Denise Porche

May 31, 2019
Denise Porche has held leadership roles in philanthropy, social service provision, and community activism for more than two decades. Currently, Denise is Executive Director of the Island Foundation, which she has led since 2009. Under her leadership, the Island Foundation has increased its funding for equity and inclusion, basic needs, educational opportunities for underserved populations, and environmental justice. She also Read More

Amy Beth Dudley

May 30, 2019
Amy Beth Dudley is the Director of Donor Services at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Transparency Case Study: Barr Foundation

May 29, 2019 | Elaine Gast Fawcett
What choices do family foundations and funds have when it comes to transparency? And what approaches do other families take when it comes to managing transparency, communications, and privacy? NCFP’s new guide, Transparency in Family Philanthropy: Opening to the Possibilities examines how family funders are thinking, acting—and, in some cases, not acting—when it comes to how open and accessible they are with others. Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

The Power of Shareholder Engagement

May 28, 2019 | Fran Teplitz
Most of us think first about the impact funds have when allocated for specific purposes like building a school or hospital, supporting job training, or funding advocacy campaigns. Others may also think about the impacts of where funds are invested, for example, in a community development financial institution that supports economically marginalized neighborhoods and individuals, or in a clean energy fund advancing new technologies. Read More

Chantelle Fisher-Borne

May 15, 2019
Chantelle Fisher-Borne is the Project Director for the Out in the South Initiative at Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Chantelle joins Funders for LGBTQ Issues after almost two decades working in the nonprofit sector. Her professional career began in the public health field with a focus on community development and LGBTQ youth. She has worked to address issues of affordable housing Read More

Donna M. Coury

May 13, 2019
Donna M. Coury leads the community foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy at the Akron Community Foundation, a resource for charitable families in Summit and Medina counties. She is a trusted advisor to our community’s philanthropic families, helping them maximize their personal charitable goals and create a legacy consistent with their mission and family values. Donna has an extensive background in Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Let’s Be Candid About Board Succession Planning

The Wilson Foundation was started in 1963 by Joe Wilson, founder of Xerox Corporation, and his wife, Peggy. The foundation embarked on strategic planning to revisit their giving priorities, but they quickly realized their impact goals would be successful only if they had the proper governance structure. In this blog, they share their board succession planning process. Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Family Funders: Always Important in Rural Communities

May 10, 2019 | Allen Smart
The history of the United States is marked by wealth created in rural America. Timber and wood products in the northwest and northeast; fossil fuels in Appalachia, the southwest and Rocky Mountains; textiles in the south, among others. Related philanthropic funds have been created alongside these rural industries—often from multi-generational family commitments to these rural communities. With the renewed focus Read More

Allen Smart

May 8, 2019
Allen Smart is a national spokesperson and advocate for improving philanthropic practice under his group–PhilanthropywoRx. He recently completed a role as the Project Director for a national rural philanthropic project supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He regularly consults with regional and national foundations on rural and philanthropic strategy. Read More