The Social Change Diaries

What does it take to build a durable democratic future in which people can know that their government is working to make their lives better?   In this episode of the Social Change Diaries, Dr. Carmen Rojas, president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, reflects on philanthropy's role in doubling down on protecting communities clearly under attack by investing in community power to advance racial justice as a foundational underpinning of democracy and economic liberation, while ensuring that philanthropic resources are 100% aligned with the urgency of the challenges specific communities face. Follow along with the transcript on our website.  

What would it take to reimagine democracy? In this episode of the Social Change Diaries, Nwamaka Agbo, CEO of Kataly Foundation, explores the relationship between democracy, wealth, power, and repair. Nwamaka challenges philanthropy to move beyond traditional models of control by redistributing resources, trusting communities, and supporting community-led approaches to building a more just and sustainable future. She reflects on Kataly's spend-down model, the importance of dignity and self-determination, and philanthropy's role in resourcing new narratives, collective care, and the communities shaping the future they want to see. Find the transcript and more information about the episode on our website.  

How can philanthropy move money at the speed of change? In this episode of the Social Change Diaries, Ruth Shaber, Founder and President of Tara Health Foundation, reflects on the foundation's decision to spend down by 2030 and what it means to move money with urgency, flexibility, and purpose. Ruth and Vanessa also explore philanthropy's role in advancing gender equity, protecting democracy, and supporting lasting social change. Find the transcript and more information about the episode on our website.  

In this episode of the Social Change Diaries podcast, Glen Galaich, CEO of Stupski Foundation challenges us to reimagine philanthropy's role in protecting our democracy by breaking the fake rules that preserve a system, but not the people it was designed to serve. Glen shares details of Stupski's spend-down, what he and his team envision for philanthropy, and all of the ways fake rules are getting in the way of population level social change. 

Righting and Writing History: Episode 8, Vanessa is joined by Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation. Together, they explore why philanthropy must mobilize more than money, the role of voice, influence, and community power in advancing social change, and what it means to build the power to be well. They also discuss the importance of creating space not only to address urgent needs, but to imagine and build what comes next.

Righting and Writing History: On Episode 7, Vanessa is joined by Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation. Together they discuss the four pillars of community change, the role of foundations to serve as connective tissue for the future-building youth who are driving change in Detroit, why public schools should be at the center of policy change, and the strength that comes from Detroit's deeply loyal communities to fight for a better future.   

Righting and Writing History: Episode 6 Vanessa is joined by Jen Ford Reedy, President of the Bush Foundation. In conversation, they explore the importance of long-term thinking, strategic communications understood as programs work, and the way that multiple narratives enrich our understanding of our democracy.

What can philanthropy do to bolster the power of people to participate in our government for the people and by the people? What role has the information environment played in the deterioration of our democratic guardrails? What can we learn from periods like this before, or elsewhere, to map out how we can build a stronger democracy and economy that simultaneously advances human well-being?  This conversation is essential listening for anyone in the nonprofit sector or devoted to advancing philanthropic work and our civil society. In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Stephen Heintz, former President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and originator of the term "acupuncture philanthropy." Together, they discuss why communications work is the pathway to advance nonprofit impact and strengthen our democracy and why this is the moment for organizations to take action. They delve into the need for a fourth founding of our democracy, what old assumptions we need to let go of, and why each of us should consider ourselves a founder of this future democracy.

Righting and Writing History: Episode 4, Vanessa is joined by Keenya Lambert, President and CEO at the Chicago Foundation for Women. Together they explore the incredible change that has been advanced to this moment through our democratic history, and what it will take to build the infrastructure for lasting change for women and gender expansive people.  

In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Alesha Washington, President & CEO of the Seattle Foundation. At the foundation, Alesha leads efforts to inspire transformative philanthropy with the objective of fostering a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice. With her leadership, the foundation has set a refreshed strategic direction, elevated its positioning on key issues like affordable housing, transit, and childcare access, and strengthened its operations for greater community impact. In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss what community foundation work can do when it fixes joy as an objective, the immense opportunity that foundations have in this moment of profound change for the social sector, and the value of taking learnings from one region and considering how they might play out in a new place.