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History
For more information on the impact TPI client initiatives have had over the years please see the following publications:
TPI was founded in June of 1989 by Peter Karoff, Boston businessman and civic activist. After a thorough process of market research and due diligence that strongly suggested that TPI as then envisioned would never succeed, Peter chose to do what many of the world's more entrepreneurial and effective donors have done, he took an informed leap of faith!
TPI's original core beliefs and commitments, already in evidence in excerpts from its 1989 founding mission statement, below, still hold true many years later:
The Philanthropic Initiative's mission is to increase the effectiveness of charitable giving through innovative ideas that are combined with a carefully designed plan of execution. TPI works under contract with its clients to maximize the programmatic value of corporate and individual giving.
All of TPI's work is directed by the needs and expectations of our clients. Thus the first task is to understand the thinking and motivation of the donor, or if a corporation or foundation, the larger stakeholder group involved...TPI recognizes how difficult it is to give money away effectively and is committed to helping donors find the best possible expression for their philanthropy...
TPI believes it is the melding of varied experiences and vision that makes possible the kind of creative, effective charitable ventures described.
Philanthropy, the application of private dollars towards the public good, can be an effective agent for developing innovative solutions to today's most pressing social problems. Solutions to these issues require an entrepreneurial attitude which TPI defines as having bold vision, a willingness to take risks and experiment, and a close attention to results... Under these circumstances, philanthropy can be a crucial social investment resource, a powerful catalyst for change.
Peter envisioned that TPI could possibly play a multiplier role in society, contributing to the growth and increased impact of philanthropy. In addition, a set of first principles were deeply embedded in TPI's organizational DNA, principles that continue to guide all of its work today:
- TPI would be established as a public charity.
- TPI's staff would be built around the fundamental concept of assembling a high-level ensemble, drawn from a wide range of experiences (business, community work, government, academia, philanthropy) that would offer clients deep, diverse and disciplined skills in service to their philanthropic aspirations.
- TPI would consult on a fee for service basis and work only for donors and philanthropies.
- TPI would not offer services that other wealth and financial planning advisors and advisor institutions provided. It would focus its work solely on helping to make the charitable giving of individuals, families, companies and private philanthropies more engaged, strategic and effective over the long term.
- TPI would thrive financially on the basis of its consulting practice or it would not survive at all. TPI did not want to rely on foundation grants or be in competition for funds with other public charities; rather, it was aiming to increase the pool of philanthropic capital.
- TPI would strive to work collegially with other advisors and consultants working with donors, sharing whatever of its knowledge and experience might benefit and build the field in non-proprietary ways. Further, TPI would commit a significant share of its work to pro bono service in seeking to strengthen the organizational capacity and competitiveness of the nonprofit community.
To date, TPI has guided and informed the inventive and productive giving of more than a billion dollars from several hundred client philanthropies. It has been a principal progenitor of what is now a burgeoning cottage industry of philanthropy advisors and consultants. But perhaps most importantly, it has influenced the thinking and actions of thousands regarding the critical role new philanthropic capital can play in making our society more equitable, more just and in improving the quality of life in communities around the globe.
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