Behind the Scenes of Family Philanthropy

People sometimes ask what a philanthropy advisor actually does. The short answer is: a little bit of everything.

Some of the work is strategic. Some of it is relational. And a surprising amount of it is logistical.

In any given week I might be tracking down updated banking information for a nonprofit so a grant can go out, following up with a wealth advisor to update a family foundation’s financial dashboard, or gently nudging a family member to submit their proposal for the organization they care about before the next board meeting. Much of my work happens behind the scenes so that families can spend their precious dedicated Philanthropy Time to group conversations and decision-making rather than researching, coordinating schedules and gathering information from various stakeholders.

I organize - and often facilitate - the meetings where decisions get made. I talk with nonprofit leaders about their work and their grant proposals. I get to call them when funding is approved, and occasionally I’m the one who has to explain when it isn’t and why. When a family wants to explore a new area of giving but isn’t sure where to start, I spend time researching organizations and the broader landscape. Sometimes that means connecting with subject-matter experts and reporting back so the family can make decisions with better context.

And then there’s the part of the work that’s less visible but often the most meaningful: helping families articulate what actually matters to them, and figuring out how those values show up in practice.

Philanthropy sounds simple from the outside. In reality it sits at the intersection of money, family, and purpose, which means there’s always more happening beneath the surface.

My role is to help hold all of that together so the family can focus on the part they care about most: giving thoughtfully and making decisions they feel good about.