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.
NOV 2025
STEPHEN WATSON
NOV 4, 2025
8:30am - 9:30am ET
Please join us for our next Donors' Forum meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 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 Stephen Watson, the President & CEO of The National WWII Museum. Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, it is located in downtown New Orleans. From the organization's website: "The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today - so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn."
“I started my career as a fundraiser,” Watson says. “I was working for National Public Radio, here in New Orleans in the late '90s. At that time, the museum was not open, but it was approaching opening day - under its original name of the National D-Day Museum. And it was one of the most exciting and biggest things that had happened in the city in a generation. I said, This is a place that I want to go work. I want to be a part of the mission and a part of the work that they're doing to bring the story to a broader public. And I was fortunate, 18 years ago, to start here at the museum."
By the way, should you be wondering: The National WWII Museum is in New Orleans because that was where Higgins Industries, which built the Higgins boats used in the Allied invasions, was based. That, and the interest the renowned World War II historian Stephen Ambrose, once a professor at the University of New Orleans, took in the project; a driving force in that interest was his desire to honor Andrew Higgins, whom Dwight Eisenhower called, "the man who won the war for us." More on that here.
You can learn more about the National WWII Museum and Stephen Watson 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!
Deborah & 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.