Effecting Change at the Local Level: Wisdom from Community Foundation CEOs

Donors looking to make a difference in their local communities can turn to community foundations — local philanthropic institutions driven by giving “of, by, and for the people” and rooted in the goal of creating thriving communities. In this episode, Phil and Grace are joined in conversation by three community foundation leaders: Dick Ober, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, LaTida Smith, president of the Winston-Salem Foundation, and Alesha Washington, president and CEO of the Seattle Foundation.  In sharing their experiences and approaches, these CEOs encourage donors to embrace their power to engage and effect change in their own community. They reflect on thorny issues including working across ideological lines, supporting often under-appreciated nonprofits and their staff, and the proliferation of giving options for donors. They also explore how to ensure money doesn't sit in institutions, but gets out the door to organizations working in communities. Additional Resources: CEP Report: What Donors Value: How Community Foundations Can Increase Donor Satisfaction, Referrals, and Future Giving Community Foundation Locator, by Council on Foundations Winston-Salem Foundation Seattle Foundation New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Data on Declining U.S. Donor Participation, from the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University CEP Reports: State of Nonprofits 2025, 2024, and 2023