COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

THE PHILANTHROPY WORKSHOP INC DBA FORWARD GLOBAL
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 980592591 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T50 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Medium ($1M-$10M) · forward-global.org
revenue
$6.4M
expenses
$5.0M
net assets
$681K
employees
12
program ratio
69%
mission · from form 990

FORWARD GLOBAL CURATES A COMMUNITY AND CULTURE THAT CHALLENGES THE STATUS QUO, UNLOCKING KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS FOR IMPACT. WE EQUIP OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ACTION-ORIENTED, OPEN-MINDED INDIVIDUALS TO MOBILIZE THEIR RESOURCES TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. OUR COMMUNITY OF VALUES-ALIGNED LEADERS IS INNOVATING AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPY AND POLICY TO ENSURE A THRIVING, SUSTAINABLE, MORE EQUITABLE WORLD.

profile · synthesized from sources

Forward Global is a philanthropy-focused nonprofit that builds community and infrastructure to mobilize resources for global social impact. It operates through two primary models: fiscal sponsorship for emerging impact projects and member-driven Initiatives in key issue areas like climate, democracy, and mental health. The organization equips funders and changemakers with tools, networks, and collective action platforms to drive systemic change.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Call: Bracing for Nonprofit Funding Cuts
Virtual forum addressing potential policy threats to nonprofit status and foundation operations in the U.S.
Forward Global Launch
Fiscal sponsorship program providing tax-exempt status, financial management, and compliance services for emerging social impact projects
Global Journey to Guatemala
Immersive learning experience connecting members with frontline leaders on migration, poverty, climate adaptation, and women's rights in Guatemala
Initiatives
Member-led collective action platforms in six focus areas: AI, Human Rights & Democracy, New Economy, Gender Justice, Climate & Nature, and Mental Health
Mental Health Funders Call
Regular convening for members funding or interested in mental health and wellbeing initiatives globally
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Impact Investing Knowledge & Technology Platforms 2 activities
    • Convenes Action Labs for collaborative problem-solving
      Organizes Action Labs that bring members together to learn, collaborate, and develop solutions on key global issues including climate, democracy, AI for humanity, and mental health.
    • Hosts peer learning workshops on philanthropic practice
      Conducts peer-to-peer workshops for funders on topics including climate action, managing family wealth, philanthropic risk assessment, and using digital tools for impact collaboration.
  • Industry Advocacy and Regulatory Engagement 1 activity
    • Advocates on policy issues affecting philanthropy
      Hosts virtual community calls to discuss emerging policy threats to nonprofit funding and tax-exempt status, enabling coordinated awareness and response among members.
  • Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 1 activity
    • Convenes annual Global Summit for members and partners
      Hosts an annual Global Summit that brings together over 250 members and strategic partners in international locations for learning, networking, and collaboration.
  • Professional Development for Fundraising and Philanthropy Practitioners 1 activity
    • Delivers structured learning and certification programs for philanthropists
      Offers curriculum-based training programs such as Studios (deep dives into impact topics), Journeys (immersive place-based learning), and Action Planning (impact strategy development), including the first such program in effective giving.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Enables co-funding and resource exchange among members
      Facilitates member collaboration by enabling co-funding of opportunities and the exchange of resources, advice, and strategies to amplify collective impact.
  • Data & Technology Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Produces Landscape Maps for strategic philanthropy
      Conducts ecosystem mapping and produces living Landscape Maps that identify key actors, gaps, and opportunities for engagement within each thematic initiative to guide strategic giving.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Provides fiscal sponsorship for charitable projects
      Offers fiscal sponsorship services that enable members to launch and manage charitable initiatives quickly and compliantly, including handling donations, expense management, tax reporting, and maintenance of tax-exempt status.
  • Support for Investigative and Independent Journalism 1 activity
    • Supports journalism through collective philanthropy initiatives
      Participates in the Press Forward initiative to mobilize philanthropic support for the future of local journalism.
  • Program Monitoring & Evaluation 1 activity
    • Tracks initiative progress with goals and metrics
      Establishes timebound goals and specific metrics for each thematic initiative, reviewed quarterly to assess progress toward long-term systemic change objectives.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Facilitates collective philanthropy among 300+ wealth holders
      Coordinates a global community of over 300 philanthropists who collectively deploy $1 billion annually toward addressing major social and environmental challenges through coordinated funding and collaboration.
