In this episode of PhilanthroThink, Jonathan Harline and Mekayla Dionne speak with Lisa Wolverton, President of Forward Global and Director of the Wolverton Foundation, about family philanthropy, giving with trust, and how wealth holders can move more resources toward urgent work. Lisa shares how her path began with community-based work focused on families and children, and later grew through board service, foundation work, and her role helping build Forward Global’s Canadian community.

A key part of the conversation is the idea of “enoughness”: asking what families truly need, what they want to leave behind, and what capital they can move now. Lisa explains how that reflection can help open up more funding for climate, Indigenous-led solutions, women’s leadership, and community-led change, while also challenging funders to think differently about power, legacy, accountability, and trust.

Takeaways

-Philanthropy often starts at the family table.

-Communities know what communities need.

-Trust-based giving is about partnership, not stepping away.

-“Enoughness” can help families move more capital now.

-Peer learning can shift how wealth holders think and act.

-Long-term support helps organizations grow with confidence.

-Legacy doesn’t always mean holding capital forever.

-More resources need to reach the people closest to the work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to PhilanthroThink

00:59 Lisa Wolverton’s Journey into Philanthropy

04:01 The Impact of Arts and Music on Communities

10:17 Family Philanthropy: Values and Legacy

14:08 Building Community and Navigating Power Dynamics

17:37 The Evolution of Philanthropic Roles

19:57 Navigating Philanthropy in a Changing World

23:09 The Evolution of Impact Investing

25:15 Building Trust in Philanthropy

28:08 Redefining Legacy and Enoughness

30:42 Mobilizing Capital for Indigenous Solutions

34:25 Trust-Based Philanthropy in Action

40:41 A Vision for the Future

44:41 AI and the Future of Philanthropy

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Guest

Lisa Wolverton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawolverton/

Forward Global

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fwd-global/

Website: https://forward-global.org/

Hosts

Jonathan Harline

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankharline/

Mandy Pui

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-pui-2259617b/

Titilayo Adedeji

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titilayoadedeji/

Mekayla Dionne

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekayla-dionne-57b091234/

Production

Keenlii

Website: www.keenlii.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/

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About PhilanthroThink

PhilanthroThink is a podcast series from Carleton University’s Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program. Each episode features wealth creators, philanthropic leaders, and innovative thinkers sharing insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector in Canada and beyond.