The Foundation Voice

Jennifer Stapleton
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The Foundation Voice is a podcast hosted by Jennifer Stapleton, founder of Fire & Bliss and a 30-year veteran of philanthropic and nonprofit communications, exploring what it actually takes for foundations to communicate with clarity, courage, and impact in today’s political environment. Through candid interviews, sharp strategy conversations, and real-world case studies, Jennifer pulls back the curtain on how foundations navigate risk, shape narratives, respond to crises, and build public trust without losing sight of their values. The show explores what worked, what failed, and what foundations getting it right are doing differently. Every episode includes honest conversations about the real communications challenges foundations face behind closed doors, and the strategies bold leaders are using to move their missions forward anyway. Because if you don’t shape the narrative around your mission, someone else will do it for you. Learn more at fireandbliss.com

  1. Oct 24

    Why Big Giving Falls Short: Power, Money, and Control with Glen Galaich

    What if one of the biggest obstacles to effective philanthropy is the people controlling the money? In this episode of The Foundation Voice, host Jennifer Stapleton sits down with Glen Galaich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation and author of Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, for a provocative conversation about money, power, donor influence, and the future of philanthropy. Glen has spent more than two decades working across philanthropy, human rights, and social change. Today, he leads a foundation taking an unconventional approach to giving: spending down its entire endowment by 2029 rather than preserving its wealth indefinitely. But his argument goes far beyond spending more money. In his book Control, Glen challenges the fundamental assumptions behind traditional philanthropy. Why do we assume donors know what's best for communities? Why do foundations prioritize growing their assets while the problems they're trying to solve continue to worsen? And what becomes possible when donors give up control? Jennifer doesn't shy away from challenging Glen's ideas. Together, they debate whether spending down foundations is more effective than giving in perpetuity, how community-led grantmaking can produce better outcomes, and whether shifting decision-making power actually solves the problems built into philanthropy. Learn more: Stupski Foundation: https://stupski.org/ Book: Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short https://stupski.org/control/ Glen's Podcast: Break Fake Rules https://stupski.org/break-fake-rules/ If this conversation makes you reconsider how money, power, and trust influence social change, share it with a colleague or foundation leader. Learn more at www.fireandbliss.com

  2. Oct 19

    The Community Already Knows: Karen McNeil-Miller on Health, Trust and Philanthropy

    What changes when a foundation stops assuming it has all the answers and starts treating communities as experts in their own needs? Karen McNeil-Miller, President and CEO of The Colorado Health Foundation, joins Jennifer Stapleton to reflect on more than two decades of foundation leadership and the transformation she led in Colorado. They explore why health is shaped far beyond the doctor’s office, what it takes to move from foundation-centric to community-centric work, and why racial equity must remain a long-term commitment rather than the sector’s next abandoned “shiny object.” Karen also shares a clear challenge for philanthropy’s future: listen deeply, stay accountable, invest in community power, and have the discipline to remain committed for a generation. Learn more: The Colorado Health Foundation: https://coloradohealth.org/Karen McNeil-Miller’s retirement announcement: https://coloradohealth.org/news/announcements/colorado-health-foundation-ceo-karen-mcneil-miller-retire-december-2026Learn more at www.fireandbliss.com

  3. Oct 12

    Who Holds the Power? Rethinking Philanthropy with Ashley Ahlers

    What happens after an institution acknowledges the harm behind its history? Ashley Ahlers, Director of Partnerships and Communication at the John Rex Endowment, joins Jennifer Stapleton for a candid conversation about racial equity, institutional accountability, narrative power, and the future of philanthropy. Ashley explains why repair must lead to changed behavior, why meaningful change requires giving something up, and how funders can move beyond flattened stories of communities as problems to be solved. They also explore systems thinking, children’s social-emotional health, Appalachia, community resilience, and what philanthropy could become if it spoke honestly about power. Learn more: John Rex Endowment: https://www.johnrexendowment.org/Ashley Ahlers: https://www.johnrexendowment.org/people/ashley-ahlersIf this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone working in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, communications, or community change.

  4. Oct 5

    Women, Wealth, and the Courage to Shift Power with Renee Ferrufino

    Women have tremendous power. Renee Ferrufino believes it is time to stop waiting for permission to use it. The President and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado joins Jennifer Stapleton to discuss women’s leadership, wealth as a tool for collective power, and why traditional grantmaking alone cannot meet this moment. Renee shares her experience as the first Latina to lead the foundation, explains how community-led funding redistributes decision-making power, and challenges women to become bigger givers, investors, and advocates. This is an honest conversation about belonging, courage, philanthropy, public policy, and what it takes to build systems in which all women can thrive. Learn more: - Fire & Bliss: www.fireandbliss.com - The Women’s Foundation of Colorado: https://wfco.org/ - Women & Girls of Color Fund: https://wfco.org/grantmaking/women-and-girls-of-color-fund/ - Women’s Impact Investing Giving Circle: https://wfco.org/giving/join-a-community-of-giving/giving-circles/wiigc/

