About this episode

Melissa Stevens discusses the changing landscape of philanthropy as the next generation inherits wealth and redefines giving.

My guest today came to philanthropy through the lab bench, not the development office. ⁠Melissa Stevens⁠ trained as a biochemist, and for nearly two decades at the ⁠Milken Institute⁠ she has put a scientist’s question to an entire field: what does the evidence actually tell us about where a dollar of high-risk capital does the most good? As Executive Vice President for Strategic Philanthropy, she helps families and foundations give serious money away, and give it away well. And she is watching history arrive in real time. Eighty-four trillion dollars is changing hands, the largest transfer of wealth ever, and the generation receiving it has no intention of inheriting the old model of giving. We get into why big philanthropic dollars stall, and it is rarely for lack of money; the wealth conversation families keep dodging; the $47 trillion women are set to inherit by 2048; and the one belief about this field Melissa has thrown out for good.

People in this episode

Host: The Business of Giving

Guest: Melissa Stevens

Topics covered

• philanthropy
• wealth transfer
• strategic giving
• generational change
• women's wealth

Keywords

• philanthropy
• wealth transfer
• strategic philanthropy
• Melissa Stevens
• Milken Institute
• generational wealth
• women's inheritance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Milken Institute

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