This 4-month bootcamp for philanthropy executives provides targeted technical and experiential education to empower key donor staff to deploy dollars quickly and with confidence into high impact nonprofits and social enterprises.
Join Us
Are you newly charged with advising donors and managing charitable giving, maybe even setting up or professionalizing a private foundation?
Do you find yourself in a trusted position with your principals, but want to expand your skills, knowledge, and tactics to drive even greater impact?
Consider joining a cohort of similarly situated peers in this new professional development opportunity.
Is this Program Right for You?
-
Your donor has the potential for significant philanthropic giving
-
You have limited experience on the giving side of organized philanthropy, though you may have a long track record working with your principals or running an operating charity
-
You are the first, or one of the first, professional or full-time staff members working on the philanthropic giving for this donor or foundation
-
You want to explore and understand innovative examples of philanthropy to “expand your toolbox”
-
Your primary funding source is based in the United States (as laws governing philanthropic vehicles are different in other countries)
What past participants say…
Whitney Kopf, Executive Director, La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation
“As someone new to both my role as an Executive Director and Philanthropy as a sector, the Executive Director Institute has been incredibly valuable to me and I am confident I have reached a place of competency & confidence more quickly because of it. The sessions were a great mix of technical detail and context that helped you understand the what and why at a deep level. I also loved the cohort model; not only was it fun and I built connections with other learners, I learned more because of them. Last but not least, Sharon and Stefanie were superb, they know their stuff and happen to be wonderful humans to boot. I highly recommend this program to any new ED!”
Sol Flores, CEO of Knight Impact Partners
“The cohort learning model and hearing about others’ experiences were incredibly valuable. The EDI provided a safe space to share, learn, and build lasting professional and personal connections.”
Julia Pettengill, Executive Director, The Schooner Foundation
“The EDI covered all key areas of foundation leadership and management in 12 sessions. The high-quality classes and support from instructors, along with the safe space for discussions, were exceptional. This program is a must for any new family philanthropy executive.”
Rebecca Simmons, Eleanor Crook Foundation
“This training has significantly enhanced my understanding of the business of Philanthropy and has equipped me with valuable tools and insights that I am already applying in my role. In addition to the weekly 90-minute lectures and discussions, the training provided many resources, including sample documents, articles, white papers, templates, websites, etc. All of them were well-curated and valuable in demonstrating, reinforcing, and adding color to key learnings. A great anecdote is that Sharon shared a work plan template and sample work plan during our last sessions—something we’re actively working on, so it was beyond timely!”
Sharmila Rao Thakkar, family foundation executive
“Learning from Sharon and Stefanie was invaluable! The lessons on various approaches to consider around grantmaking, operations, and administration, along with the templates and resources provided, have enhanced my everyday work as well as future planning. Their case studies and scenarios were illuminating, often providing new models/frameworks/ways of thinking about our philanthropy. And the cohort learning model was particularly beneficial, allowing us to learn alongside peers in similar positions. The insights exchanged on navigating current challenges and emerging opportunities especially in today's changing philanthropic landscape, have broadened our perspectives, and will help us to adapt and innovate more effectively.”
Dylan Whitcraft, Whitcraft Family Foundation
“The Executive Director Institute taught me the fundamentals of private foundation management and compliance. It provided a solid foundation to build upon as our new foundation grows.”
Jason McCormick, COO, Isaacson Foundation
“The EDI provided exposure, collaboration, and education that were crucial for my development in the philanthropic space. The program gave me the confidence to not only survive but thrive.”
Tell us a little more about yourself and we’ll set up a conversation to explore whether the program is right for you.