Unfunded List Open Door Philanthropy

Willam Villafranco's Personal Background and Path to Wall Street Bill discussed his childhood, sports, and an early memory of generosity.A college entrepreneurial venture solidified his interest in business and Wall Street.He described Wall Street as a place to help people attain goals.Place-Based Philanthropy and the Colby College ModelThe conversation pivoted to philanthropy's role in revitalizing local communities.Colby College was highlighted as a model for place-based institutional investment.Private philanthropy can lead the charge in regentrification of an area.The Origin Story of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Bill detailed his relationship with client and mentor, Virginia Toulmin.Her estate plan created a $140 million foundation with no direction.She entrusted three trustees to manage the foundation with flexibility and her values.Foundation Operations and Invitation-Only GrantmakingThe foundation operates with three trustees and no additional staff members.It follows a strict by-invitation-only policy to manage grant requests effectively.Grant seekers must find a common person to facilitate an introduction.Practicing Trust-Based Philanthropy Virginia's philosophy was 'show me how much I should trust you.'The foundation encourages open dialogue about both successes and struggles.Being a partner means stepping up to help during difficult periods.Navigating Dual Roles and Conflicts of InterestBill discussed being both a grantmaker and a nonprofit executive director.He detailed the process for managing the conflict of interest transparently.Being on both sides provides a valuable perspective on the funding process.Challenges Facing the Nonprofit SectorBill identified board composition and engagement as a major challenge for nonprofits.Low pay for nonprofit staff is a huge problem within the sector.Cuts in federal funding have increased the demand on private philanthropy.The Role of AI and the Importance of Funder CommunicationAI is a useful tool but doesn't replace the relationship aspect of philanthropy.Bill urged funders to communicate rejections clearly and respectfully to grant seekers.Clear communication allows nonprofits to be more productive with their time.Building a Legacy and Final Reflections - 12%Bill shared a story about a nursing school in Thailand as an example.The foundation is building Virginia's legacy through scholarships, a documentary, and books.The interview concluded on the importance of understanding philanthropy's history and impact.

A Michigan native, Jud Fisher is a graduate of DePauw University and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He joined Ball Brothers Foundation in 2003 after working for Old National Bancorp. In addition to his duties as president and chief executive officer of BBF, he serves on the boards of several regional and statewide organizations including the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, IU Health East Central Region Board of Directors, Edmund F. & Virginia B. Ball Foundation, Muncie Aviation Company, First Merchants Corporation, and Burris Laboratory School’s Owl Academic & Athletic Boosters. He is the great-grandson of Ball Brothers Foundation founder Edmund B. Ball. As president and chief executive officer, Jud leads a dedicated board and staff in carrying out the mission of the Ball Brothers Foundation.

Unfunded List presents a panel focused on grant making for oral health. Today's panelists are experienced philanthropists and they are here to help us prepare for Unfunded List's partnership with Dental Trade Alliance Foundation. Read about the partnership:https://dentaltradealliance.org/news/672304/Empowering-Grant-Applicants-in-the-Oral-Health-Sector.htmUnfunded List evaluators will be providing helpful and candid feedback to community organizations applying for grants from DTAF.  Today's guests will do their best to prepare us to give the most helpful feedback we can give.

Dave sits down with the board chair of the Unfunded List.Margaret Chapman has managed budgets from $50,000 to over $50 million annually including START International, Inc., the George Washington Cancer Institute, and various projects for the Pew Charitable Trusts. Most importantly, In 2017, she helped the Unfunded List successfully file for 501c3 status and serves as our director of finance and administration while providing crucial support to our evaluation committee. She is the Provost of Unfunded University and holds an MBA and MA both from George Washington University. She is currently on sabbatical and serving in a board role while she pursues a PhD in Philanthropy at Indiana University. You can contact Margaret at margaret@unfundedlist.com.

Welcome back to Open Door Philanthropy Giving Advisors as we continue our focus on the burgeoning and important field of philanthropy consulting. Marshall is Principal at Capital Philanthropy (www.capitalphilanthropy.com) and an Associate Member of the National Network for Consultants to Grantmakers where he supports their resource development efforts. Like Dave, he has a background in the arts and began his career as a development assistant. During the interview they discussed Marshall's upbringing in Richmond, VA and how he eventually got into philanthropy consulting. They discussed the current state of philanthropy at length, covering topics ranging from how to properly plan and execute social change to the various causes of burnout in the philanthropic sector. Enjoy!Marshall is also a member of the Unfunded List Proposal Evaluation Committee and will be reviewing proposals this Spring. Submit your proposal (https://www.unfundedlist.com/submit-your-proposal/) by March 30 and maybe Marshall will be one of your evaluators!

Dave welcomes Amy Schiller, author of The Price of Humanity to talk about her new book and where Philanthropy is going.

Dave interviews Emily Rasmussen, the CEO of Grapevine. Grapevine is an online directory for giving circles that recently raised nearly $2 million in investment and has helped drive $25 million in philanthropic giving. In this long ranging interview, Emily tells Dave about her childhood in northern California and the story of how she went from "Unschooled" professional ballet dancer to obtain a Harvard MBA and become CEO of Grapevine where she is a recognized leader in the growing online giving circle movement.