Keynote Speaking

Are you in need of a provocative, engaging voice at your next conference or private event? How about a respected, outside expert to enlighten your board or foundation members?

One of America’s Top 20 Philanthropy Speakers

Named one of America’s Top 20 Philanthropy Speakers, renowned global philanthropy advisor and award winning published author Kris Putnam-Walkerly is an experienced speaker who regularly shares her knowledge and expertise to a variety of audiences. Drawing insight and wisdom from more than two decades of philanthropy consulting, she’s been a featured presenter for associations, private donor meetings, and individual foundation boards.

Kris Putnam-Walkerly is a trusted advisor to the world’s leading philanthropists. For more than 20 years, wealthy families, ultra-high net worth donors, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, and celebrity activists have sought and benefited from her advice to transform their giving and catapult their impact. As President of the Putnam Consulting Group, a philanthropy advisor, speaker, and award-winning author, she’s helped over 100 philanthropists strategically allocate over half a billion dollars in grants and gifts. 

Kris Speaking Engagements

Additionally, Kris works closely with estate planning attorneys, financial and wealth advisors, and family offices to serve wealthy families who wish to deepen their philanthropic commitments.

Kris has been named one of America’s Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers for the past three years running. She is the author of the book, Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail to Achieve Change and What They Can Do To Transform Giving (Wiley, 2020) and Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders, and is a Forbes.com contributor on philanthropy. Kris has also earned the LUXlife award and an esteemed position in the top 50 bloggers/influencers in philanthropy.

LOOKING FOR AN INTERACTIVE PRESENTER AT YOUR NEXT EVENT?

"Kris is great at making the complex easy to understand, and helps grantmakers shift their thinking to embrace new possibilities and opportunities. Her presentations to our board and grantmakers association were engaging, informative and inspiring, and have set us all on a clearer path toward effectiveness."
LaTida Smith
President & CEO, Moses Taylor Foundation

SPEAKING TOPICS

Below are Kris’s most popular speaking topics.
Contact her to discuss others.

FOR FUNDERS

Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change And What They Can Do To Transform Giving 

As a funder, you want to create a dramatic impact with your grantmaking. But you can’t do that by clinging to misguided beliefs and delusional practices, or by feeling overwhelmed. Instead, transform how you give – for good.  Join us for a lively conversation with Kris Putnam-Walkerly, award-winning author of Delusional Altruism, where she will discuss: 

  • What is “Delusional Altruism?” 
  • The top mistakes funders make – and what to do instead 
  • Why the urge to save money is gutting your impact 
  • How to increase your agility and speed 
  • Questions every funder should be asking 
  • How to plan ahead even when conditions keep changing  

How To Change The World When The World Keeps Changing 

Does constant change have you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure how to plan ahead? As a philanthropist, you want to create a dramatic impact with your giving. But you can’t do that by clinging to misguided beliefs and delusional practices, or by feeling paralyzed by constant change and uncertainty. Join global philanthropy advisor and award-winning author Kris Putnam-Walkerly to learn how to shed anxiety about the future so you can do the most good possible right now. She’ll share practical tips from her new book, Delusional Altruism, to help you create a powerful plan, even in radically uncertain times. So you can stop playing crisis whack-a-mole, and instead focus on what truly matters. 

 

How to Increase Your Philanthropic Leadership and Effectiveness During A Crisis 

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that disruption and volatility are the status quo. The future is always uncertain, and we never know when the next crisis will hit. Are you continuously preparing for the next one? Will you respond by rapidly adapting, transforming, and innovating? Or by scrambling, hunkering down, and feeling paralyzed?  Recognize your blind spots and replace them with effective alternatives, so you can not only stay the course during crises but seize them as opportunities to strengthen and transform your philanthropy 

FOR ADVISORS

5 Charitable Giving Mistakes That Cost Advisors Money 

Ultra-high-net-worth families don’t just want to grow their wealth, they want to use their resources to make a positive impact in the world. And the best way for advisors to retain management of your clients’ wealth and estate planning, and attract more clients in the future, is to support their philanthropic goals. But if you’re like many advisors, you may not be offering robust charitable giving planning. In this keynote Kris Putnam-Walkerly, global philanthropy advisor and author of Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change And What They Can Do To Transform Giving (Wiley), will help you expand your philanthropic service offerings with confidence: 

  • Learn the critical question many advisors neglect to ask their clients. 
  • Discover the one word that may be preventing your clients from reaching their philanthropic goals. 
  • Identify the key stakeholders whom you should involve right now. 
  • Uncover the primary reason advisors avoid conversations about philanthropy. 
  • Discover the secret weapon for becoming a go-to philanthropic expert. 

