🟦 Reimagining Philanthropy: Supporting Leaders Through Capacity and Care

Philanthropy is in the midst of a reckoning—one that asks not just where resources go, but how they get there, who makes the decisions, and what kinds of leadership are truly valued.

As funders revisit their strategies, equity commitments, and grantee relationships, one thing is increasingly clear: investing in leadership is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. 

At Atabey Strategies, we partner with philanthropy to strengthen the leadership capacity of grantees, support values-aligned strategy, and bring compassion and clarity into systems-level change.

🔹 The Leadership Gap in Philanthropic Practice

A 2023 report by The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) found that only 34% of nonprofit leaders felt that foundations support their organizational capacity “to a great extent.” Meanwhile, Bridgespan reports that one of the biggest missing pieces in philanthropy is consistent, unrestricted investment in leadership development and organizational strategy.

Grantees aren’t just implementing projects—they’re holding coalitions, navigating crises, and trying to build structures that last. That work requires more than program grants. It requires people-centered support.

“If we fund the work but not the people doing it, we’re not funding for impact—we’re funding for exhaustion.”

🔹 How Atabey Supports Philanthropy to Lead Differently

We work with philanthropic partners to:

✅ Design capacity-building strategies that reflect real grantee needs—not assumptions

✅ Provide direct coaching to grantee leaders navigating growth, transitions, or burnout

✅ Facilitate cross-grantee leadership cohorts for peer learning and shared strategy

✅ Deliver equity-centered board trainings to support nonprofit governance from within

✅ Offer thought partnership around funding strategy, grantee support, and organizational change

We also support funders in thinking through internal leadership—providing coaching and facilitation for foundation staff navigating their own growth, team dynamics, or institutional shifts.

🔹 What Leadership Support Can Look Like

Leadership development is not one-size-fits-all. Atabey Strategies offers:

• Executive coaching for nonprofit directors

• Facilitation for board/staff alignment during organizational change

• Advisory support to help funders structure leadership initiatives, fellowships, or capacity-building grants

• Support for grantees during succession, scaling, or governance transitions

We build trust-based relationships with funders and grantees alike—grounded in cultural competence, transparency, and shared accountability.

🔹 A Call to Philanthropy: Invest in People, Not Just Projects

When philanthropy centers leadership as a long-term strategy, not a one-time intervention, the outcomes are profound. Organizations become more sustainable. Movements become more agile. Communities are better served.

If your foundation is exploring how to deepen its support for grantees, align strategy with values, or simply take better care of the people making the work possible—let’s talk.

📩 Contact us at info@atabeystrategies.com to start the conversation.