Dear NNCG Community -

We have just passed the solstice and longest day of the year, always a good time for celebration and reflection. I don’t know about you, but I always expect summer to be relaxed and low-pressure. Often, it is the opposite - slightly frenzied, with work complicated further by summer vacation and travel schedules. If you are a sole proprietor, it can be especially challenging to take the time for rest that you need. I am resolving to take the time to enjoy these long summer days and would love to know how the rest of you have managed to slow down and savor your summers.

Email the NNCG listserv with your ideas!  

Reflections from NNCG’s Founding Members

To support taking time for reflection, NNCG has asked several long-time and founding members, some of whom are transitioning away from full-time consulting, to share their insights on how philanthropy has changed over their time in the field. Take a study break and enjoy the first two short and thoughtful videos in this series:

• Sampriti Ganguli, former Chief Executive Officer & Senior Advisor at Arabella Advisors
• Melissa Berman, founding President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Highlighting Philanthropy Trends

NNCG has been leaning into the emergent issues that our members and their clients are addressing, including Food Justice, Values-Based Philanthropy, and the ways that AI can be used in our work and our clients’ work. In this newsletter, you’ll find information about sessions our members held to discuss issues related to these topics.

Collaborative Efforts Pay Off

You’ve all seen quite a few emails related to the release of the NNCG and 21/64 Philanthropy Benchmarking Survey, designed to refresh our understanding of the relationship between philanthropy consultants and advisors and their grantmaker and donor clients. This study builds on a previous study released in 2014, and we know that much has changed. Our survey has gathered more than 500 responses -- thanks to all of you who completed it and sent it on to your clients! Stay tuned for more about what we are learning, as well as opportunities to help NNCG and 21/64 understand what it all means. 

Thank you for being a member -- pass it on! 

NNCG’s members keep the community vibrant! Will you help us continue to expand our network? Tell one consulting friend or colleague about NNCG today! Send them to our membership page or introduce them to the NNCG team at info@nncg.org for follow-up. 

With wishes for a wonderful summer,

Jessica

Jessica Bearman

Chair, NNCG Steering Committee

Photo Credit: Carolina Kroon, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

We’re excited to release the first videos in our new series dubbed Philanthropy Trends. This series features the reflections and wisdom of seasoned philanthropy consultants who have been powerhouses and beacons of light in our field for over a decade. 

First up? Melissa Berman, former President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), and Sampriti Ganguli, Former CEO of Arabella Advisors. In these videos, Melissa and Sampriti share their perspectives on what has changed within the philanthropy space over the past 20 years. 

Many thanks and kudos to Melissa and Sampriti! 

Melissa Berman

Former President and CEO

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Sampriti Ganguli

Former CEO

Arabella Advisors

Teresa Crawford of M&TCH Consulting hosted our June Virtual Café: Experiments with AI for our Work. This session was a "show & tell" where NNCG members described how and why they use different AI tools with a specific focus on LLMs (ChatGPT, Bard). The group also discussed what they learned from the experiments and what they’d like to try next.

Eva Goulbourne of Littlefoot Ventures hosted an insightful and empowering webinar designed exclusively for philanthropic advisors eager to make a meaningful difference in the world. The group delved into the transformative realm of food and climate philanthropy, exploring how strategic guidance can shape a more sustainable and resilient future.

NNCG Member Social Gathering Success

Renewing Members

Athena Adkins

Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken

Shana Buxser

Michael Courville

Gabriela Fitz

Eva Goulbourne

Renée Joslyn

Brittany Kienker

Seth Klukoff

Nima Krodel

Marcus Littles

Dara Major

Jason McGill

Mark Neithercut

Kris Putnam-Walkerly

Robert Reid

Kristen Scobie

Tuti Scott

Suzanne Smith

Renewing Firms

Cause Communications

Blue Garnet

Learning for Action

The Philanthropic Initiative

New Members

Jyothsna Buddharaju

Monique Childress

Blair Demers

Melodie Garcia

Dzuliana Luksa-Soltanovic

Carlyn Madden

Elana Wien

Levon Williams

Eva Goulbourne of Littlefoot Ventures is hosting a climate messaging course for food focused nonprofits in the fall.

Join this climate messaging course to amplify your impact and attract the support you need to drive meaningful change. This experience is a 5-week intensive designed to empower food-focused nonprofit leaders with the essential skills needed to craft compelling narratives that resonate with climate-focused donors. This groundbreaking initiative will help create new pathways to securing crucial funding that propels your mission forward.

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Pegine Grayson of Whittier Trust shares the organization's recent publication, "Raising Financially Resilient Kids: The Importance of Developing Financial Literacy and Generosity in The Next Generation."

“Ensuring that a family’s wealth has a positive, rather than negative, impact on kids requires intentionality and thoughtful communication,” Grayson says.

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Check out these two resources from Tuti Scott of Changemaker Strategies:

Tuti Scott's "12 Ways to Show Up (or Not) as a Philanthropist" Article

This insightful article delves into effective and meaningful ways to engage in philanthropy. It's a good-read for anyone looking to make a positive impact through their philanthropic efforts.

Read More

OMEGA's Building a Beloved & Embodied Community: Exploring Money as Medicine Gathering

This transformative event, led by Tuti B. Scott and Gwendolyn VanSant, is tailored for asset holders, donors, advisors, and professionals in social finance. Attendees will gain invaluable insights on leveraging resources for justice and inclusion. The event will be held from October 25-27 at the OMEGA Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. For any questions, you can reach out to asst@tutiscott.com. 

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