Anonymous questions, candid answers.
I often say privately (now publicly!) that I believe philanthropy P’s (yes, pees) in the wrong places. The field values personalities, public relations, and polemics over process, policies, and people. I’d love to see that change, and I hope “Philanthropy Confidential” can be a space where we realign the field’s values and focus on the “inside baseball” of systematic change, centering questions based on the nitty-gritty of our work—not just high-level ideas that only philanthropy has time to argue about.
“Philanthropy Confidential” is a “Dear Abby”-style quarterly column where I answer anonymously submitted questions about the opaque, strange, and often absurdist world of institutional philanthropy. The purpose of “Philanthropy Confidential” is to offer practical and candid guidance to philanthropic professionals and grantees, often with this common refrain: “You’re not weird; this foundation system is.”
Here’s how it will work every quarter.
You:
- Are annoyed, curious, or confused by the philanthropic practices of your foundation or a foundation that funds you.
- Have a question or a rant.
- Submit the question in the Google Form below.
I, Jen:
- Anxiously monitor the Google Form for your questions and rants.
- Select and respond to submissions. If you leave an email address in the form, I’ll try to send you a personal email response if I cannot publicly get to your question.
- Repeat.
- Refrain from charging you $500 an hour like a philanthropic consultant would.
Please note that this column is not affiliated with the former Alliance Magazine series. This is merely a coincidence – a relieving coincidence since it spares you, the American public, and my communications director from the title I actually wanted: “QAnonymous”.
Who is Jen?
I am big on nuts and bolts—the how of making things work.
Who is the person behind the avatar, and should you entrust me with your questions? Although I can’t answer the latter question, here’s what you won’t find in my “talk pretty” philanthropic bio.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas—the daughter of two working-class Vietnamese refugees. I specifically grew up in a household managed by a mother who was able to feed her family on assembly-line hourly wages. She did so by methodologically finding the best grocery store deals, cooking everything on Sunday mornings, and then sequencing our dinners based on what would go bad in the fridge first. I emphasize this part of my story often because, like many Houstonians and people with immigrant/refugee backgrounds, I consider myself very pragmatic. Although I am deeply inspired by visionary rhetoric, I am big on nuts and bolts—the how of making things work.
I also approach this project as a writer who deeply loves the craft of nonfiction in all forms and shapes. Although you, the reader, may disagree with my perspectives (and I always welcome respectful debate), I hope you’ll appreciate the weave of multidisciplinary ideas, thinkers, and philosophies that I intend to bring into the space.
I am a creative dreamer who believes that institutional philanthropy should ultimately become obsolete. As funders, we often ask our grantees for “sustainability plans,” but I argue that true sustainability requires philanthropy to cultivate conditions where funders are no longer needed. As long as we exist, our grantees can’t reach elusive sustainability. I hope to balance the day-to-day reality of our work while advocating for our eventual abolition.
That being said, bring on your questions and/or rants!
Have a burning question or Rant About Philanthropy?
Share it!