Innovators & Disruptors: Phil Buchanan: Stepping Up for Nonprofits in a Moment of Crisis

Feb 25

Kristine Michie - Playfull Podcast Interview - Phil Buchanan

Innovators & Disruptors: Phil Buchanan: Stepping Up for Nonprofits in a Moment of Crisis

In this episode, Kristine Michie talks with Phil Buchanan about the mounting pressures on nonprofits and the role of philanthropy in responding. They explore funding cuts, staff reductions, and rising demand, and discuss how donors can step up with trust‑based giving that invests in both people and programs. Phil and Kristine also reflect on resilience, values, and the moral responsibility of privilege, inviting listeners to consider how they can protect what works, reimagine systems thoughtfully, and bring joy and resolve to serious change work.

Key Takeaways:

Personal resilience matters: relationships, time outdoors, and restorative practices help leaders sustain energy amid high-stress work.
Organizational joy and low-stakes fun build infrastructure: playful team-building and celebrations maintain morale and strengthen commitment.
Imagination must have guardrails: reimagining systems is important, but dismantling effective programs too quickly puts life-saving infrastructure at risk.
Privilege carries responsibility: those with safety and influence should assess what risks they can take to act meaningfully in the moment.
Faith and values can guide action: spiritual and values-driven networks play key roles in social movements and philanthropy, often overlooked by progressives.
Action is broader than money: showing up, leveraging skills, networks, and voice can drive impact even without titles or financial resources.
Circles of control, influence, and concern help focus efforts: identify what you can directly affect, where you have sway, and the larger issues you share with others.

"A lot of nonprofits that are providing vital services… aren't going to be there anymore, and who's going to suffer? People in those communities. And so I think we will have to step up." — Phil Buchanan

"We have to protect what we can that’s good and important, even as we try to imagine a better future." — Phil Buchanan

"Everybody's got different assets… Take stock of what those are, what you can do, and then do the thing." — Phil Buchanan

More About Phil Buchanan:

Phil Buchanan, president of CEP, is a passionate advocate for effective philanthropy and a strong nonprofit sector. Hired in 2001 as the organization’s first chief executive, he has led CEP into a leading provider of data and insight on philanthropic effectiveness.

Phil is the author of Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count, published by PublicAffairs and named “Best Philanthropy Book of the Year” by Inside Philanthropy in 2019. He co-hosts the podcast Giving Done Right with CEP’s Grace Nicolette and blogs regularly for the CEP Blog. He has written op-eds for The New York Times and Financial Times, speaks widely on philanthropy, and frequently comments in the media.

He is co-founder of YouthTruth, a CEP initiative harnessing student perceptions to improve K–12 education. In 2016, he was named Nonprofit Times “Influencer of the Year” and repeatedly listed on its “Power and Influence Top 50.” Phil has served on multiple nonprofit boards and currently chairs the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Phil grew up in Portland, Oregon, attended Wesleyan University (Government, Butterfield Prize winner), and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Connect with Phil Buchanan:
Website: https://cep.org/, https://givingdoneright.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-center-for-effective-philanthropy

Connect with Kristine:

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

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

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

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