
Energizing Family Philanthropy:
Coaching for purposeful engagement + Social Impact
- Are you hoping to have a greater impact with your philanthropy?
- Would you like to better align your giving with your values?
- Do you want to get involved in solving a problem in the community or the world, but are not quite sure where to start?
Amy Holdsman created Essential Leadership to coach and inspire individuals and families through both an inward examination of their values, strengths, and motivations, and an outward exploration of the community and the world at large. She has the experience and knowledge to help her clients identify where and how they can have the most impact and develop a plan of action for purposeful engagement and meaningful giving. She guides people to authentically lead and enhance their connections to self, family, and community .
Hear Amy speak about the philosophy behind Essential Leadership on the latest Philadelphia Community Podcast with Loraine Ballard Morrill:
About Amy
Amy Holdsman
President and CEO, Essential Leadership, LLC
- 25 years executive leadership experience in the philanthropic landscape in Greater Philadelphia
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF)
- Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) with The American College of Financial Services
- 21/64 Advisor in Multigenerational Philanthropy
- Certification in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) with The Flourishing Center
- Wharton lecturer, Business Communication for Impact, Management and Communication Program
- Served as the Executive Director and trusted advisor for family foundation giving out over $13 million annually in grants; built scholarship program for more than 1000 middle school, high school and college students providing them with opportunities for a higher quality educational experience
- Served as chief executive for leading educational non-profit organization for more than a decade, and helped its services evolve to be more relevant, impactful, and life changing
- Executed board matching service for hundreds of executives in search of meaningful community engagement, making use of their time, talent, treasure and ties
What's important to me?
Usually, we begin by looking inward, clarifying what matters most to you and identifying the values that drive your purpose and meaning in community involvement.
What are my strengths?
We will use inventory assessments to determine your strengths and also seek areas to develop for increased effectiveness.
Where do I want to make an impact?
Then we look outward, exploring the landscape of local, national, or global issues and how they might be addressed, and identifying potential causes and organizations that are making a difference and needing your involvement.
How do I engage?
Having answered these three questions, we develop and start you on a plan for purposeful engagement, meaningful service, and fulfilling philanthropy.
The process begins with a conversation
Clients include
- First generation philanthropists who have an interest in educating themselves and the next generation about high impact philanthropy
- Next Gen donors who want to preserve legacy as well as blaze their own trail and engage in order to have maximum impact with their lives, in the community and in the world at large
- Multigenerational families starting or ramping up their family philanthropy with a desire to include and/or transition philanthropic activities and engagement to the next generation
- Millennial earners who want a hands on approach to making a social impact with their time, talent, treasure and ties; and who are driven by the greater good
- Individuals who are in search of a pathway to purpose and meaning via connecting to a cause and/or an organization in the community