Donors’ Forum is composed of leaders from different sectors of the nonprofit and philanthropy worlds. Each month – September through June – we interview a person with perspective and experience that we feel is of interest to our members. We gather to share insights and questions about best practices, innovative ways of working, and challenges in the field.

MARCH 2025  

PHIL BUCHANAN

MARCH 27, 2025

8:30am - 9:30am ET

Please join us for our next Donors' Forum meeting on Thursday, March 27, 2025.  We will be on Zoom.

The meeting will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (EDT)  We begin and end precisely on time.  Please note: We record our discussions and archive them on our website, so that they will be available in the future.



Our guest will be Phil Buchanan, the president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP).  Phil began at CEP in 2001 as its first chief executive, and since then he has led CEP's growth into the leading provider of data and insight on philanthropic effectiveness.  

At its root, philanthropic effectiveness is philanthropy that has a positive impact by using resources wisely, and CEP is at the forefront of analyzing what that means in the day-to-day process of serving society.


To get an idea of CEP's work, please watch this short video.  You can learn more about the Center for Effective Philanthropy here.

From the CEP website: "We do this work because we believe effective donors, working collaboratively and thoughtfully, can profoundly contribute to creating a better and more just world.  This mission is based on a vision of a world in which pressing social needs are more effectively addressed. It stems from a belief that improved effectiveness of philanthropic funders can have a profoundly positive impact on nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve."

Among his many accomplishments, Phil Buchanan is the author of "Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count."  This book was named the “Best Philanthropy Book of the Year” by Inside Philanthropy in 2019.  It is worth buying and reading in advance of the meeting.  Among its many accolades is this, from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: "Phil Buchanan is arguably the best informed and most insightful thought leader in philanthropy today, and this book shows him at his best. Like its author, "Giving Done Right" is grounded in data, animated by real stories well told, and provocative in ways that shed more light than heat. An essential and highly readable guide for foundations and donors ready to move beyond feeling good to doing good."

Phil is also co-host of a podcast, also called Giving Done Right, with CEP’s Grace Nicolette, and author of op-eds that have appeared in a variety of publications including The New York Times and Financial Times.

You can learn more about Phil here.  

A most telling of predictor of Phil's future in the world of philanthropy might be this, from his time as an undergraduate at Wesleyan University, where he was awarded the Butterfield Prize for "character, leadership, intellectual commitment, and concern for the Wesleyan community."

As always, those who join us will engage in an interactive, discussion-oriented format.  Doug White, a thought leader on nonprofits and philanthropy, whose most recent book is "Wounded Charity" (2019), is the moderator.

Please register (RSVP) with our Eventbrite link. You'll receive the link to join the Zoom Room in the confirmation message from your registration along with reminders with the handy Zoom link embedded.

Note: Out of respect to our speaker, if you sign up, please attend.

Many thanks!

Stanley, Deborah, and Brittany

PASt speakers

Over the years, over 100 guests have joined us at Donors’ Forum.  They include foundation leaders, public charity leaders, fundraisers, authors, journalists, and philanthropists.  Each is a thought leader in either the field of philanthropy.

  • 01.12.2021: Whitney Tilson - Founder and CEO Empire Financial Research
    02.11.2021: Greg Luianoff - President and CEO Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)
    03.10.2021: John MacIntosh - Managing Partner Seachange Capital
    04.22.2021: Carrie Rich - Co-Founder and CEO Global Good Fund
    05.13.2021: Adam Treiser - Founder and CEO Arjuna Solutions
    06.15.2021: Andy Ram - Spokesperson Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation
    07.21.2021: Maya Horgan - Famodu Founder Ingressive Capital and Ingressive for Good (Nigeria)
    09.29.2021: Eileen Heisman - President and CEO National Philanthropic Trust
    10.21.2021: Jaimie Mayer - Board Chair Nathan Cummings Foundation
    11.10.2021: Tracy Weiner - CEO Marcum Foundation
    12.15.2021: Kate Bahen - Managing Director Charity Intelligence (Canada)

