And just like that, the 2017 CEP Conference has come and gone. From Tuesday evening’s powerful opening plenary from Bryan Stevenson to yesterday’s closing talk on leadership in turbulent times from Harvard Business School Professor Nancy Koehn, Leading Effective Foundations was chock-full of inspiring stories, thought-provoking data and insights, and sharp discussion of issues that are central to foundations’ ability to maximize their impact. Thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, and attendees (and tweeters!) for joining us and making a memorable three days in Boston.
Through tweets from attendees using hashtag #CEP2017, here is how Day 3 unfolded:
The third and final day of the conference began with a presentation of powerful and sobering data on inequality from Stanford economist and MacArthur Fellow Raj Chetty. Chetty explored how the notion of the “American Dream” actually stacks up against the data, sharing findings from recent studies on economic mobility and discussing how developments in big data are creating opportunities to reverse debilitating trends in inequality. He then joined a panel of foundation leaders, including Risa Lavizzo-Mourey of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Hilary Pennington of Ford Foundation, and Kyle Peterson of the Walton Family Foundation, and moderated by BELL CEO Tiffany Cooper Gueye, to discuss what foundations can do to be effective in their work to combat inequality.
Listening to Stanford economist and McArthur genius Raj Chetty present using big data to fight inequality #cep2017
— Alexa Culwell (@AlexaCulwell) April 6, 2017
"The chances of achieving the American dream are almost two times higher in Canada than the US" – Raj Chetty #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/eWA19uk4o6
— Ify Mora (@IfyMora) April 6, 2017
Big data can transform the social sector says @Stanford economist Raj Chetty #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/XI2LNkbK49
— Fay Twersky (@FayDTwersky) April 6, 2017
At #cep2017 Raj Chetty on lack of upward mobility in US. Not an equal story pic.twitter.com/Lyz2KkQG0T
— Stuart Comstock-Gay (@StuComstockGay) April 6, 2017
"Place really seems to matter for kids outcomes." This means we can make change at local level. Raj Chetty #cep2017
— Jessica David (@JDinRI) April 6, 2017
Interested in Raj Chetty's work on geography and economic mobility? Here's his work in the @nytimes #CEP2017 https://t.co/cSJyaxREqS
— Hayden Couvillion (@Hayden_Couvi) April 6, 2017
High residential segregation diminishes opportunities for upward mobility. #cep2017
— Atlantic (@atlantic) April 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/waj97/status/849961476559446018
Less racial segregation correlates to more upward mobility for children. Raj Chetty More proof that we're stronger together. #cep2017
— Michelle Greanias (@mgreanias) April 6, 2017
#CEP2017 if you want to reduce income inequality stop giving money to Harvard, give to Cal State instead – Raj Chetty pic.twitter.com/2jGmTERFzP
— Heather McLeod Grant (@hmcgrant) April 6, 2017
See Raj Chetty's research on parent income distribution at elite universities in recent @UpshotNYT feature: https://t.co/tmRYJcsn2a #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
Relationships matter: When communities use their social capital 2 form reflationships, opportunities for economic upswings emerge #CEP2017
— Debra Jacobs (@DebraMJacobs) April 6, 2017
Numbers speak loudly: The harsh reality of the fading hopes of "The American Dream". #CEP2017 from Raj Chetty. pic.twitter.com/NPzeyj00ih
— David Wertheimer (@DavidWSeattle) April 6, 2017
Adults in their thirties, my age, basically have a 50/50 chance of achieving the #AmericanDream… very sobering talk – Raj Chetty #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/2yxE2dlZ6Y
— Ify Mora (@IfyMora) April 6, 2017
Raj Chetty is an absolute master of clear presentation of data and his message is so crucial #cep2017
— Phil Buchanan (@philxbuchanan) April 6, 2017
.@TiffanyGueye, @Risalavizzo, @WFFKyle, @hpennington_ react to data from Raj Chetty & discuss what fdns can do to combat inequality #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/Tdbea2TwSY
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
"Your zip code is as important as your genetic code in determining health outcomes," @Risalavizzo at #cep2017
— Phil Buchanan (@philxbuchanan) April 6, 2017
"Philanthropy has a special obligation to work on inequality because inequality created us."
