Phoenix Philanthropy Founder and President, Richard Tollefson, capped off a summer of thought leadership presentations that began with presentations of the Giving USA Annual Report in Phoenix, in partnership with the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); San Diego, in partnership with AFP San Diego; Long Beach, in partnership with The Nonprofit Partnership; and Tucson, in partnership with AFP of Southern Arizona in June. Speaker panels in Phoenix, San Diego, and Long Beach addressed navigating uncertainty, mobilizing resources, and sustaining critical work in a changing philanthropic landscape, to accompany Richard’s presentation.
Next up, Richard served as program chair for the Giving Institute Summer Symposium, bringing speakers from across the Southwest to address Cross-Border Philanthropy, Global Philanthropy, Change Management, Flawless Sales, How Generosity Responds to Natural Disasters, and more.
In a presentation to the Arizona Statewide AFP Conference, Richard and Ciara Claraty, consultant with the Alford Group, presented “Strategic Planning When You Don’t Know What’s Next.”
Wrapping up the summer were two presentations at the San Diego Fundraising Conference sponsored by PNC Bank, “Breaking Barriers/Building Futures.”
The first presentation, “Reimagining American Generosity. Bold Strategies to Transform Giving and Volunteering Nationwide from the Generosity Commission Report,” introduced the Generosity Commission’s groundbreaking report on reimagining giving and volunteering in America. The presentation included a panel of three representatives of the “givers” highlighted in the Generosity Report’s recommendations, reflecting the evolving landscape of American generosity: Valerie Attisha, Vice President of Community Relations, PNC Bank (representing business), Marcelle Epley, President and CEO, Long Beach Community Foundation (representing community foundations), and Arden Pala, Founder and CEO, Sports4Kids (representing youth).
To download the Generosity Commission’s Report, click here: link to https://www.thegenerositycommission.org/report/
The second presentation, “Navigating the Storm: Creating New Opportunities in an Uncertain Time,” provided nonprofit executives and governing board members with practical frameworks to navigate organizational change and leverage uncertainty as a competitive advantage. Richard’s co-presenter for this session was Ciara Claraty, consultant for the Alford Group. Richard and Ciara were joined by Eowyn Bates, Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement, San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat); and Cara Dessert, CEO, San Diego LGBT Community Center, for a panel discussion about leading their nonprofits at this moment, and balancing the need for long-term vision with the necessity of short term pivots.
Devorah Lieberman, Senior Consultant for the Phoenix Philanthropy Group is likewise engaged in bringing her unique knowledge and experience in the higher ed space to webinars and conferences around the globe. Recent and upcoming presentations include:
- “Leading with Principle, Integrity, Courage and Vision,” presentation for an audience of female Latin American university presidents.
- Moderating a webinar for the International Association of University Presidents, “ How IAUP Institutions Are Effectively Using Artificial Intelligence.”
- Richard and Devorah will present at the Korea IAUP Semi-Annual Meeting/60th Anniversary, hosted by Seoul Cyber University in Seoul, Korea. This dynamic event will feature cutting-edge discussions, global networking opportunities, and immersive cultural experiences.
- Richard and Devorah are also featured speakers at the IAUP “V Seminar on Leadership Development for New Presidents and Emerging Leaders,” to be held October 24-27, 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
At The Phoenix Philanthropy Group, we are committed to advancing thought leadership and supporting nonprofit success. To learn more about booking one of our consultants for a presentation, contact info@phoenixphilanthropy.com