The Changing Face of Philanthropy

by Paige Blansfield, Program Associate, American Express and Nina Chung, Communications Assistant, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
 

 

We are: a brain, an athlete... wait, no. That’s a different Breakfast Club. Philanthropy New York’s Young Leaders Breakfast Club is a group of 60 professionals from every corner of the philanthropic sector. We include administrators, communicators, program officers and executives who have been chosen to join a community of peers and mentors that want to learn from each other and ask the awkward questions that challenge the field. There is certainly networking over hors d'oeuvres and talking about our own careers (and yes, convening over breakfast), but we’re here because we know that there’s a depth and breadth to philanthropy that we can only access through each other. We came to see what this field looked like beyond our own frames.

 

Rest assured, we don't think we're the hottest thing to burst into philanthropy; we are not interested in disruption of the field for its own sake. In fact, for many of us, one of the most compelling features of the Breakfast Club program is the mentorship we receive from established philanthropists who know where the field has failed, where it has triumphed and why certain systems have developed the way they have. Our mentors provide the context and wisdom that is earned only over the long term.

 

We know we look upon this world of crucial work as recent entrants. It means we have many questions and ideas. In fact, we may be very well-positioned to spot where the field has become complacent, content with outdated patterns of work or unobservant of emerging trends in the rest of the world. With today’s technology, cultural exchange and demographics changing at breakneck speeds, we know there are places that philanthropy can adapt to become better suited to improve the global community. We are confident that we can drive that change, armed with each other’s expertise and support.

 

This series, entitled “The Changing Face of Philanthropy,” thus aims to hold a mirror up to the field--where it is now and where we think it can go. We hope this series contributes to the ongoing exchange of perspectives between our peers and between sectors. Some questions we might ask include:

 

 

But, these are just a few of the topics on our mind. We look forward to sharing our ideas and discoveries with the larger PNY community over the next several months. We are excited to build upon the vast potential of philanthropy, and we believe this is an important first step.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Young Leaders Breakfast Club Editorial Team