Philanthropy has the power to create lasting change, but the most transformative impact happens when donors prioritize collaboration over individual recognition. At our recent Philanthropy Summit, keynote speaker Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern presented four key principles to guide philanthropists toward truly impactful giving. These principles, rooted in her extensive research on nonprofit leadership, foster deeper partnerships, stronger communities, and more enduring outcomes.
The first principle, focus on mission before organization, urges philanthropists to support initiatives that unite organizations around a common purpose. By backing projects that encourage collaboration, rather than isolated achievements, you can help build sustainable partnerships capable of tackling complex social issues. Philanthropists who embrace this approach often find they contribute to broader systemic change rather than wins that are only short-term.
Her second principle invites philanthropists to support nonprofits that demonstrate flexibility and accountability in their partnerships: manage through trust, not control. Philanthropists can fuel innovation and flexibility by granting nonprofits the freedom to adapt as needs shift. By offering unrestricted or multi-year support, you’re empowering nonprofit leaders to focus on impact without the strain of rigid reporting requirements. This trust-based approach allows nonprofits to pivot and respond effectively to evolving challenges.
The third principle reminds us to promote others, not yourself. Real progress happens when we celebrate shared success. By using your influence to spotlight collective achievements, you’re helping to cultivate a culture of mutual support across the sector. Philanthropists who do this amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Finally Dr. Wei-Skillern’s remarks urged attendees to build constellations, not stars. Her final principle encourages philanthropists to invest in collaborative initiatives that prioritize interconnected efforts over individual accolades. Supporting convenings, collective projects, and partnerships shifts the focus from isolated gains to a broad, united impact.
The Philanthropy Summit itself exemplifies this principle, bringing together changemakers from across the region and beyond to build relationships focused on collective good. These principles guide the Foundation’s work beyond the Philanthropy Summit, too. Programs like Big Day of Giving and Cultivate create ongoing platforms for nonprofit leaders to share insights, strengthen connections, and amplify each other’s work. Our health equity programs also embrace this ethos, prioritizing networks and shared goals over singular efforts.
When we give with these principles in mind, we help communities rise together — creating outcomes no one organization, or philanthropist, could achieve alone.
Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern addresses the audience of the Philanthropy Summit. Dr. Wei-Skillern is a senior fellow at the Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley. Previously, she served on the faculty at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Business School, and London Business School. A distillation of her work can be found at newnetworkleader.org.