    • Leads thematic initiatives for systemic change
      Operates six focused initiatives—AI, Human Rights & Democracy, New Economy, Gender Justice, Climate & Nature, and Mental Health—that serve as entry points for coordinated action, co-funding, and member engagement toward systemic change.
    • Organizes curated travel experiences for impact learning
      Offers curated travel experiences aligned with members’ passions and values to deepen understanding of global issues and frontline social change efforts.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.40M
Contributions & grants$5.68M89%
Program service revenue$594K9%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$130K
expenses
Total expenses$4.98M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$2.06M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.61M
Cash$1.38M
Investments$0
Liabilities$927K
Net assets$681K
Liquid reserves3.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +77.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RENEE KAPLAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $294K
MARGARET R NEILSON CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 40 $283K
LESLIE GROSS GEN COUNSEL AND MANAGING D 40 $206K
BRADY ESSMANN CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER 40 $203K
RACHEL SIMON TREASURER & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $200K
ALISA TANTRAPHOL MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $156K
board members · 12
  • ANDREW CHUNILALL — MEMBER
  • CASEY BOX — MEMBER
  • DAVID LEE — MEMBER
  • ELLIOTT DONNELLY — CHAIR
  • GLEN GALAICH — MEMBER
  • LAUREN BOOKER ALLEN — MEMBER
  • LAUREN CRAMER — SECRETARY
  • LORENE AREY — MEMBER
  • MILTON SPEID — MEMBER
  • SABRINA POURMAND — MEMBER
  • SAPPHIRA GORADIA — VICE CHAIR
  • TRACI MADDOCK — MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • 2026 sponsors Partner — Sponsored the 2026 Global Summit.
  • Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition Partner — Collaborates with Forward Global members on climate philanthropy initiatives
  • Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition Partner — Collaborates with members engaged in climate philanthropy initiatives.
  • Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition Partner — Sponsors the Changing the Climate Philanthropy Equation project led by Randall Kempner, Executive Director of the Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition.
  • Enough Project Partner — Sponsors the Enough Project, co-led by Forward Global Members Robert Boogaard and Brent Kessel.
  • Jane Wei-Skillern Partner — Applies Jane Wei-Skillern’s network principles for collaboration success in the design and operation of Initiatives.
  • Kate Symondson Partner — Welcomed to the board during a community reception in London.
  • Knight Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Knight Foundation as part of the Press Forward coalition to support the future of journalism
  • MacArthur Foundation Partner — Collaborates with MacArthur Foundation as part of the Press Forward coalition to support the future of journalism
  • MacArthur Foundation Partner — Partner organization in activations that provide members with expert access and matching grants
  • Omidyar Network Partner — Partner organization in activations that provide members with expert access and matching grants
  • Pivotal Ventures Partner — Partner organization in activations that provide members with expert access and matching grants
  • The Collective Partner — Sponsors The Collective, a donor platform founded by Casey Box focused on funding Indigenous leadership.
  • The Rockefeller Foundation Partner — Founded The Philanthropy Workshop in 1995 as a project of the foundation.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collective Impact through Philanthropic Networks
    methodology: collective_impact
    By mobilizing wealth holders into collaborative networks, we produce greater systemic impact and sustained engagement, because shared purpose and pooled resources (time, talent, treasure, relationships) overcome isolation, reduce duplication, and enable large-scale change.
  • Learning-to-Action Framework for Philanthropic Transformation
    methodology: head-heart-hands
    By integrating knowledge (Head), motivation (Heart), and skills (Hands) through experiential learning and peer reflection, we produce transformed philanthropic practice, because direct engagement with frontline communities and facilitated peer dialogue enable deeper understanding and commitment to root-cause solutions.
  • Learning-to-Action Framework for Systems Change
    methodology: head-heart-hands
    By integrating knowledge (Head), motivation (Heart), and skills (Hands) through experiential learning and peer reflection, we produce deeper member engagement and effective philanthropic action, because transformative understanding arises from cognitive, emotional, and practical alignment.
  • Member-Driven Collaborative Investment
    methodology: member-driven_collaboration
    By creating structured peer groups and member-led forums, we produce co-funded, innovative strategies, because self-organized collaboration around shared goals increases ownership, learning, and strategic alignment.
  • Root Cause Intervention with Strategic Urgency
    methodology: root_cause_intervention
    By focusing philanthropy on root causes and strategically urgent systemic challenges, we produce lasting structural change, because addressing underlying drivers—rather than symptoms—enables transformative outcomes at scale.