Emily Rasmussen and Shige Sakurai: Ideas into Action through Giving Circles

Aug 28

Emily Rasmussen and Shige Sakurai: Ideas into Action through Giving Circles

On this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie is joined by Shige Sakurai and Emily Rasmussen for a rich conversation on community, courage, and creative philanthropy. Together, they explore how giving circles can fuel and sustain grassroots change. In this moment when civil society is under attack, giving circles provide a counter-offensive based on love, with money to back it up! From rest as an act of liberation to the power of kitchen table philanthropy, this dialogue is filled with insights on sustaining long-term social change. Listeners will walk away with inspiration, stories, and a renewed sense of how connection and play can spark transformation.

Key Takeaways:

Build a giving circle by starting small with a few friends or colleagues around a Zoom or kitchen table.
Technology platforms like Grapevine reduce the administrative burden of collective giving so energy can stay focused on impact.
Treat rest, joy, and play as essential elements of activism rather than luxuries, recognizing them as tools of resilience and liberation.
Strengthen your sense of belonging and confidence in creating change by engaging in collaborative philanthropy rather than going it alone.
Think beyond immediate crises by imagining long-term solutions and the future you want to build, then align your role in the social change ecosystem accordingly.
Approach giving circles or community philanthropy with flexibility—whether raising $25 or millions.
Rotate leadership and share responsibility in groups to prevent burnout and sustain momentum over time.
Invest in cultural storytelling and history as forms of resistance to erasure, ensuring that marginalized voices are preserved and amplified.

"Where you start today is not where you will end up. It’s a journey." — Emily Rasmussen

"There’s a divine right to rest. There’s a human right to rest." — Shige Sakurai
"There are ways of engaging that can actually build us up, and often it’s in community when that happens." — Emily Rasmussen

More about Emily Rasmussen and Shige Sakurai:

Emily Rasmussen brings nearly 15 years of impact finance, nonprofit leadership, and social enterprise experience to Grapevine, building on a background that includes leading major arts initiatives, developing microfinance programs in India, and performing with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and she holds a B.A. from Occidental College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. [Website | LinkedIn]

Shige Sakurai is a senior consultant and executive leader in cultural transformation, equity, and organizational change, serving as senior executive for equity, belonging, and change at the Unitarian Universalist Association, teaching at American University, and leading national and international advocacy as founder of International Pronouns Day and the first person in the U.S. to receive a nonbinary X-marker driver’s license. [Website]

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/