We are a boutique philanthropic advisory firm, based in Chicago, that partners with individuals, families, closely-held or family-owned businesses, and foundations. We serve as a guide and advocate for our foundation clients’ interests, helping them navigate complex challenges and derive significant impact from their philanthropic investments.
Optimize your foundation’s effectiveness and ensure compliance, growth, and fulfillment of your philanthropic goals.
Foundation Strategy and Management
Talk to one of our advisors.
A sample of services we
provide to foundations
Foundation Planning and Startup
Guidance for launching your foundation, from mission-setting to making your first grant.
Grantmaking Strategy and Implementation
Evolve your grantmaking strategy and/or let us administer your grantmaking program
Reassess your Giving Strategy Or Grant portfolio
Ensure your giving evolves effectively with changes in the field and your personal goals.
Evaluative Mechanisms
Gain confidence that your gifts create the desired impact and align with your mission.
Board Support, Development, and Learning
Enhance board effectiveness, fostering strategic decision-making and good governance.
Family Alignment with Mission, Goals and Strategy
Get 21/64 certified advisors to facilitate critical discussions and bring family members together toward a common goal.
Policies And Structure For Effective Governance
Implement effective governance and policies, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment.
Coordination With Advisors
Ensure that your advisors have a seat at the table when their input is needed and desired.
A formal Succession Plan
Secure your foundation's future with a well-structured succession plan, ensuring continuity and sustained impact.
Facilitation of sun-setting
Thoughtfully wind down your foundation with a structured sun-setting process, ensuring lasting impact and legacy.
Transition to a DAF
Receive guidance on transitioning your foundation to a donor-advised fund.
Rising Gen Engagement and Training
Provide the rising generations meaningful roles within the family foundation.
About Us
In 2000, Betsy Brill and Susan Winer fervently believed—and still do—that anyone who cares deeply about tackling the social, environmental and economic challenges in local communities and the world … in a meaningful and measurable way … should have the tools and partners they need to achieve their goals.
Strategic Philanthropy Ltd. was born into an increasingly complex and evolving philanthropic landscape where foundation management expertise can ease the burden of setting up a new non-profit foundation, assist in it’s long-term growth, and ensure its investments are making real change.
The value of our foundation management services:
- Customized staffing at a fraction of the cost of a single foundation office
- Less burden on the Board for planning, gathering, and communicating
- Comprehensive research to uncover lesser-known, impactful grantees
- Compliance with complex legal and regulatory requirements.
- Rising Gen family members that are knowledgable and engaged with the family enterprise
Some of our foundation clients
Let us know how we can help.
You’ll get a prompt response from one of our foundation advisors.
PLEASE NOTE: We will not respond to unsolicited funding requests.
Client Testimonials
