Haiti and Beyond: High Impact Philanthropy

February 3, 2010 - Boston International, in partnership with New England International Donors (NEID), hosted a timely event on the topic of high impact philanthropy. Truly effective philanthropy is elusive in the best of times. As we all struggle to form a philanthropic response to a disaster unlike any other we’ve seen, what do we need to know? How should philanthropy be used? How should we evaluate impact? How do we “do no harm”?

Jim Coutre, NEID Steering Committee member and philanthropy advisors at The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc. facilitated an open dialog with Alix Cantave, Haiti scholar and Associate Director of the Trotter Institute at UMass, Suzanne Battit, Director of Development at Partners In Health, and Todd McCormack, board member and co-founder of Partners In Health. Our panel of speakers discussed the situation on the ground in Haiti and explored the most effective use of philanthropy in Haiti’s relief and reconstruction.

Boston International sponsored the refreshments and donated all ticket proceeds to The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation.

About Our Speakers

Jim Coutré: Jim is Vice President at The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc., an ally and consultant to ambitious donors willing to embrace creative thinking in their efforts to realize deep social impact. Hired by corporations, foundations and individuals to develop and execute custom strategies to increase the impact of their giving, TPI has invested in the advancement of strategic philanthropy across the globe since 1989. Jim also serves on the Steering Committee of New England International Donors.

Alix Cantavé: Alix is the Associate Director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black History and Culture at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is co-founder of the Haitian Studies Association and served as its first Executive Director. Later, He assisted Massachusetts State Representative Marie St. Fleur in creating the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network. His areas of expertise include community economic development, community planning and development, Caribbean economic and political development finance, NGOs and community based organizations and program evaluation.

Suzanne J. Battit: Suzanne is the Director of Development for Partners In Health. In this role, Suzanne is responsible for overall management of the individual giving office, which accounts for over fifty percent of PIH’s funding. She helps to organize, manage, and streamline development efforts with a focus on development strategy, prospect management, building and expanding the annual fund, regional outreach, donor relations, and fundraising events. Prior to joining PIH, Suzanne served as the Executive Director for the Harvard College Fund, and also was a Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Strategy for Putnam Investments. Suzanne graduated from Colby College with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and then earned an MBA at Harvard Business School.

Todd McCormack: Todd is a Senior Corporate Vice President at IMG Media, the media arm of IMG – the world’s premier sports and entertainment marketing company and the largest independent producer and distributor of sports programming in the world. Mr. McCormack received his BA from Duke University and a Masters in Education from Shady Hill School/Lesley College. He also serves as a founding board member of Partners In Health, a global charity committed to providing healthcare to people in impoverished settings.

About Our Co-Sponsor

New England International Donors: NEID is an affinity group for donors and grantmakers who give – or are looking to give – internationally. They seek to enhance the quality and quantity of international philanthropy originating from New England. Through strategic networking, educational opportunities and information sharing they aim to spark donor action and collaboration.