Client interviews this fall

Mark PetersenClients, Interviews

Stronger Philanthropy is gearing up for our fall season with three client interviews scheduled. In these interviews we explore our clients’ motivations in giving, their giving focus, and probe what makes for good philanthropy. It’s a great way to understand major donor priorities. Interviews will be livestreamed in our Stronger Philanthropy Community on the following dates: Ethan and Janette Park … Read More

Thank you Nate Petersen

Mark PetersenNews

Nate Petersen has decided to move on from his role at Stronger Philanthropy to pursue other adventures beginning in Latin America. He worked with me for the past 3+ years and brought a fresh perspective, energy, and vitality to this work even as we were impacted by the pandemic. During his time with our company, he influenced the way we … Read More

June 2022 update

Mark PetersenNews

We are winding down the first six months of 2022, and with it comes an opportunity to summarize our work up to the present. Though the first part of the year is typically slower than the last half, we have worked with four of our clients – Tamara Foundation, River Dali Foundation, Levante Foundation, and Ross Mitchell Family Foundation – … Read More

The convergence of spirituality with fundraising

Mark PetersenFundraising

Before launching Stronger Philanthropy and offering our services to multiple families, I used to work for our own family’s foundation. People would always ask, “What’s the best grant you’ve ever funded?” And I would reply with several examples that warmed my heart. But then I would offer, “Do you want to know the best grant we never funded?” In 2003 … Read More

Recovering the heart of philanthropy

Mark PetersenBook Reviews

A lot has changed during my 21+ year philanthropy career. In the beginning I was wowed by the alluring potential that seemed to exist to “change the world” (a phrase I’ve come to disdain). This belief seemed to be based on the idea that society could engineer the end to poverty and other human ills. Big, upstream solutions (involving money … Read More

Watch these interviews with major donors and charity leaders

Mark PetersenApp, Connection

Since we launched the new Stronger Philanthropy community app at the beginning of 2022, we’ve been intentional about connecting major donors with charity leaders. One of the ways we do this is by offering livestream interviews with major donors and charity leaders each month. If you have the app, the interview plays automatically when you log in. After the interview, … Read More

Welcome new clients!

Mark PetersenClients

We’re pleased to welcome two new families as clients of Stronger Philanthropy: The Park Family Giving Fund is based in Mississauga, Ontario and invests resources into projects that offer a holistic and creative response to communities in need. The Unterweger-Ramírez Fund offers grants to Canadian charities working towards healthy church leadership and faith formation in emerging Christian communities. Charities that … Read More

11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2022

Mark PetersenStrategy

The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy has just released their sixth annual compilation of trends in philanthropy for the year. As we hobble through pandemic protocols and societies are impacted, perhaps permanently, philanthropy will also be influenced. Trends they note include the rise of cryptocurrencies, growing culture wars, new engagement with indigenous communities, and the powerful use of data … Read More

Client and charity livestream interviews for January

Mark PetersenApp, Interviews

In January we will begin a monthly series of video interviews with clients of Stronger Philanthropy and charities that we believe need to be highlighted for their unique offerings. January 11: We will interview long time client, John Horwood, whose investment work on Bay Street influences how he selects the charities he funds. POSTPONED to January 25. January 17: We … Read More