Giving Done Right: “Effecting Change at the Local Level: Wisdom from Community Foundation CEOs”

Podcast: Giving Done Right
Host: The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Date: September 18, 2025
Guests:

• Letita Smith, President, Winston Salem Foundation
• Alicia Washington, President & CEO, Seattle Foundation
• Dick Ober, President & CEO, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
  Hosts: Phil Buchanan & Grace Nicolette

Episode Overview

This episode features an illuminating roundtable with three CEOs of major community foundations. The conversation centers on the transformative role of community foundations as place-based institutions, their unique relationship with donors and local nonprofits, and the innovative ways they drive change at the local level. The leaders discuss the nuances of donor engagement, the democratization of philanthropy, responding to societal challenges, and the crucial impact these foundations have on their communities—especially amid complex social and political landscapes. The episode also contains candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of leading such organizations in today’s context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Role and Purpose of Community Foundations

[01:29–03:46]

• Community foundations are “philanthropy of, by, and for the people of a specific place,” serving as hubs for local giving and civic engagement.

  • “Community foundations are the democratization of philanthropy.” — Dick Ober [01:29]

• These institutions aren’t just a single fund: they hold a complex mix of donor-advised funds, field of interest funds, and designated funds, each supporting different strategies and causes.

2. How Community Foundations Partner with Donors

[04:17–06:33]

• Foundations provide tailored services for donors with varying interests and backgrounds, helping both new and seasoned philanthropists connect with pressing local needs.

  • “We are a place that they can come to as they're trying to deepen that knowledge.” — Alicia Washington [05:53]

• Their place-based expertise allows them to recommend new giving opportunities and foster broader perspectives among donors.

3. Navigating Social and Political Challenges

[06:33–14:46]

• With social safety net cuts and civil society under threat, education and convening donors is more vital than ever.

  • “It’s our responsibility…to help them understand what these changes mean, what they can anticipate seeing most immediately, and what we anticipate happening down the road…” — Letita Smith [06:55]

• Community foundations remain committed to nonpartisan engagement, withstanding political tensions while staying true to their North Star: advancing communities where everyone thrives.

  • “Everyone thriving are bipartisan issues. And so, we are relentless in our commitment to standing behind those core values.” — Letita Smith [09:24]

4. Value Alignment & Grantmaking Policies

[15:21–17:29]

• Foundations maintain clear grantmaking standards, refusing to fund organizations that practice discrimination or hate.

  • “We have a very clear policy that we will not make grants to organizations that we discover to be practicing exclusion, discrimination, or hate in any way.” — Dick Ober [15:29]

• Donors and foundations engage in honest conversations to ensure value alignment, and sometimes foundations counsel potential donors to other philanthropic options if there’s a misalignment.

5. Understanding and Responding to Community Needs

[17:29–20:32]

• Staff actively participate in local initiatives, coalitions, and “the room where it happens.” Their proximity to grassroots efforts ensures they stay informed and responsive.
  • “We work really nimbly in a variety of ways to really keep a pulse on where activity is happening…” — Letita Smith [17:29]

6. Examples of Impact: Community Foundation Success Stories

[20:32–27:27]

• Winston Salem Foundation: launched a new affordable housing fund that moved from idea to actionable local initiative.

  • “For our foundation, that just meant getting the right people in the room to begin imagining what this was actually gonna look like… it's inspiring for our partners.” — Letita Smith [21:16]

• Seattle Foundation: has helped unlock $5 billion in public resources by supporting advocacy and collaborating with government (e.g., housing, childcare, public transportation levies).

  • “…the ability to use our civic voice and influence… unlocks so much for our community above and beyond just any one grant that we can make…” — Alicia Washington [23:04]

• NH Charitable Foundation: long-term investment in mental health/substance use, blending grants, social and political capital, and working to scale innovations through state policy.

  • “…we are far more than a grant maker. We think of the grants as one type of capital. It’s usually not the most important…” — Dick Ober [24:22]

7. Tensions & Flexibility in Serving Donors

[27:57–32:36]

• Community foundations offer a spectrum: from donors recommending specific grants, to collective responses during crises.

  • “Often the same donor will change their approach over time… Individuals will come in and out of those approaches.” — Letita Smith [30:21]

• Foundations also serve donors who don’t create funds but want advice, and even help with gifts of unusual assets (e.g., sports cars, rare jade, companies).

  • “We just supported auctioning off a really fancy sports car…” — Alicia Washington [33:02]
  • “…still in the process of winding down a company that was given to us in 2013…” — Dick Ober [33:54]

8. Democratization & Macro Trends in Giving

[35:37–43:36]

• Concerns about declining household giving rates and criticisms around donor-advised funds not distributing money quickly enough.

