Why Grant Makers Should Reject Shiny New Things

During the endless days of Zoom meetings that began with pandemic lockdowns, I invented a “philanthrobingo” game to keep me focused on listening.

The Bunny Effect

Bunnies. Cute, floppy-eared, nose-wiggling, big-eyed, furry jumpers.

Reflecting on a long year, and hoping you'll "Take 10"

It's been a long year. I seem to say it every year despite the fact that they're really all the same length.

BIPOC Leadership, Covid-19, Economic Mobility, Foundation, Leadership, Leadership Development, Leadership Learning, Liberatory Leadership, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Leaders, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Post Covid, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Trust-Based Philanthropy, Hybrid Work, Burnout, NYCPhilip LiDecember 14, 2022COVID-19, community, challenges, equity, expertise, Networks, Foundation, Funding, foundation, grantmaking, Grants, governance, grantee, Holidays, philanthropy, charity, impact, inside philanthropy, mission driven, time, miscommunicating, justice, social justice, racial injustice, workers, work, New York City, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., hybrid, anti-leadership, quiet quitting, inflation, burnout, covid/rsv/flu, recession, relationship building, vaccination require, vaccination requirements, Take 10, year end, holidays, new yearComment

No Thank You: Why One Foundation Leader Doesn’t Want Gratitude From Grantees

Early in my career, I had a job as an administrative assistant. I kept a manila file folder on my desk called “Excellent Lisa.”

Chronicle of Philanthropy, Economic Mobility, Foundation, Leadership, Leadership Learning, Liberatory Leadership, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Leaders, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Trust-Based PhilanthropyLisa Pilar CowanOctober 25, 2022Chronicle of Philanthropy, community, challenges, democracy, Endowments, Funding, leadership, equity, funders, funding collaboratives, grantmaking, Grants, General Operating, grantee, impact, social justice, racial injustice, nonrofit, New York City, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., organizations, policy, Racism, social change, social impact, systemic racism, social and systems-level change work Comment

When All Of Our Tools Are Weapons

I don’t like conflict. I’ve never been good at it, and I’ve grown into someone who is decidedly not a fan.

Economic Mobility, Foundation, Getting to Know You, Leadership, Liberatory Leadership, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Leaders, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Sterling Network NYC, Trust-Based Philanthropy, Leadership LearningEricka Stallings, Co-Executive Director of the Leadership Learning CommunitySeptember 21, 2022racial injustice, Liberatory Leadership Learning Series, Liberatory Leadership, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Board Service, civil rights, community, campaigns, charity, NYC, Racism, democracy, Endowments, Funding, funders, leadership, funding collaboratives, equity, Networks, expertise, Getting to know you, Genral Operating Grants, Foundation, foundation, Financials, grantmaking, Grants, governance, grantee, Grantee, organizations, justice, social justice, work, workers, New York City, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., social and systems-level change work, learned behaviors, policy, money, nonprofit leadership, organizer, power, social change, Trust-Based Philanthropy, trust, human rights, trust-based philanthropy, purposeComment

Three Lessons (so far) for Funding Liberatory Leadership

I was hired by the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation in early 2020, primarily to bring my skills as a network organizer, facilitator, and racial justice practitioner to the Sterling Network NYC.

New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Leaders, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Sterling Network NYC, Trust-Based Philanthropy, Economic Mobility, Foundation, Getting to Know You, Leadership, Liberatory LeadershipTrish Adobea TchumeAugust 10, 2022racial injustice, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, NetLab, civil rights, community, campaigns, NYC, democracy, Endowments, funders, Funding, leadership, funding collaboratives, Foundation, equity, Networks, Getting to know you, foundation, face plants, grantmaking, Grants, Genral Operating Grants, governance, grantee, Grantee, organizations, human rights, philanthropy, philanthropic sector, impact, social justice, workers, New York City, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., Sterling Network NYC, social and systems-level change work, learned behaviors, policy, Racism, freedom, justice, thriving, Liberatory Leadership Learning Series, Liberatory Leadership, organizerComment

Pandemic Reflections, Two Years On

COVID-19. It feels like it became COVID-20, then COVID-21, and now COVID-22.

Covid-19, Economic Mobility, Foundation, Leadership, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Leaders, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Post Covid, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Trust-Based PhilanthropyPhilip LiMarch 21, 2022COVID-19, community, Covid-19, racial injustice, social and systems-level change work, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Trust-Based Philanthropy, democracy, leadership, pandemic, Foundation, foundation, Funding, grantmaking, grantee, Grants, governance, Genral Operating Grants, human rights, philanthropy, charity, philanthropic sector, social justice, New York City, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., money, impact, Endowments, New Year, NYC, nonprofit leadership, organizations, power, social impact, nonrofit, social change, board members, expertise, equity, trust, systemic racism, time, trust-based philanthropyComment

Getting to Know You Series: Meet Marissa Martin of The Advocacy Institute

Elisabeth Rapport (ER): Tell me a bit about your professional background and what led you to The Advocacy Institute.

