Foundations fund good work, but they can also quietly reshape it. In this episode, Glen Gallich, CEO of the Stupski Foundation and author of Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, questions a norm many nonprofit leaders have learned to accept: bending strategy, language, and even mission to match what funders want to hear. Glen makes the case that when philanthropy centers donor preferences over community need, the entire nonprofit funding system starts optimizing for compliance instead of outcomes.

Glen Gallich is the CEO of the Stupski Foundation and a visionary leader dedicated to shifting the paradigm of philanthropy toward equity, community-led funding, and trust-based practices. With extensive experience reshaping how major capital is deployed, Glen challenges traditional institutional norms and advocates for spend-down models that prioritize compounding impact over compounding interest. Through his writing and leadership, he equips nonprofit executives and changemakers to navigate power dynamics, speak candidly about real-world costs, and place power back into the hands of the communities they serve.