Philanthropic Leaders

Everyone engaged in philanthropy today is concerned about its status and future. Where is philanthropy headed? How effective is it? To whom and for what should philanthropists be accountable? What should we expect of grantees? Many recognize that the answers to such questions ultimately hinge on the answers to more basic questions, such as Why give? To what ends? and In what spirit? But in the workaday world there is little time or opportunity to address such issues. Enter civic reflection.

Participants—whether they are foundation program officers, leaders, trustees, or donors—report that they go away invigorated by stimulating conversations and new ideas, as well as with

• greater understanding of their own beliefs, values, and commitments
• new or improved relationships with colleagues and grantees
• new resources to draw on
• desire for further conversation and self-examination

Civic reflection can be helpful to a variety of audiences in philanthropy—grantmakers associations, community, private, and family foundations, giving circles and other gatherings of individual donors. A sampling of past programs follows.

Past Programs with Philanthropic Leaders

Donors Forum of Chicago, an association of Chicago-area grantmakers, introduced civic reflection to members at its 2004 Members Luncheon with a dramatic reading of Henri Barbusse's "The Eleventh" followed by a facilitated discussion of the story among a panel of grantmakers. In 2005-06, DFC convened directors and members in a variety of contexts to reflect at a deeper level on the nature of philanthropy and their own civic role in the larger society. Organizers anticipated that these conversations, built around discussion of short non-technical readings, would result in a stronger sense of community among Chicago-area philanthropic leaders, exposure to new ideas and perspectives, and positive changes in philanthropic practice.

Washington Grantmakers convened a series of facilitated lunchtime discussions in 2003-04 for its family philanthropy affinity group. In 2005-06 WG offered a quarterly civic reflection lunchtime conversation series for its general membership to support its mission of promoting effective and responsible philanthropy. Organizers used selected short readings by Ambrose Bierce, Stephen Vincent Benet, and others to open up important philosophical questions about giving, to help participants gain a deeper understanding of their philanthropic activities, and to build and strengthen relationships among members.

The Association of Small Foundations, a national association for foundations with few or no staff, has been introducing civic reflection to members at its national conferences and regional gatherings around the country since 2004. Civic reflection has proven extremely popular with members for the opportunity it provides them to reflect upon the central questions underlying their giving. In partnership with the Project on Civic Reflection, the ASF has developed Civic Reflection: A Toolkit for Foundation Boards, available free of charge through the ASF website. The toolkit is intended to help foundations use civic reflection to inspire and engage their boards in heartfelt and interesting conversations about the nature of giving and philanthropy. It contains tips for leading the conversation, sample readings and questions, and a list of resources for further learning.

Rotary 14: Reflective Philanthropy is a pilot program of Rotary #14 in Lincoln, Nebraska, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious Rotary clubs. The club's new members are invited to participate in a four-part program in which they share a meal and explore questions about giving through a discussion of short readings from The Perfect Gift. More senior members are invited to participate in a similar program as part of a "Fireside Chat" series. Members have consistently rated the programs as highly valuable. Participant evaluation comments are included with the reading list.

The Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal of the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. convened philanthropic leaders for lunch and conversation about two readings from The Perfect Gift. They explored the questions, What does it mean to act philanthropically? and What is a philanthropist?

The Maine Humanities Council convened staff and trustees of the Maine Community Foundation and state grantmakers' associations over a six-month period to explore "Perspectives on Philanthropy," with special attention to New England traditions of giving. Readings included works by Andrew Carnegie, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Moses Maimonides. This seminar gave birth in turn to philanthropy seminars for foundation staff and individual givers in each of the New England states, coordinated by state humanities councils with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Project on Civic Reflection convened Fort Wayne, Indiana philanthropic leaders for a conversation about "Giving in the American Experience: Tradition, Challenge and Choice." These leaders, actively involved in giving through volunteering, fundraising, foundation leadership, trusteeship, and individual giving, wanted an opportunity to explore fundamental questions like: What does it mean to give well? How can we give more effectively? How can we encourage others to give? This conversation spawned other study circles, including an inter-generational effort that brought together parents and children of several families for reading and conversation about giving. View the reading list for Giving in the American Experience.