21/64 In Practice: Tom Griffith

Tom Griffith

Chief Philanthropy Officer | Central New York Community Foundation

One of our favorite things about the 21/64 Certified Advisors community is watching how professionals bring 21/64 tools and frameworks to life in their own work. Every advisor brings something different: a unique context, a distinct population, a creative adaptation that none of us might have anticipated. Those moments of practice are worth sharing, and that’s exactly what this section is for.

We are honored to feature Tom Griffith, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Central New York Community Foundation.

Whether you’re a longtime practitioner or still finding your footing with the tools, we hope these stories remind you of what’s possible when you trust the framework and that it inspires your practice.

21/64 In Practice

WHAT WERE YOUR PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES?

Recently, we were having an initial meeting with a giving circle that was forming to support one of our strategic initiatives. The people in this group knew the community foundation and had been a part of a grant making committee, but had not been very engaged with the philanthropy team before then. In addition, since this group was just beginning to define what their giving circle was going to be, we wanted to spend some time connecting on their values and took the opportunity to start our engagement with a 21/64 tool.

WHAT DID YOU FACILITATE AND WHAT CHOICES DID YOU MAKE?

We used the Picture Your Legacy™‌ tool after a round of introductions. We asked them to select cards that connected with how they wanted to feel 20 years from now when they looked back at the results that their giving circle had produced.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND?

As they stood up and perused the cards laid out on several different tables, the shifted from (skeptical) curiosity to feeling the connection with their values and their personal stories. They each shared about their selected cards and gained insight into each other and what this project meant to them. In about 15 minutes time, this group who had known each other for a long time learned something new about their friends and colleagues. Something that was deeply connected to each of their values.

WHAT INSIGHTS OR ADVISE WOULD YOU SHARE WITH FELLOW 21/64 CERTIFIED ADVISORS?

A few insights: people love using the tools; it is a gift to people to help them connect with and share about their values; we underutilize the tools; every time we do use the tools, it makes the relationships and interactions better. My advice to myself and my fellow 21/64 Certified Advisors is to make time for and use the tools.