Delusional Altruism: How Philanthropists Get In Their Own Way and What Advisors Can Do To Help Them 

Did you know that most ultra-high-net donors want to change the world, but they get in their own way? Kris Putnam-Walkerly, global philanthropy advisor and author of Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change And What They Can Do To Transform Giving (Wiley), will share common delusional thoughts and practices that drastically hinder generous families from achieving their charitable goals. She will also explain how wealth advisors, estate planning attorneys, and family office leaders can inadvertently contribute to this delusional thinking, and what they can do to help their clients transform their giving.  

 

Philanthropy Mistakes Your Clients Make (And How You Can Help Them) 

As an advisor, you want to attract, grow, and retain your clients — or risk losing them when wealth transfers to the next generation. You know that supporting your clients’ philanthropic goals is a great way to build and deepen relationships across generations. But you don’t always know how to have conversations about charitable giving. You worry you might not have all the answers and often feel “out of your element.” What’s even worse, your clients suffer from “delusional altruism.” They hold onto deceptive and illogical thoughts that prevent them from achieving their philanthropic goals.  

In this webinar, you will learn: 

  • What “delusional altruism” is 
  • The top philanthropy mistakes your clients make 
  • How you might be inadvertently contributing to these mistakes 
  • Practical steps you can take to grow your business across generations by increasing the clarity, impact, and joy your clients experience with their charitable giving. 
FOR NONPROFITS

Are Your Donors Delusional Or Transformational? 

Philanthropists want to create dramatic impact with their giving. But too often they suffer from “Delusional Altruism.” They cling onto deceptive beliefs and misguided practices that prevent them from achieving the impact they seek.  What does this mean for nonprofits seeking funding? How do you know if your donors are “delusional” or transformational, and what can you do about it? In this keynote, Kris Putnam-Walkerly, award-winning author of Delusional Altruism, offers nonprofits an insider’s guide to how donors get in their own way. She shares real-world, practical guidance for avoiding mistakes that hamstring impact, building meaningful relationships with your funders, and creating transformational change 

 

How to Increase Your Nonprofit Leadership and Effectiveness During A Crisis 

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that disruption and volatility are the status quo. The future is always uncertain, and we never know when the next crisis will hit. Are you continuously preparing for the next one? Will you respond by rapidly adapting, transforming, and innovating? Or by scrambling, hunkering down, and feeling paralyzed?  Recognize your blind spots and replace them with effective alternatives, so you can not only stay the course during crises but seize them as opportunities to strengthen and transform your nonprofit.  

"Kris's keynote brought home the all-important point that transformational change can't just be an aspirational vision for foundation executives alone. To achieve the greatest impact possible, all foundation staff should be engaged in changing how the business of philanthropy. I highly recommend her as a keynote speaker!"
David-Goldsmith
David Goldsmith
SVP and Strategy, Giving Data
"Kris’s presentation on grantmaking was one of the most valuable conference sessions I have ever attended. She fully engaged the group and made me think more strategically about our Foundation."
Maureen Sheehan Massaro
Executive Director, Wilson Sheehan Foundation

HERE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE KRIS HAS SPOKEN

"Kris’s broad and deep knowledge of the philanthropic sector has been an asset as we work to help emerging foundations scale the learning curve. Her presentations are a compelling combination of solid best-practice information coupled with real-world examples from her work with numerous foundations."
Ret Boney
Executive Director, North Carolina Network of Grantmakers

Are you in need of a provocative, engaging voice at your next in-person or virtual conference or private event? How about a respected, outside expert to enlighten your board or foundation members?

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