Dear Colleagues,
Happy Fall! Where did our summer go?? As we approach this time of the year the word that comes to mind for me is renewal. There’s a feeling of bouncing back, embracing change, and reimagining the future. With everything going on around us, how we respond to this moment defines who we are. Our clients increasingly look to us for guidance as they navigate change and strive for resilience and impact. Like all organizations, the Giving Institute is committed to evolving and enhancing our support for our members and the sector as a whole.
In recent months, we’ve been busy on multiple fronts. We proudly celebrated the long-awaited release of the Generosity Commission Report, Everyday Actions, Extraordinary Potential: The Power of Giving and Volunteering. On September 17th, Ted Grossnickle, Rick Dunham, Wendy McGrady, and Josh Birkholz attended the report launch in Washington, D.C. It was truly inspiring to join so many leaders from the Generosity Commission and the sector, all dedicated to fostering ongoing conversations within their networks.
We’re excited to announce our upcoming Generosity Commission Report Members Briefing on the October 30th from 12:00 to 1:30 PM CT, exclusively for member firms. Additionally, we are collaborating with sector leaders from AFP, AHP, and CASE to host a National Conversation on December 2nd from 2:00 to 3:30 PM ET. This will mark a pivotal moment as these leaders convene to discuss generosity and issue a call to action.
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for our meeting in Chicago from November 13-15, where our Program and Education Committee has curated an enriching experience. The Mentor Series will kick off our theme centered on generosity, and we can’t wait to see you and your teams there. We ordered good weather just for you!
I’m also thrilled to share the leadership team for our 2025 Summer Symposium, scheduled for July 8-11 in San Diego. Richard Tollefson from The Phoenix Philanthropy Group will serve as Chair, with Co-Chairs Kate Hughes from The Angeletti Group and Tim Sarrantonio from Neon One bringing their vision, experience and talent to create an excellent program. Thank you, Richard, Kate and Tim, for leading the Summer Symposium and taking it to new heights. We welcome members to join the Summer Symposium Committee—there are many ways to get involved! Please reach out to any of the leaders, contact Erin, or visit our website to learn more.
Lastly, I want to extend my gratitude to our Committee Chairs for their unwavering dedication to advancing the Giving Institute’s mission:
- Kate Roosevelt and Chad Paris – Membership
- Deb Taft and Poonam Prasad – DEI
- Jim Bush – Program and Education
- Tim Burcham (GI) and Kurt Worrall (GUSA) – Marketing
- Sally Ehrenfried – Public Policy
- Rick Dunham – Global Philanthropy
- Don Souhrada – Resource Development
- Barbara O’Reilly – Research
- Jennifer Jiles – GUSA Ambassadors
- Carrie Cobb and Carrie Dahlquist – Advisory Council on Methodology
- Megan Simmons – Editorial Review Board
The Giving Institute is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all its members. Our success relies on the active engagement of member firms and their teams. Please share this with your teams and encourage them to use Sign Up Genius to get involved in a committee.
Looking forward to all the good things ahead and seeing you in Chicago!
Brenda