– Hillary Pennington, Ford Fdn#cep2017
— Linda Baker (@Lindasbaker) April 6, 2017
"Social justice is a long game. For every win, there is push back. We must support our grantees to be strong and resilient." #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
There is opportunity for philanthropy to create impact on inequality by linking evidence and policy, says Raj Chetty #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
Great question: do we have a gap between skill and will?#cep2017
— Jessica David (@JDinRI) April 6, 2017
"We need to understand deeply what our communities want before we start our work" – @WFFKyle #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
Scaling doesn't always work b/c the quality of implementation is so crucial. Important to focus on data and what works – Raj Chetty #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
Raj Chetty: It matters less if kids have 2 parent family than if they're in a community with many 2 parent families #cep2017
— Grace Chiang Nicolette (姜韻聲) (@GraceNicolette) April 6, 2017
"The size of the challenges we are trying to solve increases the responsibility for better coordination." – @WFFKyle #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/RxUgIfCn3o
— Walton Foundation (@WaltonFamilyFdn) April 6, 2017
Following the panel discussion, attendees dispersed for the third and final series of breakout sessions. Topics covered included supporting nonprofit sustainability, governance, strategy, and foundations’ role in influencing policy, to name a few. Here’s a sample of tweets from across these discussions:
Watching @AnneWallestad @philhenderson @jcanales on board-CEO partnership–my favorite topic! #CEP2017 pic.twitter.com/6gpEKmOs2g
— Rick Moyers (@Rick_Moyers) April 6, 2017
Patti Patrizi shares the seven deadly sins of strategy: #CEP2017 pic.twitter.com/qFFPHP3oQA
— Trevor Pollack (@twpollack) April 6, 2017
What is nonprofit sustainability? Hilarious, smart and spot on Vu Le of @Nonprofitwballs speaking. #CEP2017 (his newsletter a great read) pic.twitter.com/wv9YqYdl9z
— Stuart Comstock-Gay (@StuComstockGay) April 6, 2017
Grantee feedback to Whitman Institute @TWI_2022: Advocate with other funders for more unrestricted and multi-year support. #cep2017
— Linda Baker (@Lindasbaker) April 6, 2017
Hume: Donors should resist temptation to dictate coverage or headlines; that turns journalism into propaganda. Need firewalls. #cep2017
— Media Impact Funders (@MediaFunders) April 6, 2017
Hilary Pennington: People should approach strategy with joy and curiosity. But it is often approached with dread and disfunction. #cep2017
— 4QPartners (@4QPartners) April 6, 2017
Giving organizations permission 2 invest in infrastructure is key part of grantee conversations re general support.
Belen Vargas
#cep2017— Linda Baker (@Lindasbaker) April 6, 2017
Great convo w/ @jcanales & Phil Henderson abt board-staff alignment. Key predictor of staff empowerment. https://t.co/O4AvJzDrWm #cep2017
— Kevin Bolduc (@kmbolduc) April 6, 2017
Audience comment: "Philanthropy is the field most profoundly in need of good governance." Agreed. #CEP2017
— Rick Moyers (@Rick_Moyers) April 6, 2017
Fewer larger grants is better. Why do foundations find it so hard to consolidate their grantmaking? Because saying no is hard. #cep2017
— Linda Baker (@Lindasbaker) April 6, 2017
How to combat fake news/misinformation: general support to investigative & explanatory journalism especially at local level. #CEP2017
— Kathy Reich (@kdreich) April 6, 2017
Great session, maybe therapy session on strategy with Patti Patrizi @hpennington_ #cep2017
— Elizabeth González (@ElizabethlaBeti) April 6, 2017
Open Impact was proud to be a part of @CEPData conference #CEP2017 presenting on the role of #philanthropy in addressing #prosperityparadox
— Open Impact (@OpenImpactTeam) April 6, 2017
After the breakouts, attendees reconvened in the grand ballroom for the day’s second plenary panel, this time on different perspectives on philanthropy’s power and influence. Including voices from the nonprofit (Vu Le of Nonprofit with Balls), journalist (Sacha Pfeiffer of The Boston Globe), academic (sociologist Linsey McGoey of the University of Essex, U.K.), and funder perspective (Grant Oliphant of The Heinz Endowments), Barr Foundation President Jim Canales moderated a fascinating and candid discussion that spanned topics from navigating the power dynamic between funders and grantees to foundation transparency.
Let's talk power, influence, and inequality @jcanales facilitating impressive panel of truth tellers #cep2017 #philanthropy pic.twitter.com/KYc4gdjSzd
— Stefan Lanfer (@stefanlanfer) April 6, 2017
"We need to fundamentally change the relationship with power. We like to control everything" Grant Oliphant, Pres, Heinz Fdn #cep2017
— Jacqueline Martinez Garcel (@JMGarcel) April 6, 2017
Balance of Power in Philanthropy panel at #CEP2017 discuss how hard it is to tell the truth to funders. #philanthropy pic.twitter.com/bK6VZSV62v
— Crystal Hayling (@CHayling) April 6, 2017
"I've been asked to go off record more times w/ nonprofit/philanthropy reporting than w/ investigative reporting" @SachaPfeiffer #cep2017
— Nell Edgington (@nedgington) April 6, 2017
@Nonprofitwballs: "Nonprofits are tired of being listened to without really being listened to." #CEP2017
— Kathy Reich (@kdreich) April 6, 2017
Foundations need to actually listen to what grantees are saying: they need multiyear GOS & streamlined processes @Nonprofitwballs #CEP2017 pic.twitter.com/MdQqmLpIpj
— Jacob Harold (@jacobcharold) April 6, 2017
Rhetoric about new philanthropic models (and how about current or old) is outpacing the evidence base. #cep2017
— Alexa Culwell (@AlexaCulwell) April 6, 2017
#CEP2017 Evidence base for business based approaches to social good is thin. Rhetoric is outpacing the evidence on doing well by doing good.
