Stephen Heintz of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund on A Fourth Democratic Founding, for Our Country’s Future
Release Date: 07/28/2026
Ruth Shaber from Tara Health Foundation on Money Can Only Do Good If It's Moving
The Social Change Diaries
How can philanthropy move money at the speed of change? In this episode of the Social Change Diaries, Ruth Shaber, Founder and President of Tara Health Foundation, reflects on the foundation’s decision to spend down by 2030 and what it means to move money with urgency, flexibility, and purpose. Ruth and Vanessa also explore philanthropy’s role in advancing gender equity, protecting democracy, and supporting lasting social change.
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Glen Galaich from Stupski Foundation on Breaking Fake Rules
The Social Change Diaries
In this episode of the Social Change Diaries podcast, Glen Galaich, CEO of Stupski Foundation challenges us to reimagine philanthropy’s role in protecting our democracy by breaking the fake rules that preserve a system, but not the people it was designed to serve. Glen shares details of Stupski’s spend-down, what he and his team envision for philanthropy, and all of the ways fake rules are getting in the way of population level social change.
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Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation on Building the Power to Be Well
The Social Change Diaries
Righting and Writing History: Episode 8, Vanessa is joined by Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation. Together, they explore why philanthropy must mobilize more than money, the role of voice, influence, and community power in advancing social change, and what it means to build the power to be well. They also discuss the importance of creating space not only to address urgent needs, but to imagine and build what comes next.
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Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation on Foundations as the Connective Tissue
The Social Change Diaries
Righting and Writing History: On Episode 7, Vanessa is joined by Angelique Power, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation. Together they discuss the four pillars of community change, the role of foundations to serve as connective tissue for the future-building youth who are driving change in Detroit, why public schools should be at the center of policy change, and the strength that comes from Detroit’s deeply loyal communities to fight for a better future.
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Jen Ford Reedy of Bush Foundation on New Philanthropic Narratives
The Social Change Diaries
Righting and Writing History: Episode 6 Vanessa is joined by Jen Ford Reedy, President of the Bush Foundation. In conversation, they explore the importance of long-term thinking, strategic communications understood as programs work, and the way that multiple narratives enrich our understanding of our democracy.
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Stephen Heintz of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund on A Fourth Democratic Founding, for Our Country’s Future
The Social Change Diaries
What can philanthropy do to bolster the power of people to participate in our government for the people and by the people? What role has the information environment played in the deterioration of our democratic guardrails? What can we learn from periods like this before, or elsewhere, to map out how we can build a stronger democracy and economy that simultaneously advances human well-being? This conversation is essential listening for anyone in the nonprofit sector or devoted to advancing philanthropic work and our civil society. In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Stephen Heintz,...
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Keenya Lambert from Chicago Foundation for Women on Movement Building is Long Term
The Social Change Diaries
Righting and Writing History: Episode 4, Vanessa is joined by Keenya Lambert, President and CEO at the Chicago Foundation for Women. Together they explore the incredible change that has been advanced to this moment through our democratic history, and what it will take to build the infrastructure for lasting change for women and gender expansive people.
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Alesha Washington from Seattle Foundation on The Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity for Foundations
The Social Change Diaries
In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Alesha Washington, President & CEO of the Seattle Foundation. At the foundation, Alesha leads efforts to inspire transformative philanthropy with the objective of fostering a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice. With her leadership, the foundation has set a refreshed strategic direction, elevated its positioning on key issues like affordable housing, transit, and childcare access, and strengthened its operations for greater community impact. In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss what community foundation work can do...
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Kevin Walker from Northwest Area Foundation, on Philanthropy’s Commitment to Democracy
The Social Change Diaries
In this discussion, Vanessa sits down with Kevin Walker, President of Northwest Area Foundation, who leads efforts to advance racial, social, and economic justice across eight states and 76 Native nations, including a longstanding commitment to Native-led organizations. Their conversation explores lessons learned in periods of crisis, and how foundations can contribute to a strong democracy. Examining the importance of foundations supporting grantee partners as a bulwark protecting the society we value, they talk about how the past must inform our present to build a durable and more equitable...
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Supriya Lopez Pillai from Libra Foundation, on Philanthropy’s Role in Democracy
The Social Change Diaries
Vanessa kicks off season seven with Supriya Lopez Pillai, President of the Libra Foundation. As a philanthropic leader with nearly three decades in social movements and 20 years in institutional philanthropy, Supriya contributes to an inspiring discussion about how philanthropic leaders can meet the challenges we face today. Their conversation touches on the importance of reflection on the origins of wealth that is being deployed through philanthropic organizations, and the stories we tell ourselves about how it was generated. They discuss living and practicing the kind of social systems we...
info_outlineWhat can philanthropy do to bolster the power of people to participate in our government for the people and by the people? What role has the information environment played in the deterioration of our democratic guardrails? What can we learn from periods like this before, or elsewhere, to map out how we can build a stronger democracy and economy that simultaneously advances human well-being?
This conversation is essential listening for anyone in the nonprofit sector or devoted to advancing philanthropic work and our civil society. In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Stephen Heintz, former President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and originator of the term “acupuncture philanthropy.” Together, they discuss why communications work is the pathway to advance nonprofit impact and strengthen our democracy and why this is the moment for organizations to take action. They delve into the need for a fourth founding of our democracy, what old assumptions we need to let go of, and why each of us should consider ourselves a founder of this future democracy.