Emerging Practitioners Investing in Talent

Many funders will earnestly and forthrightly state, “when it comes down to it, we fund people.” Yet that statement tends to mean that they make grants based on one leader whom they respect, with whom they share a trusting relationship, and/or whose big idea they admire. But that one person is not “people.”

Join us on June 30 for an interactive breakfast conversation, when as a group we will discuss the Philanthropy Hour podcast “Rusty Stahl on Talent Investing and Leadership Development.” Stahl is founder, president, and CEO of Talent Philanthropy Project, a campaign to inspire grantmakers to fund and nurture developing staff and leadership in grantee organizations and the nonprofit sector at large. Previously he founded Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and served as executive director from 2002 through 2012.

Stahl’s Foundation Review article “Talent Philanthropy: Investing in Nonprofit People to Advance Nonprofit Performance” (optional reading) argues that people are the primary asset that drives performance in the social sector, but despite their importance they are under-supported. Talent Philanthropy is the practice of supporting a range of interventions that help nonprofits develop the systems needed to build a “deep bench” of leadership across their ranks—not just investing in individuals at the executive or “leadership” level.

Only 1% or less of foundation grant dollars aim to build up nonprofit professionals or empower nonprofits to develop their staff. Funders have the potential to make major strides in their own effectiveness and in the performance of their grantees by explicitly investing in grantee talent and talent-support systems.

As a group, we will:

• Discuss the role of funders in supporting nonprofit talent.
• Exchange ideas with peers about how to—as emerging practitioners—to integrate a “talent lens” into existing grantmaking strategies, program areas, and grant portfolios that does not call for new grantmaking programs.

The conversation will be facilitated by Stephanie Guidry, program officer for nonprofit effectiveness at The Boston Foundation.

Meet inside H Mart in front of Paris Baguette Cafe.

RSVP below so we can keep you informed of any changes, and mark your calendars for EPIP Boston breakfast conversations later this year:

• Thursday, August 11, 8:30 a.m. in Boston
• Thursday, October 6, 8:30 a.m. in Cambridge