Jay Hein & social impact investing Artwork

Givers, Doers, & Thinkers—A Podcast on Philanthropy and Civil Society

Givers, Doers, and Thinkers introduces listeners to the fascinating people and important ideas at the heart of American civil society. We speak with philanthropists, foundation leaders, reformers, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, religious believers, historians, sociologists, philosophers, journalists, and anyone else who will help us understand contemporary civil society’s achievements and failures. We also sprinkle in practical advice for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers. This is the podcast for anyone interested in that vital space where philanthropy and civil society intersect.

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Givers, Doers, & Thinkers—A Podcast on Philanthropy and Civil Society

Jay Hein & social impact investing

August 17, 2022 • Jeremy Beer • Season 4 • Episode 7

This week of Giver, Doers, & Thinkers, Jeremy speaks with nonprofit leader Jay Hein about innovative social impact investing, religion and social policy, and what the George W. Bush White House got right.

Jay Hein is the president of Sagamore Institute and serves as managing director of an impact investing platform called Commonwealth. Together, Sagamore and Commonwealth advance game-changing ideas through innovations and investments. Jay also served President George W. Bush as the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives director. In addition, he formerly directed Civil Society Programs at Hudson Institute and served as a welfare policy advisor to then-Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Jay is the author of The Quiet Revolution and The New Wisconsin Idea.

To kick off today's conversation, Jay shares about his time working for President George W. Bush's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and the controversy surrounding its formation. They discuss the weariness of faith-based organizations receiving government support for their programs and whether the concern is legitimate. From there, Jay shares a little more about the Sagamore Institute and Commonwealth and their innovative approach to social investing. What's the future of America's heartland? Jay answers whether the Midwest has "arrived" and, if so, its implications. To close, Jay offers his thoughts on different legislative reforms that have been proposed that could influence the future of philanthropy.

During this week’s practicalities segment, Jeremy chats with Ben Domingue about major-gifts fundraising. Ben addresses two questions that often come up with his clients: How do you know how much to ask for? Where can I find that million-dollar donor? If you’re wrestling with these questions, I’d suggest listening to this somewhat unconventional advice.

You can find Givers, Doers, & Thinkers here at Philanthropy Daily, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Buzzsprout, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, questions, and recommendations for the podcast! You can shoot Katie Janus, GDT’s producer, an email anytime!

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