The Path to Impact: Foundation Leaders Share Their Journeys

New foundation leaders often search for the “right” way to operate a foundation. While there are certain rules of the road, the truth is that there are many ways to approach grantmaking. Every philanthropist shares an interest in making an impact, but they may take very different roads to get there. Learn how the leaders of the Åcahand and Justamere Foundations started in different places but landed on a similar course toward impactful giving. We’ll talk about the unique choices their foundations made when developing programmatic priorities and how both strategies have led to meaningful grantmaking.

The discussion will cover topics such as:

• Determining a programmatic starting point
• Deciding among a selection of approaches in addressing community needs
• Drawing expertise from the community
• Allowing grantmaking to evolve as the foundation becomes increasingly informed by its work

Meet Our Speakers:

Lori Cushman

President, Justamere Foundation

As President of the Justamere Foundation, Lori Cushman has “the best job in the world,” working with a generous family to make a significant difference in people’s lives. Since their inception in March 2021, the Justamere Foundation’s mission is to impact generational poverty through grants and scholarships to remove the obstacles that are preventing people from becoming their most successful self. Lori has more than 30 years of professional experience in technical sales, software sales, and technical consulting. In her previous position, she began getting involved in the United Way and became the organizations Workplace Coordinator, finding great satisfaction in rallying volunteers and implementing their programs. She has also served on the boards of her local Lions Club and the West Chester Area Education Foundation.

Steven Harris

Executive Director, Åcahand Foundation

Steve is the executive director of the Åcahand Foundation. He leads the Foundation’s domestic and global philanthropic partnerships and programs including the establishment of its strategy, impact, evaluation and overall management. Åcahand’s mission is to inspire learning and education, lift the health and welfare of others, innovate positive change, and amplify impact. Foundation Source and its team has been integral to the success of the Åcahand Foundation since its inception, and Steve is excited and honored to participate in this webinar. Prior to joining Åcahand, he worked with other non-profits and as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives in providing financial advisory and business valuation consulting to domestic and international clients for mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, tax planning, fairness opinions, financial modeling, and operational due diligence initiatives. After living in the Chicago area for 25 years, Steve and his wife Cindy are happy to be back in Utah enjoying family and the outdoors.

Robyn Calisti Hullihan

Senior Philanthropic Director, Foundation Source

Robyn Calisti Hullihan is a Senior Philanthropic Director at Foundation Source. An expert in the field of philanthropy and private foundations, Robyn advises clients in meeting their philanthropic goals and strategic planning needs. Robyn has 30 years of experience in the charitable giving sector, including running her own philanthropic consultancy, and serving as the executive director of the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, associate director of The Tow Foundation, program officer at The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, and program officer and acting president at the Toshiba America Foundation.

Elizabeth Wong

National Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services, Foundation Source

Elizabeth Wong is the National Director of Philanthropic Advisor Services at Foundation Source where she leads an experienced team of philanthropic directors and is a member of the company’s management team. With more than three decades of experience in the philanthropic sector, Elizabeth is responsible for setting strategy for the company’s philanthropic advisory services and leads custom pricing and revenue generation opportunities for the team. Prior to joining Foundation Source, Elizabeth served in key leadership and philanthropic advisory roles, including principal in her own independent philanthropic consulting firm; senior program officer at the Gates Foundation, managing a $90 million portfolio of Special Initiative and Family Interest grants and the foundation’s global education partnership with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation QEDC Initiative; and vice president at JP Morgan Private Bank Global Foundations Group, where she provided tailored grantmaking services to client foundations with assets of $25 million or more.