Transformative Philanthropy: Catalyzing Innovation, Inclusion, and Access

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Bonita Brown, Chancellor at Winston-Salem State University; Shawna Young, CEO at Camelback Ventures; Marc Barnes, PhD, Senior Vice President of Strategic Impact Fundraising at UNCF; and Barbara Logan-Smith, Chief of Experience and Belonging at Teach For America.The speakers explored how transformative philanthropy was reshaping the education and opportunity landscape through historic unrestricted gifts and a growing belief that leaders and communities should have the flexibility to define what was needed most. They emphasized that while the gift itself was significant, the real work began in how organizations stewarded trust into measurable outcomes.Moderated by Dr. Barbara Logan-Smith, this conversation examined how flexible capital could fuel innovation, inclusion, and access when paired with clear strategy, strong decision-making, and transparent guardrails that protected long-term institutional strength. Panelists discussed how leaders could move beyond the headlines of transformational giving to focus on the critical “after the call” moment—aligning boards and communities, investing in organizational capacity, and ensuring that philanthropic resources translated into durable opportunities.Designed for funders, education leaders, and ecosystem builders, this session highlighted how effective stewardship of transformational giving required not only visionary investment, but also disciplined execution to create lasting benefits for students, institutions, and the communities they serve.