ABOUT
Turning complexity into clarity,
for purpose-driven giving.
Catalyst Philanthropy is a social impact consultancy that helps philanthropists and foundations make informed, strategic decisions about their giving and engagement.
Through our work, we’ve learned that high-impact philanthropy requires four things…
Our team is made up of social impact experts. We have on-the-ground experience creating and measuring impact, and understand how philanthropic capital can best be leveraged to create it.
You can’t solve a problem unless you understand it. We use exploratory research and stakeholder input to create a clear picture of a funder’s priority issue and the areas of philanthropic opportunity.
Trusting relationships are the foundation of good philanthropy. We both draw upon and develop new networks to identify the community partners that can best contribute to a funder’s goals.
We’ve been around the block and have a vast toolbox to draw from. We think outside the box to identify innovative, values-aligned ways for funders to deploy their financial and social capital.
…this combination allows us to produce effective strategies that funders can act on.
Expertise at the intersection of strategy and impact.
Meet the team behind the work.
Vani Jain (she/her)
Founder & CEO
Vani has a passion for systems change. Throughout her work in education, mental health, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, the key thread in Vani’s career is a true passion for meaningful, long-lasting social impact. Vani has a wealth of experience designing philanthropic strategies, first as a Program Director at the McConnell Foundation and then as the Founding Executive Director of the Michael McCain family’s Daymark Foundation. She is well-known in the philanthropic and social impact sectors as a leader, changemaker, and trusted partner.
Chloe (Hol Yin) Wu (she/her)
Associate
Chloe is a multi-disciplinary generalist whose work spans community research, systems change, climate justice and cross-sector project management. With a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto and experience ranging from grassroots organizing to corporate supply chain operations, Chloe’s work is grounded in thoughtful process design, and a belief in community-rooted solutions – qualities that make her a trusted collaborator across diverse partners and issue areas.
We also work with a trusted network of philanthropic and subject matter specialists to strengthen our team’s approach.
Katie McKenna
Senior Philanthropic Consultant
Rebecca Darwent
rebeccadarwent.com
Indigenous Philanthropy Advisors
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