Donors’ Forum is composed of leaders from different sectors of the nonprofit and philanthropy worlds. Each month – September through June – we interview a person with perspective and experience that we feel is of interest to our members. We gather to share insights and questions about best practices, innovative ways of working, and challenges in the field.
MAY 2025
TRACY RAPHAEL
MAY 28, 2025
8:30am - 9:30am ET
Please join us for our next Donors' Forum meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. We will be on Zoom.
The meeting will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (EDT) We begin and end precisely on time. Please note: We record our discussions and archive them on our website, so that they will be available in the future.
Our guest will be Tracy Raphael, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Lantern Network. Founded in 2020, The Lantern Network offers services and programs designed, as its website puts it, "under our three pillars to inspire, guide and propel young Black Americans to economic freedom."
That young Black Americans have difficulty entering the workplace comes as no surprise, and the Lantern Network is doing something to address the issue.
The organization has successfully worked with "young, underrepresented Americans toward successful internships and careers through several projects, including mentoring programs and relationships, and through inspiring, recorded streaming stories from successful Black people, all specifically designed to influence change and better opportunity in the community."
Its mission, as it focuses exclusively on young Black Americans, might be seen as at odds with efforts to discontinue DEI (Diversity, Equity. and Inclusion) programs, and so an important part of our discussion will address how The Lantern Network's board is addressing and navigating the issue.
Tracy Raphael is relatively new to nonprofits - she comes from the business world - but says she is compelled to solve a deep-rooted problem in society: "I believe that every young underserved and underestimated aspiring entrepreneur and professional deserves access to skill development, mentorship, capital, and career opportunities - but too often barriers stand in the way."
You can learn more about Tracy here and more about The Lantern Network here.
As always, those who join us will engage in an interactive, discussion-oriented format. Doug White, a thought leader on nonprofits and philanthropy, whose most recent book is "Wounded Charity" (2019), is the moderator.
Please register (RSVP) with our Eventbrite link. You'll receive the link to join the Zoom Room in the confirmation message from your registration along with reminders with the handy Zoom link embedded.
Note: Out of respect to our speaker, if you sign up, please attend.
Many thanks!
Stanley, Deborah, and Brittany
PASt speakers
Over the years, over 100 guests have joined us at Donors’ Forum. They include foundation leaders, public charity leaders, fundraisers, authors, journalists, and philanthropists. Each is a thought leader in either the field of philanthropy.
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01.12.2021: Whitney Tilson - Founder and CEO Empire Financial Research
02.11.2021: Greg Luianoff - President and CEO Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)
03.10.2021: John MacIntosh - Managing Partner Seachange Capital
04.22.2021: Carrie Rich - Co-Founder and CEO Global Good Fund
05.13.2021: Adam Treiser - Founder and CEO Arjuna Solutions
06.15.2021: Andy Ram - Spokesperson Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation
07.21.2021: Maya Horgan - Famodu Founder Ingressive Capital and Ingressive for Good (Nigeria)
09.29.2021: Eileen Heisman - President and CEO National Philanthropic Trust
10.21.2021: Jaimie Mayer - Board Chair Nathan Cummings Foundation
11.10.2021: Tracy Weiner - CEO Marcum Foundation
12.15.2021: Kate Bahen - Managing Director Charity Intelligence (Canada) -
01.16.2020: Elijah Goldberg - Co-Founder and Executive Director Impact Matters
02.13.2020: Wendy Diamond - Founder and CEO LDP Ventures; Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization
