Kris Putnam-Walkerly

Stabilize your organization. Support your team. Stay focused on impact. Here’s how. As a foundation CEO or donor, you’re no stranger to upheaval. The recent stock market plunge—triggered by escalating tariffs—is just the latest in a series of destabilizing events. Nonprofits face rising demand, shrinking safety nets, staffing shortages, and funding delays, all while your […]

What to Know Before You Hire a Philanthropy Advisor I’m seeing a troubling trend: wealth management firms offering “free” succession planning services to foundations. Not as a gift but as a strategy to secure assets under management. On the surface, it sounds generous. But when the person advising your family on one of your most

The Hidden Crisis Lurking in Your Foundation Everyone’s talking about how funders need to adapt in these uncertain times. They’re reassessing strategy, shifting funding priorities, and navigating an increasingly volatile landscape. But what almost no one is talking about is what happens when a key leader—your Executive Director, board chair, or the family matriarch—suddenly steps

Philanthropy in the Age of Uncertainty The world is changing faster than ever. In an era of political turbulence, economic volatility, AI-driven disruption, and unprecedented scientific breakthroughs, philanthropy must evolve. For ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) donors and foundation leaders, the old rules of philanthropy no longer apply. Uncertainty isn’t an excuse to retreat—it’s a call to adapt.

Stop the Deer-in-Headlights Are you feeling paralyzed by uncertainty? It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of “wait and see.” But in philanthropy, inaction can be just as detrimental as a misstep. I’ve recently spoken with many foundation CEOs, board members, and philanthropists who are frozen, unable to move forward. They’re delaying critical decisions,

Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States, a pivotal moment for our country and our democracy. Regardless of the outcome, whether – as I personally hope – Kamala Harris and Democrats win by a landslide up and down the ballot, one thing is clear: our work to protect and strengthen democracy does not end