February Chair Letter

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

--Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Colleagues,

As we move through 2025, we find ourselves in a time that, as Dickens observed, presents both significant challenges and remarkable opportunities. Our clients and the sector rely on our leadership and support more than ever as they navigate these turbulent times.

My personal touchstone for this year is "Unstoppable." Despite the uncertainties, this word fuels my energy. I believe the only way forward is through, by finding opportunity within adversity. I encourage each of you to choose a guiding word or intention as we collectively advance the Giving Institute's mission and support our clients, who depend on us as trusted partners during this period of change.

I'm deeply grateful for the "unstoppable" spirit of our Giving Institute members and their continued progress on key initiatives. I'm particularly proud of the DEAI Committee's work, in partnership with Dr. Chance, Deb Taft, and Poonam Prasad, and our changemakers in activating our plan, grounded in inclusive practices, continuous learning, and improvement. This has cultivated a culture of inclusion where members and guests feel engaged, psychologically safe, connected, and passionate about our shared work. We are, and always have been, changemakers – intentionally taking creative action to solve social problems. The Giving Institute remains strong and steadfast in its commitment to supporting the organizations we serve and bettering the world.

Under Chad Paris' leadership, the National Conversation Taskforce will convene to develop an integrated marketing plan for National Conversation 2.0. A special thank you to Rick Dunham's firm for their research validating a key recommendation from the Generosity Commission's report. The study reveals strong bipartisan public support for the charitable tax deduction, with 78% of current donors and 59% of non-donors supporting it. This reinforces the urgent need for Congress to pass the Charitable Act. We shared the press release with members this week, encouraging you to share the report on social media and tag Giving USA.

Planning for the 2025 Summer Symposium is well underway, led by Richard Tollefson, Kate Hughes, and Tim Sarrantonio. The theme and further details will be announced soon. As you start thinking about the Summer Symposium, please consider individuals from consultancies or firms to whom you might extend a Golden Ticket invitation. The Summer Symposium is our number one lead generation and membership development opportunity. If you have questions about Golden Tickets, please contact Erin Berggren or Kate Roosevelt.

We are delighted to welcome new member firms to the Giving Institute: Health Giving, TIAA Kaspick, Russell Philanthropies. Please join me in extending a warm welcome and expressing your enthusiasm about their participation in our organization. Thank you to Kate Roosevelt, Chad Paris, and the Membership Committee for their seamless work in reviewing, approving, and onboarding new members.

Austin, TX, the Live Music Capital of the World and a hub of innovation, will host our gathering from March 26-28, 2025. Thank you, Missy Gale and Leya Simmons for your leadership. Their committee is developing an enriching educational and member experience. Look for registration materials soon.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties ahead, I'm grateful to be surrounded by changemakers like you. Your dedication inspires me and makes a profound difference for so many. Together, we create pathways to success and persevere, knowing that this period too shall pass, and the future will be what we make it.

Keep going!
Brenda