June Wilson

Executive Director Emerita, Quixote Foundation | NCFP Fellow (2018–2021)

June Wilson, executive director emerita and board member of the Quixote Foundation, combines her talent as a dancer and choreographer with the operational expertise of a COO and strategic acumen of a CEO. She understands people’s physical and emotional interactions within a literal, conceptual or practical space and can quickly translate what she sees into strategic systems. Her unique approach has strengthened nonprofits like the Minnesota Dance Alliance in Minneapolis and the National Performance Network in New Orleans. At Quixote she artfully guided the design and implementation of their “Spend Up” approach to operating within a strategic lifespan and transformed the foundation’s commitment to racial equity. Driven by a concern for the racial wealth gap, June is one of three founders in the social impact enterprise, The We’s Match, dedicated to the scale, wealth and wellbeing of Black women entrepreneurs.

In addition to this work, June leveraged her background in family philanthropy to launch Central Insights LLC, a consulting practice where she engages family foundations and donors in conversations on race, and the equitable deployment of their assets. She coaches and advises philanthropic leaders as they navigate trustee dynamics and the needs and expectations of staff teams. She uses her platform as a Fellow at the National Center for Family Philanthropy to elevate conversations on racial justice and alternative approaches to legacy and perpetuity.

Contributions

Voices from the Field

Video Highlights from the 2020 Trustee Education Institute

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Nicholas A. Tedesco, Kimberly Myers Hewlett, Liesel Pritzker Simmons, Valerie Rockefeller, June Wilson

past TEI attendees
The Trustee Education Institute is one of NCFP’s signature events, offering family foundation board members and CEOs a comprehensive overview of family philanthropy trends and topics. Last year’s virtual Institute featured conversations on values, racial equity, board chair leadership, next-gen engagement, and much more. Here are short video highlights from a few of those sessions in 2020. Please visit the… Read More

Narratives that Shape Family Origin Stories and their Connection to Ownership

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Sarah Cavanaugh, June Wilson

Family philanthropy is rooted in family origin stories. While these narratives are multi-faceted, the field needs to further acknowledge and address how whiteness is embedded in stories about wealth creation and ownership. In this dialogue, Sarah Cavanaugh of the Russell Family Foundation will share how her efforts to tackle her own whiteness are beginning to shape the family conversation at… Read More
Voices from the Field

Beyond A Donation: Reflecting On Philanthropy And Reparations (Part 4)

Posted on April 26, 2021 by LeAnne Moss, Candace Tkachuck, June Wilson

Photo via Shutterstock This article was originally published by Giving Compass and is re-posted here with permission. This is part two in a four-part series. Read part one, part two, and part three. “Anti-oppression can’t happen without the presence of spirit. Dehumanization, soul loss, and alienation are not states of mind, so it is not a change of mind that is needed. They are… Read More
Voices from the Field

Leaning Into Fundamental And Unexpected Shifts In Our Relational Reparations Sisterhood [Part 3]

Posted on March 24, 2021 by LeAnne Moss, Candace Tkachuck, June Wilson

Photo via Freepik This article was originally published by Giving Compass and is re-posted here with permission. This is part two in a four-part series. Read part one here and part two here. “The most important journey you will ever take is from your head to your heart.”  —Anonymous When our group of 13 women came together in 2019 to imagine a future where affluent individuals… Read More

Non-family Staff Peer Network: Racial Equity Discussions with Board and Staff

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Mary Mountcastle, June Wilson, Kelly Nowlin

Join the NCFP Fellows for an interactive conversation about addressing racial equity internally. Discuss how to approach tough conversations and how to bridge the gap that oftentimes exists between board and staff on equity issues. We will open with a brief dialogue from the Fellows and move into a group discussion. Bring your topics, favorite resources, and questions for peer staff… Read More

2021 Trustee Education Institute

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Isabel Nogueira, Alyson Wise, Jumi Falusi, Milton Speid, Emily Kaiser, Adrian Ruiz, Lisa Jackson, Priscilla Enriquez, Dorothy Gardner, Regan Pritzker

NCFP’s Trustee Education Institute provides a comprehensive overview of the important legal, investment, ethical, grantmaking, and family dynamics issues facing family foundation board members and CEOs. Featuring the perspectives of innovative donors and a faculty made up of donors, board members, and highly respected philanthropy experts, this virtual seminar covers: Translating values and goals into action Connecting family legacy and… Read More
From NCFP

Calling Family Foundation Board Members to Join a Journey on Racial Justice

Posted on March 2, 2021 by June Wilson, Kelly Nowlin, Mary Mountcastle, Virginia M. Esposito

Mary Mountcastle, June Wilson, and Kelly Nowlin speaking at the 2019 National Forum on Family Philanthropy Learn more about the Racial Justice Learning and Action Network. In 2018, the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) announced its second class of fellows, naming Kelly Nowlin, June Wilson, and Mary Mountcastle as distinguished fellows. Each of us independently chose to focus our… Read More
Voices from the Field

Five Touchstones In Our Relational Reparations Journey (Part 2)

Posted on February 17, 2021 by June Wilson, LeAnne Moss, Candace Tkachuck

Photo via Shutterstock This article was originally published by Giving Compass and is re-posted here with permission. This is part two in a four-part series. Read part one here. “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb In our first article, we shared the philosophy and beginnings of our relational reparations group in… Read More

Family Foundation CEO Retreat

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Betsy Erickson, Janine Mason, Michael Smith, Tina Runyan, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Bari Katz, Rob Reich, Shaady Salehi, Carmen Rojas, Diana Scearce

The role of a family foundation CEO is unique, often bridging generations of family members, community leaders, staff, advisors, and partners. Expectations can be challenging to meet and boundaries are sometimes vague and ever-changing. Success in this role requires a cadre of specialized leadership skills, particularly in these divisive and dynamic times. This 3-day virtual retreat, designed for both new… Read More
Voices from the Field

Breaking From Philanthropy Norms: An Inside Look At Relational Reparations (Part 1)

Posted on January 19, 2021 by June Wilson, LeAnne Moss, Candace Tkachuck

By Jacob Lund via Shutterstock This article was originally published by Giving Compass and is re-posted here with permission. What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal. Reparations would mean the end… Read More

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