Trust-Based Philanthropy: Theme of 2020 Town Hall Meeting

Our Fall Signature Event is coming up! Each Town Hall Meeting offers content that propels us, as individuals and as an organization, on our philanthropic journeys. If you haven’t already registered for our November 10 virtual gathering, do so now - and invite a friend or colleague to join us.

This year’s program is especially strong. The theme is Trust-Based Philanthropy: Bringing equity, humility, and transparency to correct the power imbalance between funders and grantees. A trust-based approach challenges us to set aside “grantmaking business as usual.” Our keynote speakers will share how - and why - we should. Meet our panelists below, one of whom you may already know as an Impact Austin member.

Another highlight of our 2020 Town Hall is the Social Innovation Grant (SIG). Voting for our second SIG concluded on November 5; the winner will be announced at Town Hall. We’ll also hear from our 2019 SIG partners, as they share outcomes of our investment in The Innocence Initiative.

Thanks in advance to members and business that will sponsor our 2020 Town Hall, making participation free for members, potential members, and guests. If you’d like to become a sponsor, this brochure shares the benefits.

Town Hall Agenda

7:00 PM - Reception & Welcome

7:15 PM - Keynote: What is Trust-Based Philanthropy and Why is it Important?

7:35 PM - Impact Austin Grant Updates; 2020 Social Innovation Grant Finalists

7:40 PM - Grant Outcomes: 2019 Social Innovation Grant – Innocence Initiative

7:45 PM - 2020 Social Innovation Grant Award

7:50 PM - Closing

8:00 PM - Breakout Meetings

Meet our Keynote Speakers

Pia Infante

Co-Executive Director, The Whitman Institute; Trust-Based Philanthropy Steering Committee

Pia believes we have the collective imagination and power to redesign philanthropy to center the people we serve. Philippine-born, California-grown, and queer, oldest daughter in an immigrant family, Pia navigates difference to broker connection. Pia brings her chops as a former high school teacher, organizational development consultant, and nonprofit manager to her work.

Pia is a nationally recognized advocate for trust-based philanthropy and radically embodied leadership. She chairs the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project steering committee and serves on the board of MediaJustice.org. Pia is visiting faculty at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment, and speaks and teaches in many settings.

She holds an M.A. in Education from the New School for Social Research, and a B.A. in Rhetoric from The University of California at Berkeley. Pia is a proud long time resident of Oakland, CA.

Dimple Abichandani

​Executive Director, General Service Foundation (GSF)

Dimple Abichandani joined GSF in late August 2015 as the Executive Director, bringing two decades of experience advancing social justice as a funder, advocate, and educator.

She was previously the E.D. of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law, and the founding program officer for the Security & Rights Collaborative at the Proteus Fund. Earlier in her career she was a legal services attorney and represented low-wage workers and low-income immigrants.

Dimple earned a J.D. at Northeastern University School of Law, and a B.A. in English with Honors at the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, she finds joy in time spent with family and friends, gardening, and yoga.

Meeta Kothare

Managing Director, Sustainability & Social Innovation Initiative at McCombs School of Business, UT Austin; Impact Austin Member

Meeta Kothare teaches at the LBJ School of Public Affairs as well as the McCombs School of Business, where she is the managing director of the Sustainability and Social Innovation Initiative. She also teaches a leadership class at the Center for Nonprofit Studies. She is the founder and principal of Neeva Solutions, a management consulting firm assisting nonprofits and for-profit organizations dedicated to social impact.

Meeta has over two decades of academic, business, and social sector experience. She began her career in sales and marketing before pursuing graduate studies in business. After completing her doctorate, she joined the finance faculty at the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin, where she has taught in MBA, Executive MBA and Business Honors programs. Her research on corporate finance, governance and securities markets has appeared in leading academic journals.

Meeta's current interests include social innovation and the use of financial tools for social impact. Her areas of expertise include: impact investing, impact measurement, social entrepreneurship and social enterprise. She is also actively engaged in community service and philanthropy in Austin, including service on the Austin Mayor's Task Force for Aging Issues and the Judges' Circle for the Dell Social Innovation Competition. She is a member of Impact Austin, where she has held leadership roles including Board President and Director of Operations and Strategy.

#JoinImpactAustin at our 2020 Town Hall Meeting on November 10!