Lisa Spalding

Partner, The Philanthropic Initiative

Lisa Spalding works with TPI clients to increase the impact of their giving through strategic planning, facilitation, social issues research, and design and evaluation of philanthropic strategies and initiatives. She is a seasoned facilitator and convener, having led retreats and trainings for a wide range of foundations around the country focused on strategic planning, succession, governance, and evaluation. She has led numerous workshops and trainings on engaging the next generation, the power of family philanthropy, finding a focus, and exploring your legacy. Lisa has expertise in a variety of issue areas, including those around the environment and sustainability. She also partners with professional advisors to help their clients to reflect on how strategic philanthropy can play a role in their lives.

Prior to first joining TPI in 2009, Lisa spent ten years in the environmental field. Key roles included working with the Ecosystem Management Initiative to help environmental organizations and collaboratives develop evaluation and adaptive management plans; developing and managing community outreach programs for the New England Forestry Foundation; and numerous roles in conservation and education at non-profit organizations such as Shelbourne Farms in Vermont and the New England Aquarium in Boston. Lisa has a Master’s degree from University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College.

Contributions

Impact, Measurement, and Evaluation

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Kat Athanasiades, Lisa Spalding, Phil Buchanan

Impact is often an elusive concept in philanthropy. What is the most effective way to monitor grants? How do families define and measure success? What is the burden on grantee partners and how might it be mitigated? Successful family philanthropies employ a formative framework for impact that typically involves a process to define the sought-after change, an alignment of grantmaking… Read More