National Philanthropy Day’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Lauren Y. Casteel Reflects on More Than 35 years in Philanthropy
On National Philanthropy Day, Lauren Y. Casteel, received the lifetime achievement award from the Colorado chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Below is the speech Lauren gave to the philanthropic community on November 7, 2024 – National Philanthropy Day.
“Congratulations to all the National Philanthropy Day awardees. You motivate us all. I’m honored and humbled to be among you today and those distinguished awardees recognized in years past. To receive this prestigious award from my colleagues is overwhelming.
I would say I’m speechless, but alas, I’m not!
Gerry and DeAnn, I now ask for forgiveness and elder status. I will talk about the past and future. My remarks will slightly exceed your limit. But, I think it’s too late to take it away from me! (Kyle… I don’t want to see you walking up!)
There is a yellowed piece of paper on my desk with the quote, “To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then work hard at it, is about as near a formula for happiness as the world provides.”
Thank you, Swanee Hunt! In 1990 I found a career in philanthropy when Ambassador Swanee Hunt tapped me to head the Hunt Alternatives Fund, her private family foundation. Despite our very divergent backgrounds, we shared similar goals and values to stand with powerful diverse grassroots community leaders, and address root causes of human suffering or injustice. We became learning partners with grantees lifting entire communities, families, and children. The last time I stood on this stage 30 years ago was to accept the outstanding foundation award.
Thank you, Dan Ritchie, who recruited me to take the helm of the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation and lead it from building bricks and mortar to building lives for children. I am proud of that strategic transformation and the work the Buell Foundation does today impacting early education and children statewide.
Thank you, David Miller, who cajoled me to join him at The Denver Foundation leading different transformational opportunities. We won the Council on Foundation’s Critical Impact Award as early champions for equity and inclusion reshaping Colorado’s philanthropic landscape.
Thank you, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado!, where all my life experiences and career opportunities culminated in grounding us as Colorado’s only community-funded nonpartisan foundation focused on gender, racial and economic equity. I am exceedingly proud of the work of our team, board and our community, for:
- Colorado’s only women and girls of color fund investing in nonprofit leaders who are women and gender-expansive people of color,
- the first 100% gender-lens investment portfolio, as well as a grantmaking program employing direct-cash assistance,
- our advocacy for legislative policies systemically benefits every woman, child and family
- our impact spans all 64 counties.
Others often believed in me more than I believed in myself. I was given opportunity. For that, I am profoundly grateful. But the greatest gifts and privileges have come from community members who shared their histories, stories, ideas, and truths with me. To work with outstanding staff, boards and donors, while in service to community is truly “as near a formula for happiness as the world provides.”
I humbly accept this profound honor today on their behalf.
That was the past. Let’s talk about the future.
As a 71-year-old Black woman, who has lived in the Jim Crow South, spent weeks in Czechoslovakia under Russian occupation, and survived a violent assault where my body was targeted explicitly because I was female, Black, young, from a different country, didn’t speak the language, and temporarily disabled… I am deeply concerned about regression on past progress in our communities, country, and around the globe.
I leave you with a charge. Over my lifetime, I’ve experienced many changes literally overnight. Some changes inspire and fulfill our nation’s promise. Others destabilize, demoralize, and immobilize. Yet after embarking on a period of reflection and path to healing, it is imperative to grow roots of continued resolve. The Women’s Foundation has deep roots of resolve. It’s about people not politics.
You’ve heard that philanthropy means love of humankind. Philanthropy is also our nation’s risk capital. It is our job to be bold, innovative, and courageous in our love and protection of every member of our urban and rural communities, regardless of their backgrounds and identities. Our fearlessness eases the fears of others. It is our responsibility to protect democracy and truth telling. It is essential to know the systemic histories that deny opportunity and ensure rights to open, not close doors.
Our love compels us to act with passion, compassion, generosity and kindness, to lift up and never hold down members of our community whether they are seen or unseen, known or unknown to us.
Money is not enough. Our resources must celebrate and support nonprofit leaders of movements and services working harder and at greater risk than I ever have. We are obligated to name the issues that matter and the people most impacted whom we trust. No one in the United States of America should have to live in the shadows or the margins simply because of who they are.
Philanthropy is not about side-stepping or self-congratulation. It is about investing in our collective future and freedom. Freedom to live, love, work, and age with grace. To access food, housing, education, and health care. Freedom to read any book and to choose whether to have children or not. To feel safe in our bodies and our faith. There are no higher purposes for which our privilege can aspire today and for generations ahead. Think of the youth you met today.
Yes, I grow weary of shedding ancient ancestral tears. My next life phase is to be determined, but as I prepare to retire and take some radical rest, that does not mean I am quitting! Neither will you. I trust that in this room and throughout the state we are up to accepting and acting upon my charge.
In that spirit…I am grateful. I love you.”
Congratulations to all National Philanthropy Day award winners.