Chronicle of Philanthropy, Covid-19, Economic Mobility, Face Plant, FFIS, Foundation, Getting to Know You, Leadership, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropic Sector, Philanthropy, Post Covid, Racial Equity, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Trust-Based PhilanthropyElisabeth RapportFebruary 15, 2022Foundation, pandemic, racial injustice, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, COVID-19, community, charity, democracy, Endowments, Funding, leadership, funding collaboratives, foundation, Covid-19, equity, Networks, Getting to know you, General Operating, Genral Operating Grants, expertise, New Year, New York City, human rights, philanthropy, philanthropic sector, impact, time, social justice, grantmaking, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., Sterling Network NYC, Social Network Analysis, social and systems-level change work, money, Racism, systemic racism, Asian Americans for Equality, anti-Asian Racism, nonrofit, NYC, Grants, grantee, organizations, power, post covid, board members, social impact, governance, social change, Trust-Based Philanthropy, trustComment

We Won’t Forget, But We Will Move Forward

Subways are creeping back to pre-pandemic ridership levels, sports arenas have fans cheering on their teams, airplanes are full of travelers, malls have shoppers carrying bags filled with purchases, restaurants are bustling with energy, laughter, and happy tummies, and increasing numbers of people are back in their offices.

April: All The Fellows Are Weavers, And Some Of Us Are Guardians

Several weeks ago during a network committee checkin, I introduced myself to a consultant who had joined us in this way, “I’m Trish and I serve as the Sterling Network Organizer.

Getting Back to Normal-ish? So Many Feelings.

Here in New York City we’re enjoying a verdant and vibrant Spring season – leaves in all tints of green, magnolias, cherry blossoms, forsythias, daffodils, tulips, bluebells and hostas are all poking out of the soil.

For All of Us in Philanthropy, the Moment of Rebuilding Is Here

Last year I spent the first Passover of the pandemic quarantined in my bedroom racked with a fever and body aches.

Chronicle of Philanthropy, Covid-19, Face Plant, FFIS, Flexible Funding Impact, Foundation, Getting to Know You, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, Robert Sterling Clark, Social Justice, Sterling Network NYC, Trust-Based PhilanthropyLisa Pilar CowanApril 20, 2021Chronicle of Philanthropy, community, COVID-19, Covid-19, racial injustice, grantmaking, Grants, grantee, Getting to know you, organizations, General Operating, governance, pandemic, Racism, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, travel, Trust-Based Philanthropy, trust, NYC, social impact, social justice, social change, Sterling Network NYC, Funding, Endowments, democracy, Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, equity, New York City, Networks, new year, human rights, philanthropy, New York City Leadership and Professional Development Directory., social and systems-level change workComment

It’s Not Advice My Grantees Need. They Need My Access to Power and Money.

My godmother Nina is not a warm and fuzzy fairy godmother. She is more of a lawyerly godmother.

How a Relatively Small Foundation Leverages Resources for Optimal Impact

Denver: Since 1952, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation has been committed to helping create a vibrant New York City — one that is strong, healthy, livable, and just. It is also one of the leading adherents of a concept called trust-based philanthropy.

What Can Philanthropy Do to Fix Democracy? Listen and Learn.

I have been taking the Stanford Daily Coronavirus Survey for months. I started it in April, and the questions are the same every day.

All of Us in Grant Making — Not Just the Financiers — Need to Pay Attention to Investments (Dispatches)

I developed a case of math phobia in eighth grade, moving from the front to the back of the classroom and rushing through my homework in the cafeteria before school.

We’re All Dealing With Anxiety and Uncertainty. Let’s Not Let That Affect How We Make Grants (Dispatches)

When I am anxious or uncertain, I like to start a new project. Taking action makes me feel better — in the short run.

Foundation, New York City Leadership, Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, Covid-19Lisa Pilar CowanJuly 21, 2020pandemic, racial injustice, grantmaking, Grants, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, COVID-19, systemic racism, FundingComment

Why Philanthropy Can’t Keep Hoarding Assets in the Pandemic

Talking in public about toilet paper ranks right up there with jokes about “quarantinis” and Zoom Brady Bunch references on my list of pandemic pet peeves.

Supporting Our Grantee Partners in the Era of COVID-19

For the last two weeks, I have been picturing Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner right off the cliff – and in particular I am feeling the moment he looks down and notices the ground beneath him is missing.