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Philanthropy Southeast is closely monitoring ways members can support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Last week, Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeast, making landfall as a Category 4 storm and bringing catastrophic winds and flooding to parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The storm caused dozens of deaths and has left communities throughout the region, particularly in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, facing months of rebuilding and recovery.

Our team is ready to support members who have been directly affected by the storm by connecting them with resources and other sources of support. Please call us at (404) 524-0911 if you need to speak with anyone on our staff. You can also email Jaci Bertrand, vice president of member engagement, at jaci@philanthropysoutheast.org.

The North Carolina Network of Grantmakers is also collecting resources for philanthropic organizations supporting relief and recovery in that state.

Immediate Relief & Volunteer Opportunities

To help support immediate relief efforts, you can donate to the Red Cross here.

World Central Kitchen has sent teams to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee to provide meals where needed. You can donate to support their work here.

Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization, has established full response operations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, route clearance teams in Georgia and Tennessee, and reconnaisance teams in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. You can donate to support their work here. Volunteer sign-up is available here.

Those who live in and around Boone, North Carolina, can sign up with Samaritan’s Purse to assist with debris removal and clean-up between now and November 2.

In North Carolina, Volunteer NC is seeking volunteers here. North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster has a round-up of volunteer opportunities on its website.

If you know of other volunteer opportunities, please let us know.

Today, Philanthropy Southeast, following a thorough review by its Board of Trustees, announced the appointment of Dena Chadwick as the organization’s new President & CEO.

Chadwick, who has worked for Philanthropy Southeast for more than a decade, had most recently been the organization’s Chief Operating Officer. For the past four months, she had served as interim President & CEO following the unexpected passing of Janine Lee, a transformative leader who put Philanthropy Southeast on its current path through the adoption of its Equity Framework as well as its current mission, vision and Courageous Leadership Strategy.

“There is no person better than Dena Chadwick to lead Philanthropy Southeast during this time,” said Kristen Keely-Dinger, Chair of the Philanthropy Southeast Board of Trustees, and President & CEO of The Healing Trust in Nashville. “We continue to grieve the loss of Janine and honor her memory – and we believe the best way to do that is to ensure the work of Philanthropy Southeast moves forward under Dena, who has repeatedly proven herself to be a strong, effective and compassionate leader.”

In recent years, Chadwick has played a leading role in the development of the Equity Framework, the organization’s groundbreaking commitment to inspire and strengthen learning, leadership and actions within Southern philanthropy dedicated to the advancement of equity in the field and region. The Framework, adopted in 2019, has since influenced the development of a new mission and vision. Chadwick is also a key architect of Philanthropy Southeast’s Courageous Leadership Strategy, which calls on the organization to take risks and make leaps that mobilize the people and resources needed to address critical issues facing philanthropy in the South and communities in the South.

“Dena’s experience, work and vision for Philanthropy Southeast are what made her the unanimous choice of our Board to step into this role,” Keely-Dinger said. “She has a clear understanding of our field, our members and the region, and knows that we must serve as a place where philanthropic leaders of all stripes can come together, work together and move our region forward.”

Chadwick, an Atlanta native who joined the Philanthropy Southeast staff in 2009, expressed her appreciation to the Board and to Janine – her mentor and friend.

“I would not be here today were it not for Janine Lee and cannot overstate the impact she had on me as a person and a leader,” Chadwick said. “I am honored and humbled to continue moving Philanthropy Southeast along the path she forged. I am grateful to the Board, and our incredible staff, for their support and for trusting me to lead this outstanding community of leaders.”

Chadwick said she is looking forward to reaching out to Philanthropy Southeast’s members and moving ahead with work that will leave the organization well-positioned for the years ahead.

“Our members, and the work they do in our communities, inspire me every day,” Chadwick said. “I’m excited to connect with them in the weeks ahead, working with them to move our mission forward and realize our vision of an equitable South.”
 

Earlier this year, the Philanthropy Southeast community was devastated by the news of Janine Lee’s passing. Over more than a decade leading our organization, Janine became known nationwide as one of our sector’s greatest leaders, known for her courage and commitment to the American South, as well as a steadfast belief in philanthropy’s power to transform lives and elevate communities.

This month, to honor Janine, we have released a special edition of our Inspiration magazine that highlights the work and legacy of someone who meant so much to all of us. This issue includes:

• A tribute to her career in philanthropy – at Philanthropy Southeast and beyond – featuring reflections from our staff and members throughout the region.
• A reflection from Toya Nash Randall, founder of Voice. Vision. Value., on Janine’s mentorship of Black women in philanthropy.
• Tributes from national and regional sector leaders.
• A timeline of major events in Janine’s life, from childhood through her leadership of Philanthropy Southeast.
• An introductory message from Philanthropy Southeast Board Chair Kristen Keely-Dinger and Chair-Elect Darrin Goss, Sr.

This issue of Inspiration is now available online – this link will take you directly to our PDF edition, no login required. Printed copies have also been sent to our mailing list of CEOs, senior staff and program officers.
 

