On Thursday, July 22 I was elected Chair of Giving Institute for a 
two-year term. I am honored and humbled to be asked to serve in this role and I look forward to working with everyone affiliated with this important association. I want to thank my predecessor, Ted Grossnickle, for his good work as Chair and for the great health of the organization as I begin my term as Chair. 

As I think about Giving Institute, it strikes me that our past, present and future are all very important to the role we play in advancing generosity. Campbell & Company has been a GI member for the entire 27 years of my tenure with the firm. I remember meeting people who were pioneers of the association. They shaped what we could be by prioritizing collaboration over competition and making sure ethical standards were always met by member firms. Today, I marvel at how the association has changed and the degree to which newer members are actively engaged in strengthening our association and our sector. Our diversity is increasing (firm type, age of participants, gender and race) and the ideas are flowing as to how we can make a difference in our sector. As I look 
forward, I believe we are positioned to grow and blossom as an association. I am excited to see how we implement our new strategic plan which was approved by the GI board in July.

The power of GI is directly connected to the power of Giving USA Foundation and the research we fund. I look forward to working with Laura McDonald, current chair of Giving USA Foundation, and 
the rest of the foundation board as it disseminates critical information about how we give and volunteer. 

 I had the chance to make closing comments at the recent Giving Institute Summer Symposium in Washington DC. I asked everyone there to think about our collective power to advance generosity and make positive change. I ask each of you to keep thinking about our collective power and to share your thoughts and energy toward our organizational goals. 
Finally, I ask for your help and support as I serve Giving Institute as Chair for the next two years.