I2I’s Heart-2-Heart on Risk & Resilience in Philanthropy, a New PhD in Our Midst, & Celeb Philanthropist March Madness Recap!
Welcome to another installment of Intention 2 Impact’s Heart-2-Heart — our monthly newsletter where we share what’s on our mind, in our hearts, and up our sleeves.
In this edition, we consider the role of L&E in Risk & Resilience in Philanthropy, introduce Dr. B, and give Dolly her flowers for winning I2I’s Celeb Philanthropy March Madness bracket.
On Our Minds
Risk vs. Resilience: The Philanthropic Balancing Act
With deep cuts across federal agencies (from the CDC and USAID to the DoED, EPA, and even the Minority Business Development Agency) the role of philanthropy has never felt more urgent… or complicated.
Philanthropy is being called to step up — not just as a gap-filler, or Channing Tatum circa 2006, but as a builder of long-term, resilient systems that create lasting change. And here’s the tricky part: how do we balance the pressing need to sustain organizations today while also investing in the longer-term, riskier work of transforming systems for tomorrow?
Like most things in life: it’s not an either/or. It’s a both/and.
Philanthropy’s role is two-fold: to be both the steady hands that help build long-term resilience AND the bold partner willing to embrace the risk of innovation and long-term systems investment. And while these roles might seem like they pull in different directions, they are deeply connected.
As David Callahan, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Inside Philanthropy, wisely reminds us:
"The biggest danger we face is not a scarcity of philanthropic capital; it’s a hoarding of the capital we have, even in dire emergencies."
Hoarding happens when we let fear of failure (or the fixation on achieving short-cited metrics) get in the way of what truly matters. The danger isn’t just about hoarding: it’s about hesitation. Embracing risk and resilience requires not just the deployment of dollars, but also the courage to learn and adapt along the way.
At I2I, we’ve had sleepless nights thinking about our role in all of this.
Learning & Evaluation (L&E) not only supports funders to make better, braver decisions with less hesitation; but when shared openly with grantees and communities, L&E can help the entire field adapt in real time — which is necessary to stabilize ourselves from the whiplash of 2025.
Funders have a unique vantage point (and responsibility). They can spot patterns across organizations, regions, and issues in ways that organizations, deep in the daily work of serving communities, might not be able to see. When funders invest in learning and commit to sharing that knowledge widely, they create a rising tide of resilience (that can also propel bold risks).
So, here’s our invitation: let’s embrace the paradox. Let’s champion both risk and resilience. And let’s use learning not just as a private tool for funders, but as a shared asset for the field.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to move money. It’s to move systems towards a more just and equitable future… AND, to be clear, foundations do need to move more money to make that happen.
Here are a few funders that have recently announced increasing their spending, recognizing that bold moves are needed to meet the urgency of the times: MacArthur, Woods Fund Chicago, Freedom Together, and Knight Foundation. These 70+ funders have signed the “Meet the Moment” pledge issued by the Trust Based Philanthropy project to step up with courageous, trust-based action.
It’s time to put our money where our mouth is, and our learning where our actions are.
Are you nodding along? Feeling fired up? Scratching your head? Let us know how these ideas land with you.
In Our Hearts
The One Where Ashley Becomes Dr. B.
On Monday, March 24th, the I2I team member, Ashley Bonilla, successfully defended her dissertation. Dr. B is officially in the house! To commemorate this massive milestone, we did a lil’ Q&A with I2I’s latest PhD rockstar!
Q. In simple terms, what topic does your dissertation explore?
A. It explores how different framings of ‘communal goals’ (aka other-focused goals, like helping and collaborating) in STEM influence how STEM professionals identify with their field and experience belonging. I focused on the experiences of women and historically marginalized groups.
Q. Woah. So cool! What was the core learning?
A. How we frame opportunities in STEM fields matters. STEM is stereotyped as very individualistic but people are looking for opportunities that go beyond individual achievements to feel like they belong.
Q. Oh! Yes! Here at I2I we love the concept of ‘belonging’. How will you apply your dissertation learnings to your work at I2I?
A. I’ll apply my research insights by highlighting collaborative achievements and fostering an environment that balances individual autonomy with collective effort, emphasizing how our teamwork enables mutual growth with both colleagues and clients. Simply put: we are better together.
Q. Amen to that! So, what did your PhD journey teach you?
A. The hard work and time dedicated to earning a PhD isn’t just a personal investment but it’s one made by an entire community. It truly takes a village to complete a PhD and I’m grateful that I had a community supporting me.
Congrats, Dr. B! We are so proud to have you on our team and furthering our understanding of what it means to ”belong.” Now, please go use your unlimited PTO and celebrate! 🎉
Up Our Sleeves
🏀✨ 2025 March Madness: Dolly Does It Again! 🎤👑
The people have spoken! After a flurry of votes and some heated debates across LinkedIn and Instagram, Dolly Parton emerges as the queen of I2I’s 2025 March Madness Celebrity Philanthropy bracket. 👏
As the champion of this year’s March Madness, I2I is proud to donate $300 to Dolly’s Imagination Library — celebrating 30 years of inspiring a love of reading by gifting FREE books to children from birth to age five!
Dolly isn’t just a music icon; she’s a philanthropy powerhouse. From funding literacy programs to backing vaccine research, she shows us how celebrity influence can be a force for good. 🌟
Our final four was a masterclass in impact:
🥇 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million free books to children.
🥈 Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation: Founded in 2011 by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, the Born This Way Foundation fosters a kinder, braver world by supporting youth mental health and wellness.
🏅 Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation & John Legend’s #FREEAMERICA: champions of equity, culture, and community care.
A few fun insights from the bracket:
📊 LinkedIn was our MVP platform, leading vote counts every round. We hope this competition offered a bright spot amidst all the doomscrolling on the platform lately.
📊 Close calls & upsets: Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation edged out Selena’s Rare Impact Fund by a single vote in Round 1, and Lady Gaga’s Born this Way Foundation narrowly overtook Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation in the semis.
📊 Dolly's dominance: She won every round decisively, with her final victory at nearly 68% of the vote. Safe to say: the Dolly Effect is real.
This bracket wasn’t just a fun diversion — it reminded us how cultural icons can spark conversations about justice, joy, and generosity. In a world of serious work, a little play goes a long way in keeping us connected and inspired. 💡
Thanks to everyone who voted and played along! Same time, next year?
Onward and upward, y’all!
You know, heart-2-hearts are supposed to be a 2-way street…
So comment below, what’s on your mind, in your heart, and up your sleeve? Hopefully a lil’ bit of good trouble. 😉
Subscribe to the newsletter here!
Until next time,
Intention 2 Impact
Related Posts
