The Metric Philanthropy Isn't Measuring (But Should)
Release Date: 02/18/2026
What Happens When It Stops Being About You
Distilling Philanthropy
In this conversation, Ty talks about what a decade on the road with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition taught him about genuine service, why the skilled trades represent one of the most overlooked philanthropic opportunities of this generation, and how a four-day boat build with a father he barely knew changed everything he believed about what he was capable of. He also shares what he's learned partnering with Anonymous Philanthropy and the Skilled Careers Coalition about reaching young people who are ready to do something with their hands and their lives — they just need someone to show them...
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All Giving Is Not The Same
Distilling Philanthropy
This conversation covers what separates high-impact giving from well-intentioned giving, why fear is the single biggest deterrent to purposeful philanthropy, how the virtuous cycle of purpose-driven giving actually works, and what the coming generational wealth transfer means for anyone serious about deploying capital at scale. If you manage wealth, advise donors, or give at any level and want your giving to create the most impact it possibly can, this is the conversation to start with. Dave Swartz is the Chief Vision Officer at Anonymous Philanthropy, and in this conversation he unpacks the...
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The Gap Between "Wealthy" and "Rich"
Distilling Philanthropy
In this episode of Distilling Philanthropy, Rob and Josh cover the distinction between being wealthy and having money, why overcommitting to a cause tends to produce better outcomes than optimizing your giving, how liquidity events can either bond a family together or fracture one permanently, and what wealth managers consistently get wrong about entrepreneurs. Rob also shares a story from his time chairing Operation Homefront — one of the highest-stakes moments in a career full of them — and what it clarified about the difference between involvement and actual commitment. Rob Wolford...
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What False Consensus is Doing to Your Giving Strategy
Distilling Philanthropy
In this conversation, Stuart and Josh explore what it takes to move from reactive giving to root cause philanthropy, why false consensus is one of the most expensive problems in family governance and donor strategy, and how the coming generational wealth transfer (potentially $170 billion in new charitable capital over the next fifteen years) demands a more intentional approach to alignment, mission, and measurement. They also get into the fulfillment side of giving: the metric most foundations don't track, and the reason so many donors disengage from work they said mattered to them. Stuart...
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Why Wealthy Families Need Advisors Who Push Back
Distilling Philanthropy
In this episode of Distilling Philanthropy, Kevin and Ben join host Josh Stamer for a candid conversation about what it actually means to be a trusted advisor to high-net-worth families — not just picking good investments, but knowing when to push back, how to bridge generational wealth transfer with genuine philanthropic purpose, and why the most valuable thing you can offer a sophisticated client is often the clarity to see what they already have. They also get into the formative experiences that shaped their instincts: a gap year drilling in the Western Australian Outback,...
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The Metric Philanthropy Isn't Measuring (But Should)
Distilling Philanthropy
In this episode of Distilling Philanthropy, Josh Stamer sits down with Kari Hernandez (SVP of Growth at Ren, Inc.) to challenge how we measure (and practice) modern philanthropy. They dig into donor-advised funds (DAFs), why “assets parked” is the wrong scoreboard, and what it looks like to move from check-writing to problem-solving with real outcomes, momentum, and fulfillment. If you’re a high net worth donor or advisor trying to deploy charitable capital with more clarity and less friction, this conversation delivers a sharper framework for what’s next. Kari leads growth strategy...
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Distilling Philanthropy Trailer
Distilling Philanthropy
info_outlineIn this episode of Distilling Philanthropy, Josh Stamer sits down with Kari Hernandez (SVP of Growth at Ren, Inc.) to challenge how we measure (and practice) modern philanthropy. They dig into donor-advised funds (DAFs), why “assets parked” is the wrong scoreboard, and what it looks like to move from check-writing to problem-solving with real outcomes, momentum, and fulfillment. If you’re a high net worth donor or advisor trying to deploy charitable capital with more clarity and less friction, this conversation delivers a sharper framework for what’s next.
Kari leads growth strategy across product, partnerships, and market expansion at Ren, a philanthropy-tech company powering charitable giving infrastructure for donor-advised funds, nonprofits, wealth managers, and fintech partners. Her background spans systems engineering and operations, including early work at Disney, leadership roles at McKinsey, and VP positions at Indigo Agriculture and Veho. She holds degrees from USC (BS Industrial & Systems Engineering), MIT (MS Transportation), and Harvard Business School (MBA).