The Tactical Philanthropy Podcast is a series of conversations with influential people in the philanthropic sector. Below you’ll find the full archive of interviews. If you would like to suggest a guest for an upcoming interview, have comments or questions, please let me know. Starting with the June 7, 2007 interview, the interviewees fielded questions and comments from readers. Click through to the original post to see these follow up discussions.
September 17, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Cheryl Dahle
Today’s interview is with Cheryl Dahle. Cheryl was employee number 24 at Fast Company Magazine and spearheaded the launch of the Fast Company Social Capitalist Awards. During the interview, Cheryl talks about mainstream media coverage of philanthropy, the importance of social enterprises and the challenges faced by nonprofits that try to grow rapidly. You can learn more about Cheryl via the background notes I posted last week.
Cheryl will be answering your questions and comments in the Comments section of this post, so fire away.
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August 16, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Stacy Palmer Interview
Today I’m happy to present the delayed podcast with Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Stacy was involved in founding the paper in 1988, the leading newspaper in the philanthropic sector. During the interview, I ask her about her thoughts on philanthropy blogs, the Chronicle’s plans for their own blogs, the mainstreaming of philanthropy, and whether all of the hoopla over Buffet and Gates is warranted.
You can learn more about Stacy via the background notes I posted last week.
Stacy will be answering your questions and comments in the Comments section of this post, so fire away.
You can click on the link below to read the transcript.
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July 25, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: James Canales Interview
Today’s interview is with James Canales. Jim is president and CEO of the James Irvine Foundation, a $1.7 billion dollar private foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California.
You can read a complete background report on Jim here (feel free to add your own background notes via the comments). Briefly: Jim was one of the panelists at the Demonstrating Impact session at the Council on Foundations conference in Seattle this year (you can read my write-ups here and here). The Irvine Foundation recently released a report called Midcourse Corrections (I wrote about it briefly here). After committing to a $60 million initiative, the biggest in their history, the Irvine Foundation realized that all was not going as planned. They released the Midcourse Corrections report to help other foundations avoid the mistakes they made. This is exactly the sort of knowledge sharing that I’ve been advocating.
Make sure to enter the Comments section at the bottom of this post to follow along with and participate in a follow up conversation with Jim.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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July 11, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: William Schambra
Today’s interview is with William Schambra, director of Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal. Bill is definitely the most controversial person I’ve featured in the podcast series, a fact that you’ll need to know to follow the comments that I’m sure will be coming. Part of what gets certain people’s juices flowing is Schambra’s conservative political views. The Bradley Center is widely considered a “conservative” think tank and Schambra was a senior advisor and speechwriter to Attorney General Edwin Meese under President Ronald Reagan. During the 2007 Council on Foundations conference, Schambra gave a speech (which I wrote about here) in which he readily acknowledged his political “outsider” position relative to the leanings of most of the audience.
Bill Schambra is a controversial figure. Certain bloggers have been waiting with baited breath to take a swing at him in the follow up discussion that will be occurring shortly (Bill will be responding to questions and comments in the Comments section at the end of this post). One writer advised me “Don’t wimp out, Sean. Either you play Bill or he plays you. That is his job.” Here’s my approach to these interviews; I think that verbal combat is an important element of the fire that forges better ideas. But I want that verbal combat to center around the ideas that are under discussion, not the people who voice the ideas. So let’s have at it. Bill sets forth a damning argument that strikes at the very heart of how philanthropy is practiced. He questions the concept that foundations in particular, or any philanthropic enterprise, can ever solve the root cause of most problems. Give it a listen, ask your questions, make your arguments and we’ll see if we can’t all come out the other side a little better for our efforts.
Make sure to enter the Comments section at the bottom of this post to follow along with and participate in a follow up conversation with Bill.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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June 22, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: William Thomson
Today’s interview is with William Thomson, Andrew Carnegie’s great-grandson. In our conversation we discuss the just announced winners of this year’s Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, what William’s great-grandfather would have thought of today’s “new philanthropists”, why philanthropists need to “court risk” the blurring of the lines between for-profit activity and philanthropy, and an emerging philanthropic trend in Europe.
This interview was booked and recorded before I decided to have guests participate in a follow up online conversation with listeners. We’ll get back to that format next time with Bill Schambra.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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June 07, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Paul Shoemaker Interview
Today’s podcast marks a new chapter in my evolving attempt to facilitate cross-disciplinary conversations in the field of philanthropy. As I announced yesterday, interviewees will now be expected to participate in a discussion of the podcast topics in the days after each release. However, for this to be successful I need your help. My readers have already shown a great interest in posting comments and emailing me their thoughts. Now is your opportunity to do the same with the thought leaders who are featured in the podcast. So leave your comments and questions and check back often to watch the discussion unfold.
Kicking off the new format is Paul Shoemaker of Social Venture Partners (SVP). SVP is like a giving circle on steroids. Using a venture capital model, SVP makes grants but also provides their grantees with knowledge, skills and valuable contacts. If you want more context about Paul and SVP check out info here, here and here.