I am writing with profoundly sad news. Janine Lee, Philanthropy Southeast’s president and CEO since 2011, passed away Wednesday evening following a brief illness. She was surrounded by family.

On behalf of our entire Board and staff, I want to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to Janine’s family. We are doing all we can to support them during this time of great loss.

This is also a time of mourning for the Philanthropy Southeast staff, our Board, our members and countless others in our field who were blessed to know and work with Janine. The warmth of her personality, combined with an unwavering commitment to the Southeast and a steadfast belief in the power of philanthropy, made her one of our field’s most impressive and inspiring leaders. Words cannot convey how much we will miss her.

Philanthropy Southeast’s many accomplishments under Janine’s leadership include the adoption of a groundbreaking Equity Framework, new values and guiding principles, a dedication to courageous leadership and the embrace of an inclusive vision of philanthropy that has allowed us to welcome new organizations and leaders that share a commitment to our region, its communities, and its people. Janine’s vision and strategic thinking have put Philanthropy Southeast in a position of great strength, moving toward an even greater future.

While this is a sad time for us all, the next few weeks will be especially challenging for the Philanthropy Southeast staff, for whom Janine was not only a leader, but a valued mentor and friend. They will need space and time to grieve – please give them your patience and grace.

In the days ahead, we will share ways you can pay your respects and help us commemorate Janine’s life, work and legacy. As an organization, we will honor her memory and impact throughout the rest of this year and beyond – we will have more to share about those plans soon.

Please keep Janine’s family and the Philanthropy Southeast team in your thoughts and prayers. Your support for them is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

We wanted to let you know about some recent events that have deeply affected our Philanthropy Southeast family. Last week, our president and CEO, Janine Lee, was hospitalized and is now on medical leave. Our thoughts and prayers are with Janine and her family as they navigate this challenging time.

Janine's family has asked for privacy as they focus on caring for her needs. However, they wanted us to share that she is in stable condition and resting comfortably. We are in close contact with them -- if they have more information they wish for us to share, we will pass it along.

Janine is many things to each of us -- a leader, a colleague, a mentor, a friend, and so much more. I know that many of you are thinking of her and praying for her. I also know that her family sincerely appreciates your support. As an organization, we are doing all we can to help them during this time.

Since learning of Janine's condition, our staff leadership and Board have been in constant communication with one another -- both to support each other and to ensure that the work of Philanthropy Southeast moves forward. Our Board, already slated to meet this week, agreed today on a plan of action until we have more information on Janine's prognosis.

Dena Chadwick, our chief operating officer, will serve as acting president and CEO during this time. Janine and Dena have worked closely for years, and the Board has full confidence in her ability to lead Philanthropy Southeast. She will also be supported by an incredible team of leaders on our staff.

This is a difficult time for many of us and we want to recognize that in how we conduct ourselves and the expectations we place on our team. While we have currently made no changes to our program calendar, we will assess that as this situation evolves.

We hope to be in touch with you soon with more information. In the meantime, all I ask is that you keep Janine and her family close to your hearts.

Over the holiday break, the Winter 2023 issue of Philanthropy Southeast’s Inspiration magazine was released in print and online. In case you missed it, visit our website now to check out these articles:

• A profile of the winners of the 2023 Truist Promise Award – the Women’s Foundation of the South and the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation – and how their approaches to their work illustrate how philanthropy works on multiple levels to support communities and improve lives.
• A recap of last year’s Annual Meeting, where a compelling lineup and a powerful sense of place combined to provide attendees with an unforgettable experience.
• A look at a new and inclusive approach to evaluation, being practiced by The Greater Clark Foundation in Kentucky, and what it offers to funders throughout the region.

This issue also includes interviews with the latest members of the Philanthropy Southeast Board, an opening message from Janine Lee and a roundup of the latest hires and appointments from members across the region.

This issue and previous issues can also be viewed on PhilanthropySoutheast.org.

If you have a story you’d like to see highlighted in Inspiration, contact David Miller, vice president of strategic communications, at david@philanthropysoutheast.org.

At this year’s Annual Meeting, Philanthropy Southeast members elected four leaders to a first term on our Board of Trustees. They shared their thoughts with us on joining the Board and what they’d like to focus on in the year ahead.

Kristin Walker Collins
Incoming CEO, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky

What made you say “yes” when asked to serve on the Philanthropy Southeast Board?

I have been a part of Philanthropy Southeast since 2016, and I have admired its increased focus and dedication to strengthening Southern philanthropy and building a more equitable and prosperous South. I believe philanthropy has the power to make a real difference in the lives of people in the South, and I am passionate about supporting organizations that are working to create a more just and inclusive society. I continue to be impressed by the organization’s commitment to providing quality programming and peer-to-peer learning to its members, which is essential for the growth and development of philanthropy in the South. Finally, I was excited to have the opportunity to work with Philanthropy Southeast’s talented and dedicated staff and Board members. I believe that together, we can make a real difference in the South.

Do you have any goals for your first year of Board service?