— Teresa Behrens (@TeriBehrens) April 6, 2017
.@Nonprofitwballs speaking truth to power: "Bizsplaining" to nonprofit leaders is far too prevalent. #CEP2017 pic.twitter.com/zToGOkXB8e
— Mary Chalifour (@marychalifour) April 6, 2017
If you're not in the know, @Nonprofitwballs is a must-subscribe blog for all involved in foundation work: https://t.co/Qz1GbiANhw #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
"We need to give ears to the earless" says @HeinzEndow Grant Oliphant @CEPData #cep2017
— Ellie Buteau (@e_buteau) April 6, 2017
Inherent tension for #philanthropy as an "artifact of inequality working on inequality" #cep2017 @go_grant pic.twitter.com/KYilAotBM1
— Stefan Lanfer (@stefanlanfer) April 6, 2017
Nothing about me without me. Why is this so hard for us to really live up to in #philanthropy? #cep2017
— Hope Lyons (@hopelyons) April 6, 2017
If foundations fear being transparent about the feedback they receive, nonprofits will fear giving it, says @Nonprofitwballs #cep2017
— Pam Foster (@pamfoster31) April 6, 2017
If foundations hide the little feedback they get now (few make GPRs public) this makes #NPOs fear giving fnds more feedback #CEP2017
— Crystal Hayling (@CHayling) April 6, 2017
Linsey McGoey argues that philanthropy sometimes needs to be a check on biz #cep2017
— Phil Buchanan (@philxbuchanan) April 6, 2017
Philanthropy "will always be imperfect because power dynamics suck." @go_grant #CEP2017
— Jacob Harold (@jacobcharold) April 6, 2017
"If you cannot imagine yourself being treated the way you treat your grantees, that's a problem." @go_grant is spot on. #CEP2017
— Ethan McCoy (@ethan_mccoy) April 6, 2017
@Nonprofitwballs: "Foundations think of nonprofits the way society thinks of poor people." We don't trust them w/ the money. #CEP2017
— Kathy Reich (@kdreich) April 6, 2017
"We talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion like it's the new coconut water," but where is the action? asks @Nonprofitwballs #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/JawharaTariq/status/850022930553741313
Linsey McGoey points to examples in history of philanthropy's role in volatile times. Time to reclaim that mantle. #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
"A lot of philanthropy feels like it's being done TO nonprofits rather than done WITH nonprofits." – @go_grant #cep2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
How often is "sustainability" just code for "when can I stop making grants to you?" Needs to be about more. @go_grant #CEP2017
— Kevin Bolduc (@kmbolduc) April 6, 2017
Sustainability is about so, so much more than finances #cep2017
— Hope Lyons (@hopelyons) April 6, 2017
Healthy relationships are a must for good philanthropy. Key ingredients are durability, authenticity, reciprocity. –@jcanales #cep2017
— Trevor Pollack (@twpollack) April 6, 2017
Highlight of #cep2017 meeting @Nonprofitwballs and his speaking truth to power! pic.twitter.com/aQAms7el3C
— Jacqueline Martinez Garcel (@JMGarcel) April 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/tompkinsstange/status/850036641016270848
After lunch, Harvard Business School Professor Nancy Koehn closed the conference by telling the fascinating stories of Ernest Shackleton and Rachel Carson and drawing from them important lessons of leadership and courage when times are tough.
.@nancykoehn on the stage to take #cep2017 home with insights on leadership in turbulent times. pic.twitter.com/gizmB5tcTH
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
I love Nancy Koehn's concept of "people who push the boulder of goodness forward." #cep2017
— Jessica David (@JDinRI) April 6, 2017
Courageous leaders help us overcome our selfishness, weaknesses, laziness & fears. @nancykoehn citing DFW's thinking on leadership. #cep2017
— Ethan McCoy (@ethan_mccoy) April 6, 2017
Masterful storytelling from @nancykoehn at #cep2017. Recounting Ernest Shackleton's exploration mission to illustrate lessons of leadership. pic.twitter.com/siOuQAw9EK
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
Yep! "Effective leaders are not born, they are made." #cep2017
— Nell Edgington (@nedgington) April 6, 2017
"Food is a leadership issue we never talk about!" Incredible presentation on leadership from @nancykoehn #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/eSlqjXeFaj
— Caitriona Fottrell (@cfottrell) April 6, 2017
Great #leaders often initially propelled by narcissistic drive, but only become great after shedding its grip @nancykoehn #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/VDtzWV8K6y
— Stefan Lanfer (@stefanlanfer) April 6, 2017
No great leader learns lessons of leadership in an epiphany moment. They learn in moments of challenge. #CEP2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017
"Frame the stakes of this turbulence."
– @nancykoehn #cep2017 pic.twitter.com/ChSHepfilh— Jacob Harold (@jacobcharold) April 6, 2017
We need great, courageous leaders in this moment "like we need oxygen and water," says @nancykoehn #CEP2017
— Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (@CEPData) April 6, 2017