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Six Qualities of Effective Servant Leadership

January 2017 |

January is full of new beginnings and a renewed sense of purpose. It's also the month that hosts one of my favorite observances: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On this third Monday in January, people all over the country honor the legacy and impact of this courageous role model's spirited social activism and selfless community service. I can’t think of a more pressing time to be inspired by these tenets, to come together to help our communities and feel a shared responsibilty to make our places healthy and vibrant for all. I hope you can join me and the thousands of others who will be serving community on January 16, and continue working on six skills to become a more effective servant leader in 2017:

Chasing Hope & Opportunity in 2017

January 2017 | Philanthropy Northwest

We have arrived in 2017! Moving forward into the new year, Philanthropy Northwest is excited about what the future holds and prepared to build upon the successes of the previous year. While we leave 2016 with many uncertainties, we have great faith in our Northwest philanthropic community's continued investment in the innovation, resilience and optimism that define our region. We see regional philanthropy stepping up to ensure nonprofit and service organizations have the capacity to drive towards their missions and serve as advocates for what’s needed on the ground. In the past few months, we have been reminded that you place high value on generosity, compassion, human rights and justice. And so, we look ahead with a great sense of hope. Hope that we will find clarity and understanding in how we can move forward collectively as a region and nation. Hope in transparent conversations that make clear the places where we are more alike in our shared pursuits than we are different. Hope that as a sector we take advantage of opportunities to learn from our mistakes, replicate our successes and share in solutions that make philanthropy a more effective institution. In this hopeful spirit, here's a preview of the ways Philanthropy Northwest seeks to engage and have impact in 2017:

Grantmakers & Policymakers: Let's Talk

January 2017 |

I am thrilled to be stepping in to help with the Northwest philanthropic sector's public policy efforts over the next few months, as Philanthropy Northwest's senior policy advisor. My primary roles include leading our six-state network's delegation to Foundations on the Hill in Washington, D.C. this March and supporting the work of our board's public policy committee. I believe all of us in philanthropy have a critical role to define how our investments and partnerships can inform policy decisions and ensure that policymakers fully understand the role that philanthropy plays in our states and local communities. There is an urgency for philanthropy to move sooner rather than later to engage, educate and learn — at the federal and state level — to ensure that philanthropy is an effective resource as well as voice for the needs of our communities.

Most Popular Blog Posts of 2016

December 2016 |

Philanthropy Northwest shared more than 180 stories with you on our blog in 2016, including interviews with leaders in the field, member news, public policy updates, program highlights, emerging trends and tools for effective philanthropy. These 12 blog posts captured our network's attention the first time around. In case you missed them, now's great time to catch up!

Stepping Up to Strengthen Our Democracy

November 2016 |

No matter which candidates any of us favored, from the presidential race on down the ballot, this election has cast a harsh light on the wounds and weaknesses of our democracy. This deep (and fully bipartisan) unhappiness with our political and governing institutions was never going to be cured by a single election, regardless of the outcome. While elected officials of both parties must certainly play a role in healing the deep wounds in our body politic, it is clear that they cannot do it alone. We all have to do our part — and that must include the philanthropic sector. To that end, Philanthropy Northwest is redoubling its own commitment to this work, primarily through a new initiative we’re calling Democracy Northwest.

The Power of Networking: Lessons from Dreamforce

November 2016 | Philanthropy Northwest

Confession: I had avoided Salesforce's annual Dreamforce conference in the past, thinking its huge size would be so overwelming that it would be of no benefit to my work. This year’s gathering brought 170,000 attendees to San Francisco, the equivalent of 20% of the city's population. I could suddenly relate to some of Philanthropy Northwest's newer members, figuring out our suite of workshops and resources, and where they fit in our six-state network of family funds, foundations and corporate giving programs. In both cases, it's helpful to focus on smaller subgroups for shared learning, keep an open mind, find your balance and have fun.

Protecting Our Communities: Philanthropy's Role in Civilian Police Oversight

November 2016 |

Police misconduct is a social justice issue that touches every community in this country. Our philanthropy sector has a role to play in supporting communities that are struggling to address and change police conduct to create more equitable and just communities. We must ensure our communities can thrive and all people can be successful in a society where all of us have the chance to live up to our full potential. As Philanthropy Northwest's conference co-chair, 2016 ambassador and Northwest Area Foundation board member, I was asked to speak about my work in Idaho, holding Boise police accountable and ensuring they treat everyone in our community equitably and respectfully.