Colleagues, 
It was truly wonderful to gather in Chicago last month to celebrate our mentees, exchange ideas, honor the legacy of the Giving Institute’s generosity movement, and strengthen our connections with shared purpose and vision. Also, it was gratifying to see so many new members present for the Mentor Series and spending time with founding members. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members betterunite, Giving Docs, Classy, and Cooper Coleman. We look forward to learning more about them and building deeper connections in the months ahead.
As we embrace the spirit of gratitude this season, I’m filled with appreciation for the leadership role we are collectively playing in advancing the conversation around generosity and volunteerism in our nation. I am immensely proud of the work that the Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation, and the Generosity Commission have done together to launch our inaugural national conversation on generosity. With nearly 900 registrants, we were joined by our sector’s foremost leaders—Alice Ayers (AHP), Sue Cunningham (CASE), Mike Geiger (AFP), and Wendy McGrady (Giving USA Foundation)—who led a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion on activating a broader culture of generosity. Wendy’s call for a national generosity movement was met with great enthusiasm, and it was a powerful reminder of the collective impact we can have.
This conversation wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of many individuals. A heartfelt thank you to Kelli Gabbert, Wendy McGrady, Kurt Worrell, Jennifer White, Rick Dunham, Deb Taft, and Madison Williams for their hard work and collaboration in ensuring the webinar’s success. I also want to express my gratitude to all of you for promoting the event to your clients and partners—it truly took a village.
As we look ahead to 2025 and the next chapter of the National Conversation, I’m thrilled to announce that Chad Paris, Founder and Principal of ParisLeaf, has agreed to chair the National Conversation Taskforce. Chad will lead the effort to develop an integrated strategy for advancing the conversation on generosity and will be working alongside Giving Institute leadership to recruit task force members. Thank you, Chad, for your vision and willingness to take on this important role.
Additionally, I’d like to draw your attention to a recent communication from Sally Ehrenfried, Chair of the Giving Institute’s Public Policy Committee, regarding H.R. 9495. You can find the details here. I encourage you to review it and take appropriate action.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our March meeting in Austin, TX (March 27-28, 2025), and the Summer Symposium in San Diego (July 8-10, 2025). Our committees are hard at work, and I am deeply grateful for their leadership and dedication. We value your continued engagement, and we are always looking for more hands to join us. Please encourage your team members to visit our website or click here to sign up for a committee.
Your ongoing support is the foundation of The Giving Institute, and we are thankful for all the ways you contribute. We look forward to another year of taking it to the next level in 2025.
On behalf of the Giving Institute Executive Leadership, wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Brenda
