The Philanthropic Quest Strategic Retreat
When you become a force for grounded hope and inspired action, anything is possible.
Take a moment to imagine ...
What could happen if you broke through to a new level of success in advancing your cause? (Maybe even to do something that seems “impossible” right now.)
What if you could move people past the scarcity mindset that pervades the social sector — all those unspoken assumptions about limited resources and limited possibility?
What if you could inspire everyone around you to make their greatest contribution?
And what could be possible for all of us — professionals, donors, and volunteer leaders alike — if we moved forward together, shoulder-to-shoulder, to take bold action fueled by belief in each other and what we can accomplish?
If those questions spark something for you, I encourage you to take a close look at this unusual experience. Get started by hearing what others have had to say at the end of recent retreats.
~ Jim Lord
What does working "shoulder-to-shoulder" look like?
Hear Jeff Cook — civic leader, board member, philanthropist — speak to the value of slowing down, listening, and maybe even being a bit vulnerable. (Like many who end up getting the most from our retreats, Jeff arrived with a touch of humility. He even wondered out loud whether he would fit in. After just a few moments in the room with us, his doubts floated away.)
Can we keep dreams alive in the urgency of the day-to-day?
Listen as Megan Riebe speaks to the strategic importance of big dreams — and the joy to be found in facilitating meaningful philanthropy. (At her first retreat with us, Megan was accompanied by her university's president. Less than two years later, she is now leading her own Philanthropic Quest retreats as one of our certified facilitators.)
How do we move from transactional to transformational giving?
Early in his 29 years with Mayo Clinic, Jim Hodge found himself on the brink. Exposure to fresh ideas gave him a new mindset and sparked an exceptional career. Listen as he speaks to the spirit behind his work — key to his success in facilitating breakthrough philanthropy. (Today, Jim collaborates with entrepreneurs who make dramatic investments in medical research and innovation at the University of Colorado.)
An experience unlike any other
After every program, participants tell us “this is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.” (Sometimes they even say “I’m not sure how to put this into words.”)
And indeed, The Philanthropic Quest is a unique offering in the “nonprofit” world.
For most folks who’ve been around for a while, a conference is a conference. A board retreat is a board retreat. A workshop is a workshop. And it gets to be kind of cookie-cutter. You start to say “I’ve heard this before, I’ve been through these before.”
This is different.
We’re not going to lecture you with a bunch of PowerPoint slides.
We’re not going to parrot the conventional wisdom — you’ve had enough of that.
Instead of being a passive recipient of instruction, you'll roll up your sleeves and be an active player. You’ll be fully engaged and co-creating the outcome that you want from what you’re getting in the retreat room.
This is your chance to step back from the day-to-day and get a fresh perspective (plus essential strategies most people overlook).
We set the stage by creating a strength-based atmosphere of curiosity, inquiry, and reflection.
Doesn’t that sound like a refreshing place to start? (And you'll find out how to create that kind of space around you when you return home.)
In structured conversations, using questions you’ve never heard before, you'll learn by seeing your own experience through new eyes. This is something people rarely take time to do in any depth, but it yields learning that lasts — because it's grounded in your real life.
As we learn from each other, hope and promise grow, along with the conviction we can get the job done.
Along the way, we'll introduce some carefully curated insights — from social psychology, organization development, and other disciplines — you can apply to interpret and build on your experiences right there in the retreat room.
All so you can be even more influential, more effective in advancing what you want to see happen in the world.
So what will you have when you leave?
The honest answer is: “It depends.”
It depends on what you’re doing and where you’re at
... what you have going for you (more than you might think, as you’ll discover when we’re together)
… and what you want to accomplish in the future (more is possible than you might imagine right now).
The video clips on this page, just a minute or two each, will give you a sense of what others have gained from the experience. For more specifics, click on the heading below that best describes you.
Do you advance the greater good through philanthropic investments, board or civic leadership, or other voluntary action?
Are you a CEO, CDO, or other social sector professional with leadership or development responsibilities?
Are you an experienced major, principal, or planned gift officer who wants to step up to a new level (perhaps to enter a leadership role)?
More post-retreat insights and take-aways
Molly Stranahan
Kim Scott
Maya Mahoney
Robert Jackson
Tricia Bunton
Tim Seiler
Brigette Wilson
Marjie Klein
Bernadette Clemens
Anita Johnson
Gary Hubbell
Tracy Malloy-Curtis
Mindy Nuhring
Delanna Starks
Ted Celeste
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this only for people directly involved in "philanthropy" or "raising money"?
What are the program dates and locations?
Why is an application required?
Can you tell me more about who's selected?
How do I apply?
Who leads the retreat?
What if I register and cannot attend?
I've attended one of your programs before, why would I do it again?
"Just as the rivers we see are much less numerous than the underground streams, so the idealism that is visible is minor compared to what men and women carry in their hearts, unreleased or scarcely released. Mankind is waiting and longing for those who can accomplish the task of untying what is knotted and bringing the underground waters to the surface."
—Albert Schweitzer