Keynote: Not Your Grandfather’s Old Community Foundation!

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013
9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

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Description: Community foundations play an interesting role in the philanthropic community, both attracting and retaining funders and managing grantee relationships and expectations. What do foundations look for in grantees, and what do they expect from and appreciate about their grantees?  As president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, Neil Steinberg will share his perspectives on these significant donor relations issues and more, including how his  foundation’s best practices  have helped make it Rhode Island’s premier philanthropic foundation.

Expertise Level: Suitable for all levels
Shop Size: Suitable for any size shop
Subject Focus: Donor Recognition



Speaker Bio:
Neil D. Steinberg
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Rhode Island Foundation

Neil came to the Foundation in 2008 from Brown University, his alma mater, where he served for four years as vice president of development and director of the most successful fundraising campaign in Brown’s history. For the three decades prior, Neil worked for FleetBoston Financial, where he rose to the position of chairman and chief executive officer of Fleet Bank Rhode Island. A civic leader who has frequently answered the call to service at an array of community organizations, Neil co-chairs Rhode Island’s Race to the Top Steering Committee and serves on the trustees of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Commodores. In 2010, Rhode Island Monthly named Neil one of Rhode Island’s Most Influential People, and in 2011 Providence Business News named him one of Rhode Island business community’s top 25 Driving Forces in the last 25 years and one of the 10 most influential leaders in 2011 in the region’s business community. He makes frequent public appearance and is often quoted in the press as an authority on philanthropy issues, a commentator on the Rhode Island economic scene, and an advocate for public education.