2024 Year in Review

I’ve admired other philanthropic advisors and consulting firms who release annual reports. So I’ve taken a stab at my first annual report. It includes the work I performed in 2024 as an independent philanthropic advisor and through my consulting partnerships with Daylight (new in 2024), Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates (started in 2016), and the National Center for Family Philanthropy (started in 2015).

Client Work
I supported clients in 14 states and some that were national:

• 12 webinars, podcast episodes, and conference sessions on family philanthropy, community philanthropy, and philanthropic advising topics.
• 12 mini-consults completed, 1-3 hours each, for donors, foundations, and their wealth and estate advisors. Topics included choosing DAF sponsors and social impact vehicles, moving DAFs, family philanthropy issues, and finding qualified advisors and consultants.
• 7 community foundations’ strategic plans and departmental plans co-facilitated or supported through Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates.
• 5 families with foundations or DAFs supported through projects covering succession, governance, preparation of rising generations, legacy, social impact strategy, and trends in philanthropy.
• 3 large-scale professional development programs co-created for philanthropic advisors and giving families through Daylight and the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
• 2 research projects underway, to be completed in 2025.

The Business Side

• 17 peer mentoring conversations with people entering the philanthropic advising/consulting field or expanding or evolving their work in the field.
• 11% growth in net profit (about the same gross income as 2023 but fewer expenses).
• 7 proposals for projects declined (and awarded to other amazing peers in the field).
• 1 startup supported (Daylight).

What I Don’t Report

• Money influenced or moved: Many advisorss and consultants’ business models focus on steering or managing clients’ grantmaking or impact investing portfolios. I haven’t chosen to do that work.
• Firm growth: I’ve chosen to remain a nimble, sole proprietor, though I am very thankful for the partnerships I listed above and for the hourly virtual admin support Cindy Yang provides.

Reflection

I started my independent philanthropic consulting and advising work in 2008, taking a break 2011-14 to manage a family foundation. I’m realizing I’m one of a fortunate few who have been doing this full-time for more than 10 years. My wife’s employment at institutions with healthcare plans, and her patience as I started up in 2008 and re-started in 2015, were important to my success. I’ve also been lucky to learn from advisors who pioneered the work (and have since retired or passed away) and who are leading thinkers now.

Lastly, thank you to the dozens of donors, foundations, advisors, associations, and other groups who’ve been clients. I look forward to working with more of you in 2025.

(Photo by Viridiana Rivera: https://www.pexels.com/photo/2024-19797275/)