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TPI Reflects on 20
June 4, 2009
It was a day in early June 1989 - and if Leslie Pine says it was June 4th who am I to disagree - when TPI officially opened its doors for business. If you had asked the five people present that day what business TPI was in, I think the answers would have ranged from ‘change the world’, to ‘revolutionize philanthropy’, to ‘bring analysis and discipline into a field that has very little’, to ‘I have no idea but if we don’t go broke it looks like it could be fun.’
So that is what we did.
And that is what TPI continues to do twenty years later.
We were in a small two room office at 75 Federal Street that Catherine Corinha, a colleague from my previous businesses, had expanded from the closet I had used during my two-years at Columbia. It was still a closet but sufficient for our purposes, vague as they were.
In thinking about those early days when we went from having nothing to do and losing lots of money, to becoming very busy inventing what has become both the economic and programmatic model for philanthropic advising, what stands out is how amazingly consistent the original themes, and tensions, have been.
Work with wealthy individuals and families to help rationalize and maximize wealth to the benefit of society. Work with corporations to find the intersections between corporate resources – money, skills and people – and community at large. Work to promote philanthropy through research, teaching and capacity building. These were the major themes and remain so today. The primary tension has been how to do excellent work and do so within a budget that clients are willing to pay for. But we have never viewed TPI as “just’ a consulting firm. The ambition has always been a higher one, and therein lies another central tension between the practice, and the promotion of philanthropy.
It is interesting that today this kind of social business hybrid is all the rage. What’s more interesting is that we have been able to make it financially sustainable.
The biggest joy from TPI has been the people and the learning. The people who we have met and worked with are truly amazing – they are what gives one hope in a tough world, and it is a gift to all of us that we have that opportunity – even when they drive us crazy. It is the learning, the growing up with ideas, programs and their impact on the issues communities, and individuals, that our clients, and we, care so deeply about, that is the real gift to those of us who work at TPI.
A truly wonderful group you are! So many people to thank, and I do. And I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Love to all,
Peter
Responses to Peter’s letter from several of TPI’s good friends:
Right on!
I remember well that around that time, you talked to me about your idea for TPI. I thought you were delusional but interesting and that the theme of increasing philanthropy by helping possible donors to feel good and useful through their gift was marvelous, but likely unattainable. I am SO glad to have been wrong! Thank you for your vision and determination and leadership. You made it happen!
- David Squire
Thanks for your reflections and congratulations on surviving 20 years. You have been an agent of change and spawned a field and an industry (practice and promotion). More importantly, I sense that society is beginning to catch up. The culture is changing. Here’s to the next 20.
With best regards,
- John Abele
Thanks for sharing your notes on the anniversary. It seems much older to me than 20 years, but I can recall distinctly the first few weeks…We had only one desk and I had to get you out of the office to find some business and get you off the corner of my desk. We thought we were hot stuff with a new phone number, a used select typewriter and a box of paper. All the envelopes had to be typed announcing the new adventure…..”you’ve come a long way baby”
Congratulations to all.
- Catherine M. Corinha
It is the learning that has enriched the philanthropists who received your counsel!
We are all lifelong learners and your philosophy has made us all more reflective givers!
Looking forward to many more years of access to your wisdom!
Hugs,
- Angelica Berrie
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