SRT Advising & Consulting

08/07/2026

Thought some in my network may find this resource of interest. I just completed the Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate offered by Daylight Advisors, now free to access through 8/31, and learned so very much! I crafted a few quick donor conversation guides as a cheat sheet accessible on the platform if of interest… (As you may have heard me speak about before, I completed my IPA (Impact Philanthropy Advisor) Certification amongst the first cohorts Daylight offered and have been part of the amazing learning community and network since inception.)

Biggest takeaway...While we know DAFs can be amazing for inspiring and organizing giving, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) advising is far more nuanced than simply identifying a tax-efficient giving vehicle. It requires aligning the right tools and sponsor with a donor’s philanthropic goals, grantmaking plans and time horizon, family involvement, investment approach, and succession and legacy planning (several issues I hadn’t thought of before!). The program reinforced key considerations, introduced helpful resources, and provided practical questions and insights I can use in conversations with donors and families. It certainly expanded my knowledge, comfort, and confidence in helping clients consider the full range of philanthropic tools available to them.

Through the Challenge, Daylight is offering complimentary access to this self-paced, two-hour certificate throughout August. Whether you’re new to DAFs or could use a refresher before the fall giving season ramps up, I highly recommend checking it out.
Learn more about the Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate and check out Daylight’s helpful DAFopedia, a curated, expert-driven resource delivering concise, actionable insights on donor-advised fund (DAF) giving and beyond.

Register here (and please list me as your referral source 😊🙏)

The Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate provides a practical, unconflicted introduction to today’s DAF landscape.

07/14/2026

Proud to be a Board Source Cerifiied Board Consultant!

Stronger boards are built with the right support. At times, that support is best offered as direct guidance from an experienced board consultant.

An effective consultant can help organizations build resilience, enhance clarity, and strengthen connections with the community served. BoardSource's Consultant Directory connects you with experienced governance consultants who lead with purpose-driven principles to help your organization do the most good.

Find a consultant who best matches your organization's needs here: https://hubs.ly/Q04mynnL0

06/27/2026

06/27/2026

Feeling much gratitude and inspiration after Wednesday’s Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)® Symposium and Awards Celebration.

It was an honor to join Damyury Almonte Chantal Bonitto Ashley Cook, Esquire, CAP®, CTFA and Jaye Lopez Van Soest, CFRE for a conversation on “The New Donor Reality: What’s Driving Giving in 2026.” I appreciated the opportunity to explore how philanthropy is evolving and what today’s changing landscape means for donors, nonprofits, and our sector.

This was my first opportunity to attend the Symposium, and I left energized by the incredible community of leaders, fundraisers, philanthropists, and changemakers it brought together. The candid conversations, innovative ideas, new connections, and the simple joy of reconnecting IRL with many colleagues and friends from over the years was just what was needed right about now. It was a wonderful reminder of the generosity, leadership, and sense of community in our work...One theme has stayed with me — while philanthropy continues to evolve, relationships remain at the heart of meaningful change. Creating spaces where we can learn from one another has never been more important.

Thank you, Yolanda F. Johnson, for your vision and leadership, and to the entire WOC team for creating such a welcoming and meaningful experience.

It was also wonderful to reconnect with Dorothy Stuehmke, MPA, CAP®, IPA Dilnaz Waraich Nikita Desai Crystal Thompkins,CAP®,CSPG, IPA (she/her) Tyeshia 'Ty' Wilson, MPL Lauren E. Milan Ball, MA, CFRM, IPA Sree Sreenivasan Henry (Hank) goldstein Gary Bagley and so many others + celebrate Poonam Prasad, Ana Oliveira, Damyury and the other awardeees!

Thank you for including me. Looking forward to continuing our conversations… 💙

04/15/2026

Looking forward to this conversation with Neythri: A Global Community of South Asian Professional Women — apropos during National Volunteer Month and on Tax Day!

April is a good reminder to reflect on how we show up for others — through our time, our resources, and our choices.

If you’ve been thinking about starting to give or being more thoughtful about your giving, would love for you to join.

✨ Intro to Philanthropy: Purpose, Practice, and the Power of Giving
🗓 April 15 | ⏰ 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET

Register: https://lnkd.in/gRq33SBj

03/16/2026

The future of the charitable sector depends on the leaders we develop today.

Strong mentorship can shape leaders, strengthen organizations, and build a more resilient charitable sector.

Join Dr. Akilah Watkins and Regina Jackson for a fireside chat about their leadership journeys, lessons learned from mentorship, and how leaders can support the next generation.

🗓 April 1, 2026
⏰ 2:00 PM ET

Save your spot: https://independentsector-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fQY1E9cgTE6wWCXnKX0TdQ

03/16/2026

The widow of a Subway cofounder, the founder of the Internet Archive and the widow of a medical claims businessman now control substantial foundations. Here’s what we know.

02/27/2026

Thank you, Alex Counts and India Philanthropy Alliance, for the opportunity to delve into the research on giving -- and for elevating this conversation.

Working on this piece brought me back to the core meaning of philanthropy -- not simply as strategy or structure, but as a deeply human practice. I found myself thinking about the stories shaped by purpose and generosity:
- The parent who lights up when their child joins a site visit for the first time.
- Family members who may disagree, but stay at the table long enough to find shared purpose.
- The nonprofit leader who feels seen when a donor offers not just funding, but belief -- sharing their time time and their networks.

The research is compelling. Generosity activates reward centers in the brain. It strengthens social bonds. Across income levels, people report greater well-being when they give. Giving back shapes the giver. Strongly associated with purpose and meaning, generosity helps people locate themselves in something larger. It answers quiet questions about who we are, what we value, and how we want to matter.

In my work with families and social impact leaders, I’ve seen generosity do more than move resources. It gives next generation members a way to define their values. It can turn tension into alignment. It shifts legacy from being defined by assets to being expressed through shared purpose. And in doing so, it reminds us that we are not outside the change we seek -- we are participants in it.

If you’re curious about the science behind generosity and what it might mean for your own practice of giving, I hope you’ll take a look.

And I’d love to hear -- How has giving changed you?



India Philanthropy Alliance India Philanthropy Advisors Network (IPAN) Indiaspora

By Sharmila Rao Thakkar, MPH, MPA, CAP® As Indian American families across the United States prepare for India Giving Day , many are reflecting not only on where to give, but also why . Traditions such as seva , daan , and zakat have long framed generosity as responsibility, reciprocity, a