04.28.2020: Doug White - No outside guest - First Online Meeting Topic: Philanthropy and the Coronavirus
06.09.2020: Rob Wray - CEO BlueStar Senior Tech
08.04.2020: David Vise - Executive Director Modern States
09.22.2020: Michael Gelb - Author and Management Consultant; Senior Fellow Center for Humanistic Management
10.13.2020: Mike White - Senior Director of Major and Leadership Giving West Point Association of Graduates
11.18.2020: Stacy Palmer - Editor Chronicle of Philanthropy
12.08.2020: Chris Belisle - Executive Director of Corporate Relations Asia Society -
01.09.2019: Justin Elliott - Journalist ProPublica
02.06.2019: Art Taylor - President and CEO Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
03.21.2019: Karen Rosa - Former VP and Executive Director Altman Foundation
04.03.2019: Brian McCourt - Founder, Board Chair and CEO ABLE Foundation
05.01.2019: Carol Argento - VP Charles Hayden Foundation
06.26.2019: Molly Bingham - Founder Orb Media
09.17.2019: Michael Kolhagen - CEO Center for Educational Innovation (CEI)
10.24.2019: Thomas Krever - CEO Hetrick-Martin Institute (LGBTQ)
11.14.2019: Jay Sullivan - Manager (also author) Exec|Comm
12.12.2019: Chuck Stetson - Founder and Chairman Healthcare Impact Foundation and Essentials in Education -
01.09.2019: Thomas Brown - CEO Ad Altius Advisors
02.07.2018: Joe Torre - Founder Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation (also, Yankees coach)
03.06.2018: Steve Nardizzi - Former CEO Wounded Warrior Project
04.18.2018: John MacIntosh - Managing Director SeaChange Capital Partners
06.05.2018: Barnaby Marsh - Co-Foounder Saint Partners
09.06.2018: Laura Callahan - Founder Upstart Co-Lab (also board chair of Global Giving)
10.04.2018: Rachael Chong - CEO Catchafire
11.07.2018: Richard Feiner - Lecturer - Nonprofit Management Master's Program Columbia University
12.12.2018: Martin Whittaker - CEO Just Capital -
01.10.2017: Whitney Tilson - Manager Kase Capital (hedge fund)
02.01.2017: Steve Feldman - President and Co-Founder Renovation Angel
03.01.2017: Karl Zinsmeister - President; author Philanthropy Roundtable
04.04.2017: Ken Eyler - Accountant; cybersecurity Arthur Bell
05.04.2017: Elissa Kramer - Board Member Greenwich House
06.20.2017: Ginny Brown - Founder SEEK Safely
09.26.2017: Taylor Hudson - Founder and Executive Director Athlete Ally
10.17.2017: Julie Shafer - Head of Strategic Philanthropy and Purpose Investing Family Wealth Advisors (BNP Paribas)
11.02.2017: Corliss Taylor - Development Officer Raymond James Charitable
12.14.2017: Denise Federer - Speaker, coach, consultant, psychologist Federer Performance Management Group -
06.16.2016: Ken Berger - Former CEO Charity Navigator
09.22.2016: Martin Whittaker - JUST Capital
10.13.2016: Phil Strassler - Founder Strassler, LLC
11.02.2016: Judith Berkowitz - Philanthropist and board member Upenn, Rockefeller University, and others
12.08.2016: Judith Factor - Executive Director Friends of Karen
Our Team
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Deborah Goldstein
When I'm not being a tech host for Donors' Forums, I work with motivated professionals as an executive coach and workshop facilitator with customized live and virtual programming. I'm certified in Conversational Intelligence® (C-IQ®) and Diversity Coaching (through CDI and Howard University).
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Doug White
I am the moderator of Donors' Forum meetings and have worked with nonprofits and philanthropists for 40 years. I have written five books, the most recent of which is "Wounded Charity: Lessons Learned from the Wounded Warrior Project Crisis”.
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Brittany Lane
I am the Donors' Forum administrator with a background in philanthropy but now chase after my twin five year old boys and lead their school’s PTO.
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Stanley Goldstein
A CPA by training, I have been in the private equity field for several years now as Managing Partner & Chairman of Knickerbocker Financial Group, an investment house with a strong leaning toward ESG. About 20 years ago, I launched Donors' Forum.