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This summer, we've been working on several large scale projects that have connected us with some of the most thoughtful minds in the philanthropic field right now. The throughlines of our conversations are focused on four central themes: curiosity about community needs and partnerships; adapting to evolving family dynamics; engaging innovative practices to move more capital; and showing a genuine empathy towards each other as leaders, family members, and neighbors.
Simply put, we are humbled and inspired by these philanthropic leaders and how they are strategically maximizing their community impact.
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GPA Principal Kaky Grant will join Bruz Clark (President, Lyndhurst Foundation), John Lanier (Executive Director, Ray C. Anderson Foundation), and Tom Montague (Board Member, Footprint Foundation) for the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) webinar, "Creating a Legacy: Planning for the Future," on August 11.
How is your family philanthropy thinking about its long-term impact? How can you build flexibility into your structures so your giving can evolve over time? And how might future generations choose to engage—or not?
If you're an NCFP member exploring these questions, we hope you'll join us! Find further information and registration details here.
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At the end of this month, GPA Advisors, Kaky Grant, Darcy Addison, and Olivia Zale, were delighted to help facilitate the Philanthropy Southwest CEO Fly-In at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs—a two-day leadership retreat that gathered foundation CEOs for candid conversations and cross-sector learning.
Our session closed the convening and was designed to help leaders across Private, Institutional, Family, Community, and Health Foundations move beyond networking to meaningful peer exchange. We're grateful to have partnered with Philanthropy Southwest on this experience and to have created space for participants to learn from one another in ways that extend beyond the retreat.
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Business Beyond Profit
Sell the Company for $400 Million? He’s Giving It Away Instead. - The New York Times (gift link) (10 minute read)
In an incredible act of generosity, Eddie Smith Jr., longtime owner of Grady-White Boats, has redefined succession planning. A cornerstone of eastern North Carolina’s boating industry for decades, Grady-White is just one part of Smith's enduring legacy. After the loss of his wife and, later, his only son who had been expected to take over the business, Smith faced an inflection point. Rather than sell the business, Smith transferred ownership to a purpose trust and nonprofit organization, ensuring Grady-White remains independent while dedicating future profits to conservation, health care, and education. His decision is a moving story of legacy, purpose, and passion for causes that matter deeply to him.
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Reinventing How the World Gives
Canva's Billionaire Cofounders Reveal Next Step In Plan To Give Away Vast Majority Of Their Fortune - Forbes (5 minute read)
Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, the husband and wife cofounders of Canva, are turning their focus from building a company to building a better world. Through their new philanthropic initiative, the Global Goals Platform, they will survey people worldwide on the changes they hope to see, informing how they deploy the wealth they have pledged to give away. We’ve always appreciated the creativity Canva brings to the workplace—and we now appreciate that creative spirit coming to life through this social good movement!
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A Look at the Nonprofit Landscape
Nonprofits Have Options: A Framework for Mission Continuity in a Crisis - The Center for Effective Philanthropy (10 minute read)
A perspective worth reading from the team at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, asking a different question: What if success is measured not by whether an organization lasts forever, but by whether its mission does? The piece highlights mergers, shared leadership, fiscal sponsorship, and even strategic closure as mission-centered strategies—not signs of failure. Funders, boards, and partners all shape the conditions in which these decisions are made. It is a call for collaboration and for creating an environment where those choices are supported.
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Women-Led Investing
Unlocking Donor-Advised Funds - TSWII and Inspire Access (57 minute recording)
In keeping with the continued innovation in philanthropy, we were excited to learn about TSWS, a firm that invests with women-led alternative investment managers to support exceptional talent and expand representation across the industry. Now partnered with Inspire Access, a nonprofit platform that helps donors invest philanthropic capital, TSWS envisions a new way to align charitable assets with values. In this webinar, trailblazing women Kate Nevin (President, TSWII) and Patrice King Brickman (CEO, Inspire Access) discuss the impact and the opportunities this new availability can unlock.
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Check out the latest on GPA's blog:
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From conversations with foundation leaders to moments of cross-sector learning and collaborative fun across our team, July was filled with joy. We hope this joyful spirit found you, too!
Gratefully,
Kaky + The GPA Team
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