As the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair and founder of Ktisis Capital, Franklin bridges academic research and practical giving strategies. His work for The Foundation Review and thought leadership pieces in outlets like the New York Times and Chronicle of Philanthropy focus on:
“The future of giving lies in networks, not silos—we’re building the connective tissue for collective impact.”
Franklin’s career began in community organizing, where he witnessed firsthand the disconnect between donor priorities and grassroots needs. This experience fueled his transition to philanthropic strategy, first as Executive Director of Bolder Giving—an organization credited with inspiring the Giving Pledge—and later as the inaugural W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Here, he pioneered research on:
“Philanthropy at its best isn’t about writing checks—it’s about writing new narratives of collective possibility.”
Franklin’s 2024 Fidelity Charitable article demonstrates his ability to translate complex technological shifts into actionable insights for donors. Co-authored with Michael Pratt, the piece establishes a groundbreaking taxonomy for AI-philanthropy interactions:
Franklin prioritizes concrete tools over theoretical discussions. Successful pitches demonstrate how AI audit systems could prevent discriminatory lending practices in community development financial institutions (CDFIs), referencing his work with the Democracy Action Lab’s algorithmic accountability initiative [6].
With the Solidaire Network and Giving Circles 2030 initiative as precedents [4][5], Franklin seeks stories about giving pools that bridge wealth disparities. A recent successful pitch focused on a Latino-led investment cooperative using pooled funds to acquire gentrifying properties.
His analysis of donor-advised funds’ impact on intergenerational wealth transfer [2] makes him particularly receptive to pitches about innovative financial structures. A 2024 piece explored how blockchain-enabled micro-endowments are funding climate resilience projects.
Awarded for developing the Philanthropic Identity Spectrum framework, which helps donors align their giving with personal values and systemic change goals. This tool has been adopted by 17 community foundations nationwide.
Recognized for his year-long series debunking myths about restricted vs. unrestricted giving, which influenced $47M in new general operating support commitments from major family foundations.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Philanthropy, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