  5. Aug 3

    5 Communications Lessons Every Foundation Leader Needs to Hear

    Season One of The Foundation Voice featured conversations with leaders in foundation communications, philanthropy, branding, and advocacy. In this season finale, Jennifer Stapleton revisits the five lessons that had the biggest impact on her thinking. Hear Samantha Lasky explain why "a reporter is a tactic, not a strategy," Hanna Kellyman break down the difference between branding and visual identity, Zoe Stemm-Calderon challenge leaders to protect their mission, not just their institution, and Jennifer Laudano share why the best communicators anticipate where the puck is going instead of reacting to today's headlines. Jennifer also reflects on lessons from Moms Demand Action and Bloomberg Philanthropies, exploring why silence is never a communications strategy. Whether you're a foundation executive, nonprofit leader, communications professional, or philanthropist, this episode offers practical insights for leading with clarity, communicating with purpose, and staying focused on your mission. Featured Guests • Samantha Lasky • Hanna Kellyman • Zoe Stemm-Calderon • Jennifer Laudano Subscribe to The Foundation Voice for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of philanthropy. Learn more at www.fireandbliss.com #FoundationLeadership #Philanthropy #NonprofitCommunications #FoundationCommunications #StrategicCommunications #NonprofitLeadership #BrandStrategy #Advocacy #TheFoundationVoice

  6. Jul 20

    Before You Hire a Communications Firm: The 5 Questions Every Foundation Should Ask First

    Most foundations don't struggle with communications because they have the wrong agency. They struggle because they start with tactics instead of strategy. In this episode of The Foundation Voice, Jennifer Stapleton shares the five things every foundation leader should clarify before hiring a communications firm. Drawing from more than 30 years in the social sector, she explains why clarity around goals, audiences, budgets, leadership alignment, and expectations will determine whether your communications investment creates real impact or simply produces more content. Whether you're preparing to launch a report, build public trust, engage policymakers, or strengthen relationships with fellow donors and grantees, this conversation will help you approach communications more strategically. Learn more at www.fireandbliss.com

  7. Jul 13

    When Foundations Fund Change: Inside the Advocacy Communications Process

    What does it really take to change public policy? In this episode of The Foundation Voice, Jennifer Stapleton sits down with veteran communications strategist Jennifer Laudano to unpack the realities of advocacy communications. Drawing on decades of experience leading campaigns in philanthropy, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and national public policy, Jennifer shares what separates successful advocacy campaigns from those that never gain traction. Together they explore why communications must begin long before legislation is introduced, how to build unlikely coalitions across ideological divides, why evidence alone rarely changes policy, and how foundations can better prepare for opposition in today's increasingly polarized environment. Whether you're leading a foundation, managing advocacy campaigns, or shaping public narratives around complex issues, this conversation offers practical lessons on strategy, messaging, coalition-building, and the long game of creating meaningful change. Learn more at fireandbliss.com

  8. Jul 7

    How the Raikes Foundation Stays Vocal in Uncertain Times With Zoë  Stemm-Calderon

    In this episode of The Foundation Voice, Jennifer Stapleton sits down with Zoë Stemm Calderon, Executive Director of the Raikes Foundation, to explore what it takes to stay public and principled when pressure mounts. Zoë works alongside trustees Jeff and Tricia Raikes and the rest of the foundation team to expand opportunity for the next generation in a rapidly changing world. While many foundations have chosen silence in recent years, retreating from public advocacy to protect their institutions, the Raikes Foundation has done the opposite. But their boldness isn't reckless. It's built on deep preparation, internal alignment, and a clear-eyed understanding of the difference between protecting your institution and protecting your mission. Zoë shares the inside story: how the foundation practices crisis response, builds communities of courage with peer funders, and makes deliberate choices about where and how to use its voice. You'll hear why she believes silence is complicity, how philanthropy's role is to fund risk-taking (not fill government gaps), and what she's most excited to try as we move through this moment toward the next chapter of democracy and social change. To learn more about the Raikes Foundation, visit www.raikes.org For more information about this podcast, visit fireandbliss.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Foundation Voice is a podcast hosted by Jennifer Stapleton, founder of Fire & Bliss and a 30-year veteran of philanthropic and nonprofit communications, exploring what it actually takes for foundations to communicate with clarity, courage, and impact in today’s political environment. Through candid interviews, sharp strategy conversations, and real-world case studies, Jennifer pulls back the curtain on how foundations navigate risk, shape narratives, respond to crises, and build public trust without losing sight of their values. The show explores what worked, what failed, and what foundations getting it right are doing differently. Every episode includes honest conversations about the real communications challenges foundations face behind closed doors, and the strategies bold leaders are using to move their missions forward anyway. Because if you don’t shape the narrative around your mission, someone else will do it for you. Learn more at fireandbliss.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Stapleton
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jennifer Stapleton