GPA’s 6th Anniversary | What Lies Ahead?
“Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Walter Gretzky (father of celebrated hockey player, Wayne Gretzky)
The next chapter of family philanthropy promises to be one of both complexity and opportunity. As the field continues to evolve—driven by the growing influence of women and rising generation, serious considerations of time horizons, and the strategic deployment of varied giving vehicles—the need for thoughtful guidance has never been greater. The philanthropic landscape is shifting from traditional models toward a more dynamic, impactful, and purpose-driven approach. Anticipating these shifts allows us to “skate to the puck,” helping families maximize their legacy and navigate the changing currents. The GPA team is well-poised to support philanthropists as they embrace this new era, turning curiosity into purposeful action today.
As GPA celebrates our 6th anniversary this month, our team is reflecting on what lies ahead in the field of philanthropy. With the gilded era of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates style philanthropy dwindling, the landscape is shifting rapidly, calling for new ways of thinking about effective giving. Following our 2024 milestone reflection on the enduring affirmations we see daily in our advising work, we are now extraordinarily curious about what 2026 looks like after a year of tremendous change. Below, we explore five critical shifts we believe will continue to shape the giving world.
1. Complexity in the field will only continue to grow.
As we’ve written in a series Philanthropy in Flux in 2025, abrupt shifts in funding streams for nonprofits are calling for a new urgency in philanthropy and a new way of thinking about effective giving. Decisions are even harder for philanthropists as they look for effective ways to maximize their impact. The National Center for Family Philanthropy published research on Overcoming Psychological Barriers in 2024. Barriers, such as discerning many choices and a fear of risk and public scrutiny, can feel even more insurmountable in this moment.
Philanthropists are seeking out philanthropic advisors to help them understand the nonprofit sector’s most urgent needs right now, navigate the risks they and their nonprofits may face with increasing public scrutiny, and facilitate convenings of funders and charities.
2. Women will continue to take a greater leadership role in transformational philanthropy.
Women are often the “Chief Philanthropic Officer” in their families making most decisions about where the family’s treasure and time are invested. Women tend to practice philanthropy differently; they like to touch and feel a nonprofit mission before going all in. They’re more likely to employ trust based philanthropy by making multi-year commitments and moving their charitable dollars into the hands of the most marginalized. They embrace the notion of taking risks and “failing fast” with their charitable investments. They tend to build strong, long lasting relationships with nonprofit executives. Philanthropy is not transactional in their eyes. Women like to practice philanthropy together; hence, the reason giving circles are on the rise.
As more assets are concentrated in the hands of women over the next decade, they will set the pace of change in the field. We are observing more empowered women take the helm of philanthropic conversations at the giving table; they are not charging ahead alone. They take the time to engage their family members and staff to build consensus around ideas. Women are setting the table for the conversations and setting the tone and pace for giving.
3. Rising generations within family systems will continue to take root as leaders as the great wealth transfer unfolds.
They have new ideas on how to express their family’s long held values and philanthropic vision. We see an opportunity to provide education for rising gen leaders on governance, grantmaking best practices and external factors impacting their issues areas. A well designed learning journey can help build strong governance muscles among the rising generation leaders, bring them proximate to issues and inspire engagement in grantmaking.
Many rising gen embrace the notion of using a continuum of investments for good to express their values. This includes using their wealth as a tool to make financial investments with a double bottom line to do good for their communities; make loans to social entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations; and make outright charitable donations to causes for which they care deeply.
4. Time horizon conversations at the giving table are more frequent and serious.
They’re rooted in family values, legacy and community need. In 2025 alone, we’ve seen three significant foundations – Gates Foundation, Leon Levine Foundation and Ray C. Anderson Foundation – announce shifts from an “in perpetuity” model to a limited time horizon model. Philanthropists are thinking hard about the urgent issues that they want to support; family that will lead the philanthropy into the future; and concern about donor intent being lost in generations down the line. We are hearing more philanthropists have strategic discussions about how long their philanthropic vision should stretch into the future.
Likewise, we’re facilitating more conversations around norms of annual spend out. When is it appropriate to give more than 5% if you are a private foundation? What do your grant partners need at this moment? What do your values call you to do as a philanthropist? If your intention is to exist in perpetuity, how can you stretch in your giving and also make contributions to the field “beyond the check”?
5. Philanthropists will explore the use of a variety of giving vehicles to express purpose and passions.
Policy changes in Washington are influencing thinking around regulation and tax implications with certain vehicles, specifically private foundations. LLCs are on the rise to facilitate a spectrum of social impact which includes giving money to political candidates, policy think tanks and 501c4 organizations; investing in social entrepreneurs and businesses for good; as well as moving traditional philanthropy. We are seeing more families utilize a host of giving vehicles (private foundations, donor advised funds, trusts, giving circles etc) simultaneously; each has a defined purpose and goals for impact.
About Grant Philanthropic Advisors:
We’re an independent, Charleston-based firm helping clients to focus and maximize their philanthropy—in turn, strengthening the fabric of our communities. Founded in 2019, we help donors move from responsive patterns of giving by assisting clients to identify values and become more strategic in their philanthropy. Our goal is to help donors to become more effective as change-makers.
We work with foundations (large and small staff teams), donor advised fund holders, multi generational families, individuals, philanthropy supporting organizations and corporations to design philanthropic strategies. We work with philanthropies that grant $1 million to $40 million annually.