Philanthropic Advisory Services

Strategic guidance for donors ready to move beyond charity to transformation.

Whether you’re an individual donor building your giving strategy, an organization seeking board facilitation, or looking for a speaker who challenges conventional wisdom—we bring frontline experience and strategic insight to help you create meaningful impact.

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Strategy

You need more than a giving plan. You need a strategy. We go deep to unlock all of the tools at your disposal—your influence, networks, voice, and capital—building strategy with communities, not for them. This isn’t about checking boxes or playing it safe. It’s about creating the conditions for transformation.

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From collaborative giving and grant research to family governance, succession planning, and interim foundation leadership, we bring frontline experience and strategic clarity to every engagement. We act as your coach and partner, navigating the unspoken roadblocks between you and the true power of your giving. Whether you have a full advisory team or you’re navigating this solo, we integrate seamlessly or step in as your strategic guide from scratch.

Transformation doesn’t happen on autopilot—it takes partnership, courage, and a strategy built to break from the status quo.

retreats

Step away. Get clarity. Take action. We curate singular experiences that take you out of the everyday and into what’s truly possible.

Our retreats bring you to innovation hubs worldwide—from Rwanda to Canada and beyond—where you learn with humility from communities solving real problems on the ground. 

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You reflect on what’s possible with donor peers who share your commitment to community-led solutions. And you leave with concrete commitments to action.

These aren’t meetings in interesting places. They’re immersive containers for conversation, connection, and transformation—where learning is embodied, perspectives shift, and relationships deepen in ways that fuel your work long after you return home.

Facilitation

Creating space for what matters—with candor and care. Whether you’re navigating family dynamics around wealth, building authentic partnerships with communities, or shifting governance structures as you step into leadership, we create brave spaces for the conversations that count.

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Giving and governance can be complicated. We’re not afraid to push, probe, and get to the heart of what’s holding you back while balancing honesty with deep care for everyone in the room.

From multi-generational family meetings to foundation board retreats, grant partner strategy sessions to leadership team offsites, we bring the tools and experience to set the container for breakthrough thinking and bold action.

speaking

Bring Rebecca to your conference, board retreat, or donor gathering.

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Our founder, Rebecca Darwent, is a globally recognized speaker whose TED Talk on community-led philanthropy has reached over a million viewers worldwide. Now she helps audiences build the new philanthropic paradigm—one rooted in trust, partnership, and the courage to redistribute power alongside resources.

From large conferences to intimate gatherings, Rebecca connects through powerful storytelling, practical frameworks, and an unapologetic commitment to giving that goes beyond charity. Every engagement is designed to unlock new thinking, inspire bold action, and challenge the status quo of philanthropy.

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CLIENT VOICES

"Before working with Rebecca, I was holding onto a real fear that establishing governance procedures might feel intimidating or challenging the family members in our foundation. Rebecca, with genuine compassion and empathy, helped me see governance through a next-gen lens—and helped me find ways to articulate the value to my family, rather than presenting them as a burden. She has a remarkable ability to highlight and build on the strengths we already have together, making the work feel generative rather than limiting. Her strategic insight and ability to bring out the best in our approach is invaluable."

Meagan Sutton

Executive Director, OspreyTree Foundation

"Rebecca brought a rare blend of vulnerability, clarity, and seasoned expertise that reshaped the energy of our entire retreat. She created a space where our women, each leader and staff member alike, felt genuinely seen. The conversation she sparked carried well beyond her session, even inspiring our founders to join in.

Her high-touch, thoughtful approach made it feel less like a guest speaker and more like a meaningful conversation with a trusted friend."

Lauren McClintock

Managing Director of Operations, BeSpoke Group

“Rebecca is an accomplished leader in the philanthropic sector who excels at governance and supporting family foundations. She is a strategic thinker with a critical lens in complex situations. Furthermore, she sees opportunity in challenges. It is an absolute pleasure to work with her!”

Janine Manning

President, Laidlaw Foundation