• Community foundations strive to move money rapidly into communities; funds are usually spent down in 4-5 years, with robust policies against inactive funds.

  • “Our goal is to move money as fast as possible right within to our communities and our donor behavior aligns with that trend.” — Alicia Washington [41:13]
  • “…if a fund has not made a grant in a year or two, we call the donors and we say, you got to make a grant.” — Dick Ober [43:36]

• The foundations distinguish themselves from commercial DAF providers in their drive for community impact.

9. Supporting Nonprofit Effectiveness & Addressing Burnout

[47:38–53:31]

• Flexible funding and capacity building are emphasized: legal, communications, technology, and especially staff well-being.

  • “Burnout is just a huge issue and headline for nonprofit leaders concerned about their own burnout and the burnout of their staff.” — Phil Buchanan [53:31]
  • “…we have a program coming up… helping them talk about how to do effective case making…in this really challenging time.” — Letita Smith [47:38]

• Specific programs: multi-year general operating support, access to employee assistance programs, care and response funds for nonprofit staff, and risk management workshops.

10. New Trends: GoFundMe & the Disruption of Philanthropy

[53:48–56:47]

• Discussion of mutual aid, GoFundMe, and similar platforms as both challenges and opportunities for community foundations.
  • “I tend to lean more towards openness around the disruptions that we're seeing in the marketplace and technology…” — Alicia Washington [54:20]
  • “Ultimately our mission is to create a community where everyone is thriving. And so we welcome all forms of philanthropy…” — Letita Smith [56:04]

11. Reflections on Leadership & Sustaining the Work

[57:30–63:36]

• Community foundation leadership is uniquely challenging, combining donor stewardship, community engagement, and public accountability.
• Personal sources of inspiration: working with the next generation of leaders, proximity to community change, and an enduring sense of purpose.
  • “My joy comes from folks like Dick and others who kind of help us understand what was and encourage us on what could be…I do believe that we can plant the kind of seeds that leads to a more joyful community for our region.” — Alicia Washington [59:43]
  • “That privilege is something that I remain very cognizant of, and every day, it continues to inspire me and give me new energy to bring to this work.” — Letita Smith [62:33]
  • “This field is adapting fast to the realities on the ground… this conversation would have been very different when I joined this field 15 years ago.” — Dick Ober [58:07]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Democratization of Philanthropy
  “Community foundations are the democratization of philanthropy.” — Dick Ober [01:29]

• Place-Based Impact
  “We see our role…centered in the North Star around fostering a joyful community of shared prosperity, belonging and justice.” — Alicia Washington [04:17]

• Navigating Tensions
  “We are structured in such a way that we are skilled at how to hold those tensions…We cannot be all things to everyone.” — Alicia Washington [13:25]

• Community Knowledge
  “Having us at that table, bringing together a wide variety of partners…is an example of…the unique contribution that we can make to a community.” — Letita Smith [21:16]

• Unlocking Public Resources
  “If we can unlock more public resources, we can reach more people at scale and advance change at a greater scale.” — Alicia Washington [23:04]

• Power of Local
  “Our power is at the local level and the ways in which we still give people avenues and ways to do that from a giving standpoint.” — Alicia Washington [37:24]

• Innovating in Difficult Times
  “The opportunity…is the way that we continue to create more avenues for people…to find ways to be engaged and given locally.” — Alicia Washington [37:24]

• Adapting to Change
  “This field is adapting fast to the realities on the ground, and I see it every day…” — Dick Ober [58:07]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Defining Community Foundations: [01:29–03:46]
• Donor Partnerships & Approaches: [04:17–06:33]
• Current Social/Political Challenges: [06:33–14:46]
• Values Alignment & Exclusionary Grants: [15:21–17:29]
• Community Needs Assessment: [17:29–20:32]
• Examples of Local Impact: [20:32–27:27]
• Types of Donor Engagement: [27:57–32:36]
• Unusual Gifts and Asset Liquidation: [32:36–34:07]
• Macro Trends & DAFs Critique: [35:37–46:01]
• Nonprofit Capacity and Burnout: [47:38–53:31]
• New Forms of Giving (GoFundMe, etc.): [53:48–56:47]
• Reflections on Leadership & Resilience: [57:30–63:36]

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, hopeful, and realistic, balancing deep appreciation for the power and responsibility of local philanthropy with honest acknowledgment of systemic challenges. It showcases the adaptability, transparency, and community-centered values of community foundations, with leaders sharing practical strategies and philosophical commitments to collective well-being.

For listeners new to the topic—or anyone wanting to understand how philanthropy can make a difference in turbulent times—this episode offers plenty of inside wisdom, best practices, and inspiration for both local engagement and broader innovation in charitable giving.