Our team has been actively engaging in a robust discussion sparked by a recent Stanford Social Innovation Review article. The article delves into the origins and impact of what the authors term “strategic philanthropy” to critique traditional models that assume philanthropists, by virtue of their wealth and power, are inherently capable of developing and imposing solutions to social issues. The article points out that despite decades of investment, strategic philanthropy has not led to the scale of change necessary for an equitable and sustainable society.

The authors provide many examples of the realities and limitations of philanthropic impact in comparison with what governmental responsibility could or should be; however, I also found myself thinking about “how” we work as a grantmaker and what we prioritize in our approach to collaboration and partnerships across the postsecondary success arena. In that way, the SSIR article dovetails with a recent podcast from the Stupski Foundation called “Break Fake Rules,” specifically episode 8, which includes the following quote from Marcus Walton, CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations:

It is a myth that we can “program” our way into and through transformation. We will never be able to create a program that contributes to the full dismantling and recreation of our systems, of the structures that organize our activities as human beings. That is an act of our collective genius.

In broad terms, Trellis Foundation aims to represent the roots of the word “philanthropy:” love of humanity. We value the relationships we build through our work. To that end, we approach our grantmaking with strong doses of curiosity and humility, unified by a sense of shared purpose. We want to be a part of the learning that happens with each grant we make, so we want to cultivate partnership, acknowledging our dependence on the insight and wisdom that our grant partners generously share.

A recent example on the programmatic side is the mental wellbeing framework developed in partnership with Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and the college and university campuses that made up the Trellis Foundation Postsecondary Mental Health & Wellbeing Learning Community. The structure of this two-year project created space for grantees to collaborate and learn together as each institution implemented its own programs and initiatives. The way we value trust and relationships led to a systemic approach that has more potential impact than anything we might have developed on our own.

Internally, we’ve also prioritized living our values through our interactions across the team and with a growing number of stakeholders. As we’ve grown in numbers from three to eight over the past year, it has been a joy to witness our team’s diverse talents and gifts. Their contributions have enhanced the organization’s capacity and enriched the nuances, perspectives, and thinking that we collectively bring to our shared work across the postsecondary success community.

Over the next few months, the Trellis Foundation team will share their reflections on our values. I am excited for you to get to know them and the Foundation better through the experiences and insights they choose to share. I also invite our partners and stakeholders to join the conversation. I look forward to a more comprehensive discussion and a deeper understanding of our collective challenges and opportunities.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Kristin Boyer leads Trellis Foundation’s efforts to advance equitable postsecondary outcomes for students across Texas. Her recent professional service includes several terms as an Advisory Committee member for the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education – the research arm of the Council for Opportunity in Education, chairing the Latino Student Success Funders Group, and serving as leadership committee chair of Philanthropy Advocates, a funders’ organization that informs policy and legislation in Texas. Prior to joining the Trellis Foundation at its inception in 2017, Kristin served as the director of the public benefit grant program for TG (now Trellis Company). In addition, she has held positions in higher education development, communications, admissions, and financial aid, and she served as a public school teacher in a Title I middle school in rural Kansas. Kristin holds a Master of Arts degree in communications, and bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish, with a secondary education endorsement.