AMERICA’S TOP 20 WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY
Whether writing a book, giving a speech at a philanthropy forum, sitting down for a national radio or television interview, connecting with people through social media outlets or sharing their philanthropic story with investors, employees, grantees or volunteers, these Top 20 Women Executives, Thinkers and Experts are some of the philanthropic sector’s most influential leaders.
There were more than 350 nominees for Top 20 Women in the philanthropic community, which is a little more than we expected.
Although they are highly visible and have built national (even international) platforms, these women were selected for their philanthropic impact through the art of collaboration and their ability to facilitate, to the highest degree, the free flow of information and innovation across sector networks to advance social change.
In addition, these women are not only thought leaders, they are LOVE LEADERS with compassion for the people they serve. Philanthropy without love has ZERO social impact. Money and endowment assets has nothing to do with our list, it is ALL about social impact, advancing the overall philanthropic sector (not just your own organization) with strategy and thought-leadership.
Vikki Spruill, President and CEO at Council on Foundations, captures the essence behind our selection process best in this quote: “The more we collectively operate as part of a holistic philanthropic network, the closer we will come to working together to create a just and globally prosperous society.”
1. Melinda Gates, Co-Founder, Gates Foundation
www.gatesfoundation.org
2. Oprah Winfrey, Founder, Oprah Angel Network
www.oprah.com/angel_network.html
3. Melissa Berman, CEO and President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
www.rockpa.org
4. Vikki Spruill, CEO and President, Council on Foundations
www.cof.org
5. Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Head of Corporate Social Innovation, Twitter
www.twitter.com
6. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, CEO and President, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
www.rwjf.org
7. Stacy Palmer, Editor, Chronicle of Philanthropy
www.philanthropy.com
8. Amanda Rose, Founder, Twestival
www.twestival.com
9. Diane Aviv, CEO and President, Independent Sector
www.independentsector.org
10. Anna Cunningham, Senior Manager, Global Responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company
www.starbucks.com/responsibility
11. Carol Larson, CEO and President, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
www.packard.org
12. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, Founder, Giving 2.0
www.giving2.com
13. Myrlia Purcell, Co-Founder, Look to the Stars
www.looktothestars.org
14. Sylvia Mathews Burwell, CEO and President, Walmart Foundation
foundation.walmart.com/
15. Jane Wales, President, Global Philanthropy Forum
philanthropyforum.org/
16. Kerry Sullivan, President, Bank of America Charitable Foundation
about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/index.html#fbid=3Zk9yJPKbKJ
17. Cathy Clark, Board Chair at Investors Circle and Associate Professor at Duke School of Social Entrepreneurship
www.fuqua.duke.edu/faculty_research/faculty_directory/clark/
18. Bette Midler, Singer, Actress and Humanitarian
www.bettemidler.com
19. Mary Wong, President, Office Depot Foundation
www.officedepotfoundation.org
20. Sheena Wright, CEO and President, United Way of New York City
www.unitedwaynyc.org/
Michael Chatman helps celebrities raise funds for charitable causes. He is one of the most listened-to voices in philanthropy and social innovation with 273,000 followers on Twitter; provides market strategy for America’s leading thought leaders in philanthropy and social innovation, and positions their message to achieve greater social impact
Mr. Chatman, founder of Philanthropy Speakers Agency and host of #WHYiGIVE, is credited with building one of the most popular brands in the philanthropic sector. Follow Michael’s Twitter feed at: www.twitter.com/michaelchatman.
