Dear Reader,

The GPA team has started the year strong in our first few weeks of January facilitating client retreats, creating philanthropic frameworks, and helping to implement philanthropic plans for families. We've also expanded our team to deepen our partnerships with philanthropic families. At GPA, we're building our team to meet what lies ahead in the field of philanthropy.

In this spirit, Olivia R. Zale joins GPA as our fifth advisor, grounded in both professional and personal experience. Olivia focuses on people and impact, empowering the rising generation to find their place within their family’s philanthropy.

Guided by Olivia's insights, GPA will be hosting a three-part Lunch & Learn series, "How to Effectively Engage the Next Gen in Multi-Generational Family Philanthropy." Designed for both current generation and next generation leaders, these sessions will navigate engagement, stewardship, and collaboration to help families translate intention into authentic and impactful action.

Lunch & Learn Dates:

All sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. ET.

February 24: For advisors to philanthropists | Register here

April 7: For foundation leaders & staff | Register here

May 19: For philanthropists | Express interest here

What We've Been Up To

Olivia R. Zale

Olivia works with clients to address the opportunities and challenges of intergenerational engagement, succession planning, and stewardship. She brings a familiarity with large, multi-generational family foundations and a passion for helping families work together productively and joyfully. As a fourth generation family member of the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation, she is currently Vice Chair of the Board, having served in a variety of roles over the last 15 years. Olivia and her husband reside in Chicago.

Katelyn Chipley

Katelyn steps into the role of Director of Operations and Finance, bringing 10 years of experience strengthening the processes and infrastructure that help organizations run smoothly and grow gracefully. Katelyn is grounded in an appreciation for efficiency, structure, and problem-solving that naturally evolved into leading operational functions in professional services and investment environments. Katelyn lives in Charleston, SC, where she is a boy mom to three boys.

Client Spotlight

We love how the Ray C. Anderson Foundation is lifting up their grant partners and areas that matter most to them. Drawdown Georgia sits at the heart of the Foundation’s work, with its 20 climate solutions strengthening communities and demonstrating what’s possible when innovation, research, and collective effort align. A recent blog post thoughtfully highlights the meaningful progress being driven by grantees advancing this work.

What's Inspiring Us

Celebrating 250 with Purpose

The nation’s 250th anniversary arrives with a call for year-round community service - AP News (5 minute read)

America Gives, launched as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission’s plan for the nation’s 250th anniversary, represents a vision for service. Its goal: make 2026 the largest year of volunteering in American history. And, more importantly, create a lasting culture of service. We first heard Rosie Rios speak at the Women’s Philanthropy Institute Symposium in 2023, and her words and presence have stayed with us since. She frames civic engagement as an investment in the next generation - an approach reflected throughout America Gives. The initiative meets young volunteers where they are, whether it’s cleaning parks, stocking food banks, mentoring, or earning service badges. As Rios says, “It is about one country.” 

Family Philanthropy in Motion

Acceleration, Innovation, and Reimagination in Family Philanthropy - The National Center for Family Philanthropy (5 minute read)

Nick Tedesco observes that while philanthropy is navigating uncertainty, it is also entering a moment of extraordinary possibility. Families are increasing payouts, making larger grants, and reconsidering assumptions about risk, control, and perpetuity. Tedesco underscores the importance of funders grounding their work in fairness, responsibility, and continuous learning, and of prioritizing relationships that enable change. Taken together, these developments reflect an understanding that generosity must be matched with accountability.

Buffetts Move Billions

How the Buffett family plans to give away more than $150 billion - CNBC (10 minute read)

“You won’t know if you don’t go.” - Peter Buffett. As the Buffett family prepares to deploy their father’s fortune within 10 years, they are embracing philanthropy as a learning practice valuing proximity, experimentation, and humility. Their commitment to moving quickly, taking risks, and staying close to communities challenges all funders to ask how urgency and curiosity can sharpen impact in this moment.

Check out the latest on GPA's blog:

• Key Ingredients for a Joyful Family Retreat
• Reflections on 2025 | A Year of Adaptation + Growth
• Beyond the Holidays: Sustaining Impact Throughout the Year

The world has never needed philanthropy, volunteerism and civic engagement more. We're proud to partner with families to facilitate more engagement in this realm.

Gratefully,

Kaky + The GPA Team