This is an incredibly exciting day. My book, CONTROL: Why Big Giving Falls Short, is officially out. After years of conversations, reflection, and writing, I can’t believe the day is finally here. A green book for a green day!
I wrote CONTROL because I believe there is a conversation philanthropy has long struggled to have openly: how donor control determines how resources move—or don’t move—to the communities that need them most. Too often, this conversation is hushed or avoided altogether. For many years, I avoided it. But if we want to unlock the enormous potential of philanthropic resources to meet the challenges of our time, we have to be willing to talk about it.
My hope is that CONTROL: Why Big Giving Falls Short helps open that door.
*All royalties paid to the Stupski Foundation from the sales of CONTROL will go directly to the communities and causes the Stupski Foundation supports.
Whether you’ve experienced excessive donor control as a grantee working tirelessly to raise funds for your mission, or you’re a grantmaker or donor navigating a system that places you at the center in ways that may not always feel right, or you’re someone wondering why so much philanthropic wealth is accumulating ($2 trillion and counting) while communities face urgent needs right now—I hope you’ll find validation, hope, and a path forward in these pages.
Order your copy today and consider sharing it with colleagues. I’ve been humbled to hear that some readers are purchasing copies in bulk to read together as a team. To support dialogue, we created a few resources—including a board book club challenge and group discussion questions—to help organizations dig into these ideas and talk about what shifting and sharing control could look like in their own work.
Join Me On Tour!
Over the coming months, I hope you’ll join me at an upcoming book event in a city near you. And if you don’t see your city on the list yet, don’t worry—we’re adding more stops and will announce additional dates soon.
Last week, I had the privilege of discussing the book with my friend Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. His support and guidance had an enormous impact on me and this book. If you missed it, I hope you’ll take a moment to watch our conversation—and you can also purchase an autographed copy through Talk Shop Live.
Also out today is a new episode of our Break Fake Rules podcast, where I got kicked out of the studio by my friendly co-hosts as they dug into CONTROL. Hear what they had to say about the book and how they’re breaking fake rules to confront control in their own powerful ways.
Thank You
Now that the book is officially out, I want to thank you.
So many friends, colleagues, and partners offered encouragement, feedback, and honest reflection as this project took shape. These conversations about shifting and sharing power—and about how we direct resources in our society—are not easy. But they are essential if we want to move beyond a world defined by staggering inequities and toward one where we move in solidarity to live well together.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. Thank you for helping change Big Giving for good.
With gratitude,
