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.

Build a compliant, effective foundation that grows with your philanthropic goals.

Foundation Start Up and Support

Talk to one of our advisors.

A sample of services we
provide to new foundations

Foundation Planning and Startup

Guidance for launching your foundation, from mission-setting to making your first grant.

Grantmaking Process Development

Create an efficient grantmaking process and/or let us administer your grantmaking program

Giving Strategy Optimization

Ensure your giving meets your new foundation's 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.

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 nonprofit foundation, assist in it’s long-term growth, and ensure its investments are making real change.

Why people hire us to help start their foundation

You launch a foundation with confidence, not uncertainty or second-guessing.
Your giving stays aligned to your values, priorities, and long-term goals.
You make clearer grant decisions, faster, with fewer family or board tensions.
You reduce the time drain of running a foundation while staying in control.
You protect your reputation and maintain compliance as your foundation grows.

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

We honestly had no idea how to talk to our kids about a recent liquidity event. We didn’t want them to think they never had to work again. We wanted them to be actively involved in starting our new family foundation but didn’t know how to discuss money. You not only helped us communicate our situation but also in navigating how the children could become involved with our philanthropy. Thank you.

–San Francisco based Couple with two adult children

Starting our foundation felt daunting. With a small team and big decisions ahead, we needed a clear path forward. Your guidance helped us establish the right structure and a practical process for evaluating grants, so we could begin giving with confidence that our early gifts would be thoughtful, impactful, and aligned with our intent.

–The President of a Family foundation that made their first Six-figure gift

As Board President, I worried that starting a shared foundation mission across three generations would be difficult. Strategic Philanthropy guided our first working session so we left aligned on a clear purpose and practical next steps. The process strengthened our relationships, built real momentum, and gave us confidence to launch our foundation together.

–The Board President of a family foundation

TALK TO US

773.244.5185
info@stratphilanthropy.com