Two sessions this fall brought leading voices in philanthropy to the Valdry Center for Philanthropy. Both are now available to watch on demand.
The Valdry Center Speaker Series opened its fall 2026 season with two conversations aimed at the people who do the work of philanthropy: fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, board members and donors. One focused on a giving vehicle every development office needs to understand. The other asked what comes next for equity work in the nonprofit sector. If you could not join us in person or on the livestream, here is what you missed and where to watch.
D.A.F. 101: Donor Advised Funds with Christopher J. Meyer
Donor-advised funds are one of the fastest-growing vehicles in philanthropy, yet many fundraisers are still unsure how to approach them. On September 10, Christopher J. Meyer, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, walked attendees through the fundamentals: what DAFs are, why donors are increasingly choosing them, and how nonprofit professionals can build productive relationships with DAF holders and their advisors.
Meyer has led the Baton Rouge Area Foundation since February 2022. Before that, he founded and led New Schools for Baton Rouge, a nonprofit that raised more than $80 million to recruit and support high-performing charter schools. His session offers practical guidance for fundraisers who are new to DAFs and for those looking to sharpen their approach.
Watch the full session:
DEI is DEAD, Long Live Human Rights with Dr. Emmett D. Carson
On October 1, Dr. Emmett D. Carson took on one of the most pressing questions facing the nonprofit sector today. Diversity, equity and inclusion programs have been largely eliminated across government, business and nonprofits. Carson argued that the end of DEI does not mean equal opportunity has been achieved, and that understanding how and why DEI fell is essential to making sure the next strategy does not meet the same fate.
His proposal: a human rights framework that allows philanthropy and nonprofits to keep advocating for and funding economic opportunity for all, without carrying the public perceptions that undid DEI. He also addressed the global stakes, noting that how America responds to inequality at home shapes how its institutions act on these issues abroad. The session closed with questions from the audience.
Carson has spent his career building institutions in pursuit of a more equitable society. He was the founding CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation and the first COO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. He has authored seminal research on African American giving and philanthropy, and he holds degrees from Morehouse College and Princeton University.
Watch the full session:
Join Us Next Time
Every Valdry Center Speaker Series session is complimentary and streams live on YouTube and Facebook. We hope to see you, in the room or online, at the next one.