Dear Members,

While 2020 has provided its enormous challenges, there are contained within those challenges the opportunities for change, adaptation, and growth. Each of us, along with our colleagues in our firms, have worked hard to respond to the times, to think ahead and to do our best for our clients.

This year has inspired many conversations about how to create more value for our member firms and about the future of The Giving Institute. We are working actively to improve our capabilities to provide shared intelligence and thought leadership in the philanthropic community. Cedric Richner and the Strategic Planning Committee are hard at work on a new plan for our review in the spring. Results from our recent Member Survey, the most robust one in many years, will factor heavily in our planning and we will soon assign key areas of survey follow-up to committees and task forces.

Another important element of our work in the months and years ahead is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force, led by Peter Fissinger. As a part of that, we will be sharing a series of position papers, the “Iconic Impact Initiative,” from one of our newest member firms, Bridge Philanthropic. These papers explore how people of color have been innovators and leaders in charitable giving throughout history.

We’ll continue our work next year virtually and, with luck, in person by summer or fall. In addition to our virtual March Meeting, the Summer Symposium Committee, led by Keith Curtis and Gabe Cooper, is planning a meeting in Washington, D.C. in July. Stay tuned for exact dates for both of these events.

Once again, thank you for your excellent work to provide shared intelligence for the common good this past year. I hope you have a wonderful and restful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Ted Grossnickle
2019-2021 Chair, The Giving Institute
Senior Consultant and Founder, Johnson, Grossnickle & Associates