CEO Roundtable

Washington Grantmakers' CEO Roundtable provides a venue for our network's leaders to meet their colleagues and to share information and best practices.

For more information or if you are a CEO who would like to join the group listserve, please contact Katy Moore at 202-939-3436.

CEO Roundtable in WG Daily:

New Models for Philanthropy: CEOs Discuss Change
By Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Grantmakers
Feb. 25, 2010

Last year, WG convened CEOs with a clear goal—to discuss the impact of the economic downturn on their organizations and on their philanthropy. At yesterday's gathering, the goal wasn't as crisply defined. We asked about trends that CEOs are seeing in philanthropy and in the needs of the region, and about how we can improve our philanthropy.

Wow. The group didn't move quietly or slowly into that topic. The almost 30 CEOs convened jumped in with an almost unanimous undercurrent: why are we still doing philanthropy as we always have? The world has changed and its needs have changed. Can we be more efficient, more effective and more strategic? Yes, was the enthusiastic answer as the group began to explore the traditional practices and thinking that are trapping us in a way of working that no longer works.

After the meeting, emails came in from many of the participants applauding the meeting. One said:

FANTASTIC meeting and conversation—got my juices going. And I LOVED the fact that there were so many newer and younger people there... Great connections; great conversation.

Now, to the details: How can CEOs build on what they already know to benefit the network as a whole and philanthropy in our region, in general? Participants agreed that more and deeper conversations were needed to examine new models for philanthropy. They want them and they're ready to engage in them. Yesterday felt like a watershed moment and I'm excited about what this portends for our region. More to come!