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Leading with Trust with M’Chelene Shull

M’Chelene Shull is the Executive Director of the Lee H. & Marion B. Thompson Foundation, a private foundation in Portland, Oregon that has supported conservation, environment, animal welfare, youth, and education initiatives for more than 35 years. When she stepped into her leadership role, she was looking for ways to strengthen infrastructure, support her board, […]

September 29, 2025

Spotlight on PACS PhD Fellow: Marijn Nura Mado

The Stanford PACS PhD Fellowship Program supports outstanding young scholars at Stanford who are pursuing research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge in philanthropy, social impact, democracy, digital society, and beyond. Each year, we welcome a cohort of students from diverse disciplines, providing them with funding, mentorship, and an intellectual community where they can refine […]

August 22, 2025

Education for Philanthropy Professionals: Q&A with Eric Weingartner on Leadership, Learning, and Philanthropy

As part of the Education for Philanthropy Professionals (EPP) program at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS), we had the pleasure of hearing from Eric Weingartner, President of the Overbrook Foundation, and someone who’s spent years navigating the intersections of the nonprofit, public, and philanthropic sectors. From exploring the tension points between […]

August 11, 2025

Redefining Philanthropy in Rural Communities with Kim Garner

Kim Garner serves as the Merced Regional Director at the Central Valley Opportunity Fund, a donor-advised fund housed within the Central Valley Community Foundation. Based in Merced, a small rural city where the nonprofit ecosystem is still taking shape, Kim supports grassroots organizations tackling issues like permanent shelter for the unhoused, workforce development, and especially […]

Inside the Stanford Course Empowering Students to Become Philanthropists

“Knowing that our class was responsible for distributing real funds added a powerful sense of accountability to apply the tools and frameworks of philanthropy we learned throughout the course.“ Chelsey Darian Arellano Ethical and Effective Philanthropy in Sustainable Development student This past quarter, students in the Ethical and Effective Philanthropy in Sustainable Development course, led […]

Exploring AI and Strategic Foresight in Philanthropy with Rhodri Davies

Rhodri Davies, a leading thinker on philanthropy and technology, recently joined Stanford PACS’ Education for Philanthropy Professionals (EPP) program to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector. We caught up with Rhodri to reflect on his session, the value of programs like EPP, and how philanthropy professionals can bridge the gap between […]

Spotlight on PACS PhD Fellow: Alexia Olaizola

The Stanford PACS PhD Fellowship Program supports outstanding young scholars at Stanford who are pursuing research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge in philanthropy, social impact, democracy, digital society, and beyond. Each year, we welcome a cohort of students from diverse disciplines, providing them with funding, mentorship, and an intellectual community where they can refine […]

Spotlight on PACS PhD Fellows: Enna Chen

The Stanford PACS PhD Fellowship Program supports outstanding young scholars at Stanford who are pursuing research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge in philanthropy, social impact, democracy, digital society, and beyond. Each year, we welcome a cohort of students from diverse disciplines, providing them with funding, mentorship, and an intellectual community where they can refine […]

Spotlight on PACS PhD Fellows: Shantanu Nevrekar

At Stanford PACS, we believe that rigorous, interdisciplinary research is essential to understanding and shaping the evolving role of civil society. Through our PhD Fellowship Program, we support outstanding young scholars at Stanford who are pursuing research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge in philanthropy, social impact, democracy, digital society, and beyond. Each year, we […]

Stanford PACS 2024 Event Recap

As 2024 draws to a close, we are proud to look back at our diverse array of thought-provoking public events this year. These gatherings helped inform the ongoing dialogue around some of the most pressing issues of our time, including the role of technology in our digital world, threats against democracy, and the need for […]

December 17, 2024

Spotlight on PACS PhD Fellow: Marijn Nura Mado

Exploring AI and Strategic Foresight in Philanthropy with Rhodri Davies