My primary goals for the first year of Board service include familiarizing myself with Philanthropy Southeast’s mission, vision, and values; actively participate in meetings, discussions, and events to gain a comprehensive understanding of our work and priorities; establish strong relationships with Board members and staff; contribute to strategic plan implementation and decision-making; and expand and engage with Philanthropy Southeast’s membership.

Your foundation has been deeply involved in disaster recovery work in Eastern Kentucky and is heavily focused on rural communities. How does this inform the perspective you’ll bring to the Board?

I currently serve as COO and am the incoming CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, a nationally accredited community foundation that doesn’t necessarily act like a traditional community foundation. We live and work in Appalachian Kentucky, one of the most persistently poor regions in the United States but have proved that by working in and with community, and truly investing in people and place, that we can make a real difference.

Over the last three years, we have found ourselves doing more and more disaster recovery and resiliency work in our region and from this experience I bring a unique perspective of philanthropy in the South. Our work is rooted in community and the belief that when you work with and listen to community that change happens. We understand that money is power, so we give the money and decision-making power to our communities. They choose where to make investments in areas they care about and we provide them with the tools and resources to make those decisions. I also understand the issues plaguing rural communities because I live in a rural community – less than 5,000 people – and a lot of the work we do is making sure that rural is represented in rooms where decisions are being made. Understanding that lack of food, transportation, broadband, phone service, and basic infrastructure are issues that people deal with every day and how philanthropy can use its power to alleviate those issues.

Planning is now underway for next year’s Annual Meeting, taking place November 13-15 in Nashville, Tennessee. As we begin to build out our agenda, we want to hear from Philanthropy Southeast members about which topics we should explore in our breakout sessions.

Our full agenda will include sessions focused on these four areas:

• Best & Next Practice – These topics are designed to make organizations more effective and impactful in their giving (e.g., evaluation, collaboration, diligence, reporting).

• Giving Strategies & Priorities – These topics typically focus on community issues, initiatives or programming that reflect giving priorities (e.g., education, health care).

• Governance & Leadership – These topics focus on internal operations and strategies for effective leadership and management (e.g., compliance, investments, governance, communications, staff and trustee development, recruitment and retention).

• Communities & Ecosystems – These topics focus on broad issues facing Southern communities, philanthropy, the charitable sector or society generally (e.g., demographics, public policy, next generation issues, diversity/equity, nonprofit capacity). 

In addition to topics, this survey will also allow you to submit ideas for keynote and plenary speakers for this year’s meeting – we’re excited to hear your ideas!

If a topic you submit is selected, we may ask you to serve on our Annual Meeting Session Design Team to develop your idea further, recruit speakers and work with the Philanthropy Southeast staff on session logistics.

The survey will allow you to submit up to three topics. If you have more than three topics, please send your submission to Dena Chadwick at dena@philanthropysoutheast.org.

When we adopted Philanthropy Southeast as our name, it came with the promise of transforming our membership into a “big tent” – a network that brought together not only traditional foundations, but also many other kinds of philanthropic organizations, so that we might learn from one another and work together toward our shared goals.

Two years later, that tent is starting to fill up. For proof, just look at the list of new members approved at our most recent Board meeting. At 11 organizations, it’s one of the largest groups of members we’ve ever welcomed within one quarter. But what’s even more impressive is the sheer diversity of that group, which includes family, community and health legacy foundations – the longtime core of our community – along with two supporting organizations, and two grantmaking public charities.

That’s only the beginning, however. We’re also welcoming our second giving circle and two philanthropy-serving organizations, focused on Mississippi and Greenville, South Carolina. Finally, there is the United Way of Greater Atlanta, which is joining Philanthropy Southeast as our first-ever federated fund member.

When I became president and CEO more than a decade ago, a slate of new members like this would have been considered impossible. Today, organizations like these are essential to achieving our vision of a just and equitable South.

What changed over the past 11 years? First, with the support of our members, in 2015 we adopted a strategic plan that expanded our mission – in addition to our longstanding support of our members through programming, services and public policy, we also emerged as a source of thought leadership within our region and our field.

That mandate to provide leadership led directly to 2017’s Passing Gear report, which laid bare the systemic inequities and disparities that were standing in the way of making real progress in the South. It also contributed to the realization that our efforts to spark transformative change were being held back by a narrow definition of philanthropy that made it more difficult to bring together all people and organizations invested in our region’s success.

Unrestricted Endowment building continues to be a topic of interest for community foundations. Ralph Serpe, President and CEO, Adams County Community Foundation was the featured speaker for June's meeting of Philanthropy Southeast's Community Foundations Committee. Ralph shared "The Secrets to Building Unrestricted Endowments" and members came away with a wealth of information and an eagerness to learn more.

We are pleased to announce that Ralph Serpe has agreed to facilitate a 10-month Community Foundation Endowment Building Cohort for Philanthropy Southeast members. The Cohort will be an interactive peer group for a maximum of 14 and minimum of seven participants per group.

Please complete the survey linked below to learn more about the cohort offering and to share your interest.