Elizabeth Sullivan

Elizabeth Sullivan brings deep knowledge on national trends, strategy, and best practices in private philanthropy and corporate giving. In March 2015, Liz joined the National Center for Family Philanthropy as Program Manager to launch the two-year Family Philanthropy Through Community Foundations initiative, designed to enhance the effectiveness of families working with community foundations as their giving partners. From 2006 to 2013, Liz worked at the Council on Foundations, a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Most recently, Liz was Managing Director of Corporate, Independent, and Family Philanthropy where she stewarded a portfolio of ~850 members and led a change management process to integrate and unify member products and programs aimed to strengthen organizations and leaders in philanthropy. During her tenure at the Council, Liz led signature projects including the Disaster Philanthropy Network; a Corporate Philanthropy Initiative that resulted in the seminal guide, Increasing Impact, Enhancing Value: A Practitioner’s Guide to Leading Corporate Philanthropy; and “Philanthropy Solutions: Promising Practice in Corporate Giving,” a set of peer-learning activities that facilitates knowledge sharing among corporate philanthropy leaders.

Contributions

Community Foundation Spark Session: Staffing Your Family Engagement Program – Considerations for Community Foundations

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Anita Wesley, Jennifer Touchet, Elizabeth Sullivan, Tony Macklin

Experience from community foundations that closely advise multigenerational family philanthropists tell us that this work is more an art than science. As community foundations become more donor- and community-driven, it necessitates different skills and abilities of its donor services teams and leaders. On this Spark Session, hear from your community foundation peers about different staffing structures, training, and individual characteristics… Read More

Spark Session: The Community Foundation Family Philanthropy Network: An Open Conversation with the Field

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Alicia Philipp, Elizabeth Sullivan, Nina Waters, Peter Dunn, Tony Macklin

In 2016, NCFP kicks off its second year of the Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network, a special initiative that aims to enhance the practice and effectiveness of community foundations as strategic partners and trusted advisors to philanthropic families. Join members of the initiative’s Advisory Committee for an open conversation about our progress to date, exciting plans in 2016 to equip… Read More

Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network: Raising a New Generation of Philanthropists

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito, Susan Crites Price, Elizabeth Sullivan, Joline Godfrey

This special peer networking event for community foundation staff that are members of NCFP’s Family Philanthropy Through Community Foundations initiative will feature a conversation with three of the nation’s leading experts on raising philanthropic children in a multi-generational family philanthropy, along with peer presentations on effective strategies for working with family donors in your community. Space is very limited so… Read More

Community Foundation Spark Session: Models of Community Foundation Programs for Engaging Next Gen Donors

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Alyssa Hawkins, Jennifer Touchet, Elizabeth Sullivan

Among the emerging requests of community foundations is how to help their philanthropic families engage the next generation of donors. As such, community foundations have a unique opportunity to shape how philanthropy is practiced in their communities. This webinar will explore ways a community foundation leverages its own knowledge on effective giving and local issues to educate future philanthropists to… Read More

Community Foundation Spark Session: The Role of Community in Family Philanthropy Values, Mission, and Strategy

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Elizabeth Sullivan, Jennie Zioncheck, Katie Donnelly, Kim Wright

Community foundations are trusted, professional advisors to philanthropic families and a valuable source of local knowledge and insights. This webinar will focus on how community foundations work with family donors to clarify their values and motivations, shape their philanthropic strategy and identify their philanthropic objectives – in a way that supports the community and place-based efforts… Read More

Ten Ways Philanthropic Families Work with Community Foundations

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Audrey Jacobs, David O. Barrett, Elizabeth Sullivan, Lauren Amos, Mark Neithercut, Rob MacPherson

This special webinar as we count and describe the many ways that philanthropic families work with the more than 800 community foundations spread across North America. From partnering for impact to serving as a training ground for younger family members, community foundations and families have been partners since the very first community foundations were founded just over a century ago… Read More

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