Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur and CEO Susan Hirsch, we are one of the first philanthropic advising firms in the United States. A leader and innovator in the field of philanthropic advising, we have directed $1.5B to organizations, leaders, and public sector agencies boldly solving our most pressing social issues. The Hirsch hallmark is our partnership with philanthropists and communities to increase the impact of this funding.
Philosophy/Approach: Hirsch Philanthropy Partners believes in actively creating a more equitable and uplifting world through meaningful, high-impact collaboration. We craft enduring, giving strategies with philanthropists who aspire to be agents of change. Our decisions and actions are guided by these core values:
Courage: we believe that we can make the world a better place, despite how great the challenges may seem.
Creativity: we believe that complex problems often require innovative methods and surprising ideas.
Collaboration: we believe that our work is most effective when we engage deeply with philanthropists and the community.
Change: we believe we can transform the world by creating deep, systemic changes now and for future generations.
Good philanthropy is surprisingly difficult to accomplish, but we’re here to help. We support high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as corporate and institutional foundations, to articulate and execute their philanthropic visions. We provide philanthropic management, strategic consulting, and coaching services for funders and funder networks. And we offer our broader strategic consulting services to funders and their grantees.
We help our clients think expansively and avoid narrow problem definitions, silver-bullet solutions, and the seduction of herd mentality. Because funders are frequently removed from the problems they are attempting to solve and the people they aspire to serve, we help them to be informed by both those experiencing and those working on the issues they care about and develop processes that create conditions for grantees to do their best work.
Our goal is to help you create meaningful and effective philanthropy: Funding that aligns with your deepest values and aspirations and that follows evidence-based strategies that drive impact.
Types of clients: Private foundations, corporations, community foundations, individual donors, small to mid-size nonprofits, major nonprofits, universities
Specialization: Whether you are a couple kick-starting your philanthropy for the first time, a seasoned philanthropist who needs support managing a high-volume of grants, or a multi-generational family excited to build a legacy together, Hirsch customizes our services to meet your unique needs:
Strategy & Implementation. We clarify your mission and vision, refine your grantmaking priorities, and build an effective and impactful portfolio.
Program Design. We specialize in designing and implementing small and large initiatives that are game changers for the community.
Grants Management. We oversee administration, analysis, and evaluation of your grants while building trusted relationships with the organizations you fund.
Foundation Management. Whether you are in the early stages of foundation start-up or have operated a foundation for years, we manage operations with responsiveness and attention to detail.
Political Giving. As a private firm, we advise on political giving in ways that foundations and nonprofit advisors cannot, guiding support for winning candidates and strategizing to promote democracy.
Multi-Generational Engagement. Our team of certified specialists helps families nurture a giving mindset and engage in philanthropy together.
Partnering with the Hirsch team on our philanthropy helps us understand where we can make the greatest impact with foundation resources. With the team’s expertise, management, and passion, we’ve made strategic changes to our funding approaches on the issues that matter to us and our democracy — promoting civic engagement and leadership, reducing the influence of money in politics, and bolstering a free and fair press.
—FThree Foundation Board of Directors