Giving Done Right

In the sixth episode of season 3, philanthropists Vinh and Leisle Chung share their remarkable stories of coming to the U.S. as a refugee and an immigrant, respectively, and how early experiences being on the receiving end of generosity have deeply shaped their own giving. They also discuss the way that generosity is passed down through generations by example, the intangible and invaluable benefits that philanthropy brings the giver, and their journey to orienting the mission of their medical practice around giving both locally and internationally.

Author and activist Heather McGhee joins hosts Phil and Grace for the fifth episode of season three. Heather provides keen insight into ‘drained pool’ politics, a core metaphor in her book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, that reveals how the racial zero sum mindset hurts everyone. She presents a compelling picture of how racial inequality cuts across any number of issues that donors may care about, and therefore needs to be deeply considered and addressed in order to be effective in giving. She also describes “the solidarity dividend,” the significant benefits that result when people come together across differences, and she shares her reasons for feeling optimistic about the future.

In the fourth episode of season 3, hosts Phil and Grace are joined by Allison Sesso, president and CEO of RIP Medical Debt. Allison discusses the enormous stigma and burden of medical debt in the U.S. healthcare system and provides insight into the organization’s innovative model of canceling that debt. She also pushes back on the idea that the nonprofit sector is stagnant and uninventive and shares about her organization’s experience receiving a $50 million gift from MacKenzie Scott.

Philanthropist and restaurateur April Tam Smith joins Grace on the Giving Done Right podcast to discuss her unique approach to giving, balancing philanthropic pursuits with a career in finance, and finding both purpose and friendship – as well as retaining humility – as a donor. April and her husband have taken a radically generous approach to giving; in specific chapters of their lives, they’ve done a “reverse tithe,” contributing up to 90 percent of their income to charitable causes. She discusses her philanthropic journey as well as running a nonprofit vegan restaurant in the heart of Times Square in New York City.

In the second episode of season three, hosts Phil and Grace are joined by Patty McIlreavy, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), to discuss disasters, philanthropy’s responsibility for both prevention and recovery, and the most common pitfalls for donors responding to disasters. Patty shares her deep expertise on what can make a disaster response successful (or unsuccessful), discusses examples like the natural disasters in Haiti and Houston, and delves into issues of equity in disaster prevention and response. We love making this show, and we’re always trying to make it better for you. With that in mind, we've got a quick survey. Fill it out and you'll be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Bookshop. https://givingdoneright.org/survey/

In the season 3 premiere of Giving Done Right, hosts Phil and Grace talk with Gladys Vega about her remarkable work leading Boston-area nonprofit La Colaborativa. In the first of eight episodes this season, Gladys takes us deep into her community and her organization’s work. She discusses the strengths of La Colaborativa’s approach, which is deeply integrated into the community it serves, revisits both the most difficult moments of the pandemic and the positive changes that emerged, and discusses how to make sustainable change through both direct service and advocacy work.

Being a wise and effective donor isn’t easy. That’s where Giving Done Right comes in — the podcast with everything you need to know to be a more effective giver. Join hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette from the Center for Effective Philanthropy as they welcome major donors and nonprofit leaders to answer philanthropy’s burning questions and bust some myths about giving that have long plagued donors and nonprofits alike. Subscribe now for updates. 

In the season finale of Giving Done Right season two, CEP’s Phil and Grace talk with Paul Niehaus, co-founder and chairman of GiveDirectly. Paul discusses the power of direct cash transfers – how they work, why trusting those in need with cash can be extremely effective, and when certain issue areas might warrant a different philanthropic approach.

In the penultimate episode of Giving Done Right season two, CEP’s Phil and Grace with Gloria Walton, president and CEO of The Solutions Project. Gloria focuses on the intersection of climate change and racial justice, the value of grassroots organizing and advocacy in moving an issue forward, and what it will take to move philanthropy toward truly transformative grantmaking.

In this week’s episode of Giving Done Right, Phil and Grace talk with Liesel Pritzker Simmons, major donor and co-founder of impact investing firm Blue Haven Initiative. Liesel zeroes in on impact investing – what it is, how it works, and the role it plays in the philanthropic sector. She also discusses how applying an impact lens can minimize risk, and how policy change — like implementing a wealth tax — can go hand in hand with philanthropic and market-based approaches to social issues.