Dedicating your life to serving others is admirable, but Kathleen Enright takes it to the next level. She serves those who serve! As the CEO of the Council on Foundations and an alumna of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and Board Source, she was building a career centered on trust-based philanthropy long before it became a trend. Listen in to learn from Kathleen's impactful journey and how centering play makes it all possible.
Listen in as Kristine and Kathleen discuss:
Combining old ideas with new interpretations to transform a 75-year-old philanthropic organization.
A best-practice approach to bringing joy and fun into the daily work of changing the world.
The role nonprofits and philanthropy can and should play in discussions of policy, advocacy, and growing America’s civic life.
What philanthropy is and is not.
Key Takeaways:
Don’t just assume play will take root with your team or organization; make it a priority.
Consider building a team, such as COF’s Joy Squad or Fun Committee, to bring lighthearted moments to the heavy important work.
The most effective play happens when it is built into your organization's culture, even if it needs to be programmed in at the beginning.
The sector does not need to be afraid of taking positions or supporting civic engagement. It is allowed. In fact, it’s part of how the IRS defines a nonprofit.
"There is a role for all people and approaches in social change. [Find the] the way that makes sense for your role and the changes you want to see." — Kathleen Enright
About Kathleen Enright: Kathleen Enright has focused on making the philanthropic sector more vital, open, and effective for more than two decades. Widely respected as a mission-driven leader and coalition builder, she joined the Council as President and CEO in 2019. Since then, Kathleen has led the organization to establish a clearer vision, offer a distinctive value proposition for the field, and deepen member engagement.
Prior to the Council, Kathleen served as founding President and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and as the group director of marketing and communications for BoardSource.
Kathleen is a recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award from the George Washington University Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, a public administration honor society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University.
Kathleen speaks and writes regularly on issues related to philanthropy at national and regional gatherings of executives and trustees.
Resources Mentioned:
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas
It’s Open Season on Civil Rights. Philanthropy Must Not Retreat. by Stacey Abrams and Julián Castro
Social Change Ecosystem Map: https://buildingmovement.org/our-work/movement-building/social-change-ecosystem-map/
Register now for the Building Together Conference at: https://cof.org/event/building-together-2024
Find out more about Foundations on the Hill 2024 here: https://www.unitedphilforum.org/events/foundations-hill-2024
Connect with Kathleen:
Website: https://cof.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-enright-2252407/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/council-on-foundations/
Connect with Kristine:
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