As you develop your questions for Paul, I would encourage you to think about the following topics that we’ve already discussed: giving circles, measuring impact and outcomes, venture philanthropy, the impact of high tech entrepreneurs entering philanthropy for the first time, and “new” vs. “old” philanthropy.
Paul defends the venture capital concept, criticizes “big mouthed”, arrogant individuals for diluting the term “venture philanthropy”, tells us why he thinks there really is a “new donor” today, and talks about the rise of giving circles. Let Paul know what you think. Leave a comment at the end of this post or email me any thoughts or questions. I have Bill Schambra lined up to try this new format and a major foundation CEO considering giving it a try. Help me make this work and I think this venue will attract important leaders and spark a lively conversation. Thanks so much to everyone who has been participating in the discussion here. It has been my great honor and pleasure to watch the debate unfold.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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May 25, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Daniel Ben-Horin
My guest today is Daniel Ben-Horin. Daniel is founder and president of CompuMentor and TechSoup, who are behind the NetSquared Conference. Daniel discusses the history of CompuMentor, how technology is transforming nonprofits, explains the vision behind NetSquared, and reflects on the use of “wisdom of crowd” techniques in philanthropy.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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May 16, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Jeff Martin Interview
My guest today is Jeff Martin. Jeff is Director of Media Relations for the Council on Foundations. Jeff discusses the events that led up to bloggers being invited to attend the recent conference, plans to provide streaming video of conference sessions next year and the need for transparency to be embraced by foundations.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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May 02, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Clara Miller
Today’s interview is with Clara Miller. Clara is president and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. NFF helps nonprofits match their passion and dedication with financial strength and sustainability. They provide impartial analysis, and flexible, frequently unsecured financing that nonprofits typically can’t get from other sources. Clara was voted one of 2006’s Power and Influence Top 50 by the Nonprofit Times. She has written and spoken extensively on nonprofit capitalization, and is the author of a number of articles on the subject.
I just got back from the Council on Foundations conference where I saw Clara speak. In this interview she explains the challenges that nonprofits face when trying to grow and how NFF is able to finance their expansion.
Expand this post using the link below to read the transcript.
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April 13, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Peter Karoff
Today’s interview is with Peter Karoff. Peter is chairman and founder of The Philanthropic Initiative. TPI is a nonprofit advisory team that designs, carries out, and evaluates philanthropic programs for individual donors, families, foundations, and corporations. Peter frequently speaks and writes on philanthropic and social issues, and is the author of the book The World We Want: New Dimensions in Philanthropy and Social Change.
In the interview, we talk about donors using emotion vs. logic in their decisions making, Lucy Bernholz and my joint use of the word “co-creation” and its relevance to philanthropy, and the rise of market based philanthropic solutions. Peter ends the interview by reading one of his poems.
March 30, 2007
Tactical Philanthropy Podcast: Susan Raymond
Today’s interview is with Susan Raymond. Susan is Senior Managing Director of Research Evaluation and Strategic Planning for Changing our World. A leading consulting firm helping nonprofits and private and corporate philanthropists achieve their goals. She’s also chief analyst for onphilanthropy.com, a global resource for nonprofit professionals.
Susan is the author of the book “The Future of Philanthropy”, as well as the soon to be released “Mapping the New World of American Philanthropy”, of which I am a contributing author.
This is an excellent interview. Susan touches on themes such as the blending of for profit and nonprofit models, the intertwining of economic and social advancement and even responds to Phil Cubeta’s disparaging description of Micro Finance as “Micro Loan Sharking”.
March 09, 2007
Charles Collier Podcast Interview
Today I am happy to release the new Tactical Philanthropy Podcast Interview. Every other Friday I release an interview with someone involved in philanthropy.
Today’s interview is with Charles Collier. Charlie is the senior philanthropic advisor at Harvard University. He has also held positions at Princeton, Brown, Andover and Dartmouth. He has worked with hundreds of individuals to help them shape their philanthropy, make tax wise gift decisions and deal with family issues surrounding financial wealth. The second edition of his book, Wealth and Families was recently released and is available at Amazon.com.
February 23, 2007
Today I am happy to release the second interview of the new Tactical Philanthropy Podcast series. Every other Friday I will be releasing an interview with someone involved in philanthropy.
Today’s interview is with Tracy Gary. Tracy has been a donor activist and philanthropist for more than 25 years. She educates and supports donors, family foundations, financial service organizations and nonprofits about the stewardship of money, leadership and philanthropy. Tracy has founded or co founded 18 nonprofits. She is currently the Director of Inspired Legacies.
February 09, 2007
Today I am happy to release the first interview of the new Tactical Philanthropy Podcast series. Every other Friday I will be releasing an interview with someone involved in philanthropy.
Today’s interview is with Jed Emerson, who has done some fascinating work on Blended Value.
I would like to emphatically thank Britt Bravo for the generous gift of her time to get me up to speed on podcasting. Any glitches or quality issues are my own and any hint of professionalism is due to her tutoring. Her Big Vision Podcast was my original inspiration. Corey at 501c3 Cast also offered me some great advice.