Listen: The Puzzle of a Modest-Size Foundation Sector in a Wealthy Area

The Greater Washington region represents a great deal of wealth. However, the local foundation community is not as large, in terms of assets and levels of grantmaking, as other major metropolitan regions. This “puzzle” is the topic of a recent study co-authored by Alan Abramson and Stefan Toepler of George Mason University.

 

On September 17, 2014, Professor Abramson presented the findings of their paper, "Foundations in the Washington, DC Region: The Puzzle of a Modest-Size Foundation Sector in a Wealthy Area." A moderated panel of area funders will responded to the findings and discussed what this means for our region, local foundations, and the nonprofit sector.

 

Panelists included:

 

Rose Ann Cleveland, Executive Director, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation 

Jeffrey Slavin, Vice President, Sanford & Doris Slavin Foundation, Inc. 

Shelley Whelpton, Managing Director, Arabella Advisors 

Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (moderator)

 

The event was co-sponsored by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers and the Foundation Center-DC, as part of their 50th Anniversary Celebration.