Kris Putnam-Walkerly: News Flash – Philanthropy is Messed Up

Maybe working in philanthropy is like attending a large Thanksgiving family gathering. There are folks you dearly love, folks you put up with, and folks who need a bit of a talking to. Kris Putnam-Walkerly knows this as well as anyone. She is a philanthropic advisor with a long history in the field, and she isn’t afraid to tell Uncle Irving that he needs to straighten up and fly right (so to speak). Kris’s new book Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change and What They Can Do To Transform Giving addresses the long list of things that prevent philanthropists from succeeding in their work. It’s a firm but kind look at how to make a difference. Eric spoke with Kris about her career, her book, and her advice to her colleagues about how to avoid the many pitfalls that philanthropists can avoid as they seek to transform their giving practices. (And if you stick around to the VERY END, you can hear the Let’s Hear It theme song performed by its creator John Allee complete with lyrics!)