Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Goldstein

Hi Deborah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

My career journey has been a circuitous one and yet it brought me to where I am today.

As a young teenager, I thought I was going to be a marine biologist. I remained focused on this career, but as I got to college and understood what it entailed, I decided it wasn’t for me. I still studied biology, concentrating on marine biology. By graduate school, where I studied marine policy, I thought I would be an environmental consultant. I wasn’t really sure what that meant though. However, when I discovered that the university offered a Certificate in Museum Studies, a long-hidden desire to work at an aquarium came back to life.

My first job out of graduate school was working with a marine mammal researcher at Oregon Statue University. I was an intern for the newly hired Development Director. While I had some exposure to fundraising during my graduate work, here is where I really came to understand what it took to support nonprofits. I discovered I had a knack for grant writing and with continued encouragement from the Development Director, now a mentor and dear friend, I decided to pursue this path.

Within a year, a job came open at the science museum I’d gone to growing up—the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). At OMSI I served as their first full-time grants coordinator and then manager, creating a system for their grants process. I loved being in this environment, learning about and fundraising for their education programs and traveling exhibits.

After three years there, my dream job became available at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I moved to Monterey and worked as their Grants Manager for five years. My fundraising efforts supported their education programs mostly and when they created an ocean policy arm, my graduate school experience came in handy. It was an honor to serve on the committee that set the course for this new endeavor.

And it was here at the Aquarium that the spark of a new idea came. I noticed a difference in the types of donors I interacted with. Some gave to the Aquarium as one of numerous organizations they supported. Others were solely focused on ocean conservation and knew the organizations, the issues, and even the environment, as they were avid divers. I thought there must be something to this difference and how can I help people become more engaged with their giving?

Five years after starting at the Aquarium, I left to create Enlightened Philanthropy. Initially I continued to consult as a grant writer while I built up what would become my philanthropy advising business. After becoming a 21/64 Certified Advisor, I began to work more and more with individuals who were committed to being intentional in their giving.

I took several years off to raise my son and have been back at work since 2022. And thankfully I have been welcomed back by my colleagues with open arms. It’s a pleasure to work with clients again.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

As you may be able to tell by my story, this was not a direct path. And there were certainly struggles along the way.

There was doubt and uncertainty, imposter syndrome and questioning. Yet at each turn I felt like I was being supported by the right people and right resources to make the moves that I did.

All of these struggles, however, pale in comparison to the highlights along the way—working and learning alongside clients and colleagues, presenting at conferences, and giving a TEDx talk, “Are you a philanthropist?”, for a room full of high school girls preparing to make their way in the world.

I’m so happy that my path brought me to where I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

I love working with generous people. They’re also lifelong learners who desire to make a difference in the world. Among all the things I’ve done, I’m most proud of my signature program—Philanthropy Camp for Women.

This unique opportunity for women to come together to learn about giving has been as rewarding for me as it has been for the participants. Women come in stuck, overwhelmed, unsure about their giving and leave with clarity and confidence. I couldn’t ask for a better outcome.

The same goes for the individuals I support in one-on-one work. I see a lot of similar scenarios among my clients and feel grateful that I can be by their side as a guide when they really need help sorting things out.

I also really enjoy working with families as they introduce their kids to giving with the family. Each family is different and so this work requires me to take all my knowledge and put together a customized plan that makes sense for their needs. Often we’re able to co-create the process together, which shows me how committed and engaged they are in this opportunity.

More than anything I want my clients to understand that they are philanthropists, no matter their level of giving, and that their efforts will make a difference.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?

I find that any podcast or book that supports me in my own growth then supports my work with clients. The better I can understand how I view myself, others, and the world, the more aware I am. Two that I enjoy in particular are the Ten Percent Happier podcast with Dan Harris and Pulling the Thread with Elise Loehnen.

As for books, I’m currently reading Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson, the head of TED, and I’m motivated by his broad definition of generosity and the myriad examples he shares throughout. I’ve also been listening to this season of The TED Talks that focuses on this subject as well. Prepare to be inspired!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.enlightenedphilanthropy.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedphilanthropy/
• Other: https://www.enlightenedphilanthropy.com/philanthropy-camp-for-women/

Image Credits

Kitta Bodmer (for headshots)

Kristen Fletcher (for photo with other women and photo of me standing next to quote)

(Let me know if you need a smaller logo. I couldn’t figure out how to delete this one and add a smaller one.)