions for innovation.... Read More
How can small, early-stage grants spark outsized impact? This new case study explores how the Howell Conservation Fund (HCF) used seed funding to accelerate environmental projects and test new ideas, while deepening relationships and learning as a lean funder. Through its 2023–2024 Catalytic Grant Program, HCF awarded nine $5,000 seed grants to organizations worldwide. The... Read More
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... Read More
The Holloway Family Foundation’s Annual Relay Grant is a streamlined, trust-based approach to grantmaking that places funding decisions directly in the hands of women nonprofit leaders of color. In 2020, several reports highlighted persistent disparities in philanthropic giving to women and girls of color, as well as inequities faced by organizations led by people of color... Read More
For more than 20 years, I served as the executive director for a leanly staffed foundation with deep roots in a small city in upstate New York. The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic legacy of a community bank founded in 1823, grew substantially after the bank’s acquisition by another financial institution in 2004.... Read More