  • 01.16.2020: Elijah Goldberg - Co-Founder and Executive Director Impact Matters
    02.13.2020: Wendy Diamond - Founder and CEO LDP Ventures; Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization
    04.28.2020: Doug White - No outside guest - First Online Meeting Topic: Philanthropy and the Coronavirus
    06.09.2020: Rob Wray - CEO BlueStar Senior Tech
    08.04.2020: David Vise - Executive Director Modern States
    09.22.2020: Michael Gelb - Author and Management Consultant; Senior Fellow Center for Humanistic Management
    10.13.2020: Mike White - Senior Director of Major and Leadership Giving West Point Association of Graduates
    11.18.2020: Stacy Palmer - Editor Chronicle of Philanthropy
    12.08.2020: Chris Belisle - Executive Director of Corporate Relations Asia Society

  • 01.09.2019: Justin Elliott - Journalist ProPublica
    02.06.2019: Art Taylor - President and CEO Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
    03.21.2019: Karen Rosa - Former VP and Executive Director Altman Foundation
    04.03.2019: Brian McCourt - Founder, Board Chair and CEO ABLE Foundation
    05.01.2019: Carol Argento - VP Charles Hayden Foundation
    06.26.2019: Molly Bingham - Founder Orb Media
    09.17.2019: Michael Kolhagen - CEO Center for Educational Innovation (CEI)
    10.24.2019: Thomas Krever - CEO Hetrick-Martin Institute (LGBTQ)
    11.14.2019: Jay Sullivan - Manager (also author) Exec|Comm
    12.12.2019: Chuck Stetson - Founder and Chairman Healthcare Impact Foundation and Essentials in Education

  • 01.09.2019: Thomas Brown - CEO Ad Altius Advisors
    02.07.2018: Joe Torre - Founder Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation (also, Yankees coach)
    03.06.2018: Steve Nardizzi - Former CEO Wounded Warrior Project
    04.18.2018: John MacIntosh - Managing Director SeaChange Capital Partners
    06.05.2018: Barnaby Marsh - Co-Foounder Saint Partners
    09.06.2018: Laura Callahan - Founder Upstart Co-Lab (also board chair of Global Giving)
    10.04.2018: Rachael Chong - CEO Catchafire
    11.07.2018: Richard Feiner - Lecturer - Nonprofit Management Master's Program Columbia University
    12.12.2018: Martin Whittaker - CEO Just Capital

  • 01.10.2017: Whitney Tilson - Manager Kase Capital (hedge fund)
    02.01.2017: Steve Feldman - President and Co-Founder Renovation Angel
    03.01.2017: Karl Zinsmeister - President; author Philanthropy Roundtable
    04.04.2017: Ken Eyler - Accountant; cybersecurity Arthur Bell
    05.04.2017: Elissa Kramer - Board Member Greenwich House
    06.20.2017: Ginny Brown - Founder SEEK Safely
    09.26.2017: Taylor Hudson - Founder and Executive Director Athlete Ally
    10.17.2017: Julie Shafer - Head of Strategic Philanthropy and Purpose Investing Family Wealth Advisors (BNP Paribas)
    11.02.2017: Corliss Taylor - Development Officer Raymond James Charitable
    12.14.2017: Denise Federer - Speaker, coach, consultant, psychologist Federer Performance Management Group

  • 06.16.2016: Ken Berger - Former CEO Charity Navigator
    09.22.2016: Martin Whittaker - JUST Capital
    10.13.2016: Phil Strassler - Founder Strassler, LLC
    11.02.2016: Judith Berkowitz - Philanthropist and board member Upenn, Rockefeller University, and others
    12.08.2016: Judith Factor - Executive Director Friends of Karen

Our Team

  • Deborah Goldstein

    When I'm not being a tech host for Donors' Forums, I work with motivated professionals as an executive coach and workshop facilitator with customized live and virtual programming. I'm certified in Conversational Intelligence® (C-IQ®) and Diversity Coaching (through CDI and Howard University).

  • Doug White

    I am the moderator of Donors' Forum meetings and have worked with nonprofits and philanthropists for 40 years. I have written five books, the most recent of which is "Wounded Charity: Lessons Learned from the Wounded Warrior Project Crisis”.

  • Brittany Lane

    I am the Donors' Forum administrator with a background in philanthropy but now chase after my twin five year old boys and lead their school’s PTO.

  • Stanley Goldstein

    A CPA by training, I have been in the private equity field for several years now as Managing Partner & Chairman of Knickerbocker Financial Group, an investment house with a strong leaning toward ESG. About 20 years ago, I launched Donors' Forum.