Daria Teutonico is a Director of Programs at the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP). In her role, Daria works in collaboration with NCFP’s Program Team to develop and execute a variety of learning opportunities for NCFP’s community. She is responsible for implementing systems to support feedback generation, data collection, and analysis to improve NCFP’s offerings and promote ongoing learning. In addition, Daria partners with the Communications and Development Teams to ensure that NCFP’s communication and programming supports strong community engagement.

Daria has spent more than 20 years in the nonprofit sector, directing programs and leading multi-sector collaboratives in health, education, and philanthropy, including creating and implementing professional development and learning programs. Her background includes significant experience in the philanthropic sector, including experience at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (now United Philanthropy Forum) where she led the New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative, and at the Council on Foundations, where she worked with community foundations throughout the country.

Prior to joining NCFP in February 2022, Daria was the Director of Programs at the PenFed Foundation, leading the Foundation’s needs-based grantmaking programs and the cultivation and stewardship of the organization’s program partners. Before her time at the PenFed Foundation, Daria was the Vice President of Community Engagement and Operations at Challenger Center, a STEM education nonprofit that uses space-themed simulated learning and role-playing strategies to help students bring their classroom studies to life. In that role, Daria led the programmatic and technical support of the global network of Challenger Learning Centers and the growth of new Centers, directed the professional development and shared learning strategy for Challenger Learning Centers, and managed and coordinated the efforts of members of the Community Relations, Technical Support and Network Engagement teams. She also led the operations of the Challenger Center headquarters office, including oversight of the information technology infrastructure and facilities.

Daria is a native New Yorker, currently residing in Falls Church, VA. She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in Russian language and literature from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. Daria is the proud spouse of an Army veteran and mother of two sons.

Contributions

Community Foundations Topical Call: Playing Multiple Roles as a Philanthropic Advisor

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Daria Teutonico, Tony Macklin

As philanthropic services staff at community foundations, we’re called to play many, sometimes conflicting roles: order taker, steward, expert consultant, facilitator, influencer, salesperson, consigliere, and more. How can we effectively clarify and balance the expectations of these roles within and across the families we support? Can we be trusted advisors while influencing families’ giving in ways that align with our… Read More

Community Foundations Topical Call: Engaging Successor Generations and Youth | Connect with Peers Based on Experience Level

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Daria Teutonico, Michelle Beisker, Jennifer Olson Curry

Focusing on engaging successor generations and youth, this session will provide peer learning and connection based on experience with philanthropic advising for multi-generational families. Bring a challenge, a recent success or a 2024 goal to share with your peers. We will divide by experience level using breakout rooms and then have time for sharing insights learned with the larger group… Read More

Community Foundations Topical Call: Supporting Family Learning and Assessment

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Daria Teutonico

Intentional learning and right-sized assessment are hallmarks of effective philanthropy. Donors and foundations frequently ask such questions as: What impact have grantees had? Are we reasonable in our expectations of that impact? Are we making progress toward our goals and vision? Are we improving in our ability to govern and manage our work as a family? Community foundation staff often… Read More
From NCFP

Takeaways Blog on Participatory Grantmaking

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Daria Teutonico

diverse group of people seated and raising their hands
This blog summarizes key notes from our June Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy webinar. Many family-led philanthropies are successfully using a participatory grantmaking approach by engaging community members in their decision-making. And, for many philanthropic families, participatory grantmaking is an emerging practice. In the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s recent webinar, Nwamaka Agbo, Monica George, Cynthia Gibson, Ambar Cristina Hanson, and Leslie Ramyk… Read More
From NCFP

Takeaways Blog on Governance Practices for Better Decision Making

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Daria Teutonico

This blog summarizes key notes from our April Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy webinar. Governance practices of philanthropic families are evolving to include more diverse voices and perspectives. Two common pathways that giving families are using to become more informed about the communities they partner with are creating an expert or community advisory committee to guide social impact strategies and decisions, and… Read More
From NCFP

Pluralism in Family Philanthropy: Navigating Tensions and Bridging Divides for Impact

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Daria Teutonico

In an increasingly divisive society, people are facing complex, challenging dialogues around politics, ethics, and social issues, struggling to manage perspectives across the political aisle and facilitate healthy discourse with multiple viewpoints. What is taking place on a macro scale is mirrored within individual families—difficult conversations, distinct political and cultural divides, and in many cases gridlock or an inability to… Read More
From NCFP

Takeaways Blog on Complexities of the Collective

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Daria Teutonico

This blog summarizes key notes from our February Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy Webinar. For many, family philanthropy presents an opportunity to create a shared experience, unifying the family by working together toward a lasting legacy of impact. Family philanthropy can also give participants an opportunity to explore and cultivate their personal philanthropic passions. Yet there is an inherent tension between these… Read More
From NCFP

Takeaways Blog on Reflecting on Your Origin Story

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Daria Teutonico

This blog summarizes key notes from our January Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy Webinar. The criticism of wealth is longstanding and brings to the fore a conversation on justice that is important to reflect upon in the pursuit of effective family philanthropy. Though necessary, this type of reflection often raises a number of difficult questions that require philanthropic families to interrogate their… Read More