Press Release – CLEVELAND, June 21, 2017 — Kris Putnam-Walkerly, president of Putnam Consulting Group, Inc., was named the seventh top philanthropy speaker on America’s Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers for 2017 by Philanthropy Media and The Michael Chatman Giving Show. The Top 25 list was created from more than 25,000 survey responses from philanthropy experts, who submitted more than 2,200 nominees.
The criteria include thought leadership, excellence in communication, and significant contributions to the profession. Among her leading-edge approaches in the field is her concept of “Delusional Altruism℠”—misguided giving and lack of impact.
“It’s a great honor to be included on this list for a second year,” said Putnam-Walkerly, author of Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders. “Helping philanthropists and foundations transform lives and communities as is my passion, and taking part in the sharing of ideas as a speaker is both gratifying and inspiring.”
Putnam-Walkerly’s moved from number 17 in last year’s survey to number 7 this year. Others in the top 5 include Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation; Susan Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Amy Danforth, President of Fidelity Charitable.
“Kris’s presentation on grantmaking was one of the most valuable conference sessions I have ever attended, so this honor is well-deserved. She does much more than impart information; she fully engages her audience and makes us all think more strategically about our philanthropy,” said Maureen Sheehan Massaro, Executive Director, Wilson Sheehan Foundation.
About Kris Putnam-Walkerly
Kris Putnam-Walkerly, MSW, is a global philanthropy advisor and president of Putnam Consulting Group, Inc. For over 18 years, top philanthropies have requested Kris’s help to transform their giving and catapult their impact. Her clients include the Robert Wood Johnson, David and Lucile Packard, Annie E. Casey, Charles and Helen Schwab, and California HealthCare foundations. She’s helped over 60 foundations and philanthropists strategically allocate and assess over $350 million in grants and gifts.
A thought leader in transformational giving℠, Kris is the author of Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders, which was a finalist in the 2017 International Book Awards. She is a regular contributor to Forbes.com, and as well as the publications of leading philanthropy associations including the National Center for Family Philanthropy, Foundation Center, Southeastern Council on Foundations, Exponent Philanthropy, and AsianNGO Magazine. She provides expert commentary about philanthropy in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Washington Examiner, Entepreneur.com, BusinessWeek.com, and others.
Prior to forming Putnam Consulting Group, she was a grantmaker at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and an evaluator at the highly esteemed Stanford University School of Medicine.
