CONSULTING

The Project

Help AFN Members Make Philanthropic Investments More Strategic

The Asset Funders Network (AFN) advances economic opportunity and prosperity for low and moderate income people through philanthropy. The organization brings together foundations and grant makers passionate about promoting economic opportunity and financial security for all Americans with the goal of alleviating poverty. They engage in a process of continuous improvement to make sure they are maximizing their impact.  I was invited to help deepen the strategic impact of member investments in financial coaching and asset-building initiatives. 

The Plan

Working with a committee of funders, I connected investment strategies to leading research and emerging best practices. I also facilitated collaboration among funders to co-invest in aligned efforts—amplifying impact beyond individual grants.

The Results

The work on financial coaching helped to elevate AFN’s reputation in the financial coaching field. Our work helped position AFN as the leading organization working with philanthropic funders who address financial and asset building issues. To position AFN as a leader, I partnered with a university to research and publish papers about financial coaching, educated funders about creative approaches to address economic insecurity issues, and delivered presentations to key stakeholders to influence philanthropists to support this work. As a result, there has been a gravitation of other like-minded leaders to join the committee. The committee's membership more than doubled as interest and influence grew.