Alison Powell
Senior Director, Philanthropy, The Bridgespan Group
Alison Powell joined Bridgespan in 2006 and is currently senior director for philanthropy. In that role she leads and advises on projects for philanthropy clients, and manages much of Bridgespan’s philanthropy research, including our multi-year initiative focused on Big Bets for Social Change.
During the last seven years, Alison has led a number of projects with influential philanthropies, supporting their strategies and strategic implementation. Prior to focusing on philanthropy, she spent four years in Bridgespan’s strategy consulting practice working with direct-service clients.
Alison started her career at The Parthenon Group, a management consultancy where she worked on a host of strategic engagements.
Alison graduated cum laude with an AB degree in Politics from Princeton University and received her MBA from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Alison writes and speaks on philanthropic issues, including coauthoring Four Pathways for Greater Giving, Making Big Bets for Social Change, What Ambitious Philanthropists Can Learn From The Atlantic Philanthropies’ Experience Making Big Bets, and Philanthropy in the New Age of Government Austerity.
Related Sessions
Can Funder Collaboration Drive Greater Value?
Alison Powell
Antony Bugg-Levine
Hilary Pennington
Fay Twersky
Increasingly, foundations and wealthy donors form collaboratives that they hope will produce results beyond the reach and capacity of any single funder. But do collaboratives really deliver? If so, under what circumstances? This discussion will bring a range of perspectives, including findings from new Bridgespan research that assesses the impact a set of collaboratives had on funders, grantees, and fields — and identifies guidance for funders based on the findings. The panel will highlight experiences from funder collaboratives and community-led nonprofits, offering attendees an interactive opportunity to assess potential or existing collaborations.