Dear Early Investors, Founding Donors, and Friends,
It is a pleasure to share with you some early milestone accomplishments in our Doing Good Well mission. As the timing corresponds with the close of winter, this also presents an opportune time to provide you with a deeper overview of our first year of operations and a look at our priorities ahead. At this important juncture, what’s become very clear is that all of us–community leaders, residents, subject matter experts, and donors—want the same thing. We all want to make a difference, and we all want to make things better. This has been a defining first year for Doing Good Well
We established Ourselves as a “Real” Organization: Following its founding in December 2024, DGW built the necessary operational framework, including the launch of its website, newsletters, social media presence, and various “thought pieces” to support its mission.
We Launched our First Grants: We launched the Kensington Health and Housing Collaborative, which brings together six community leaders and organizations to focus on trauma-informed housing solutions and stability. As of March, the Kensington Collaborative completed its early structuring and planning phase and is now moving into the execution phase of its three-year program.
We Activated Private Philanthropy: DGW successfully targeted and activated funds from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), with a majority of first-year funding coming from these accounts—many of which were first-time gifts.
We Developed Frameworks that will Help to Create Impact and Scale: We defined specific criteria for identifying focus neighborhoods and partners, while also providing training to collaborative members to strengthen shared governance and outcome measurement. Much more to come on this front.
We are grateful for the inspiration you provide and for your vision in committing with us to build a better future.
A Reminder: Doing Good Well’s Strategic Overview
Doing Good Well’s approach centers on strategic investments in four key social outcome areas (housing insecurity, food insecurity, gun violence, and early learning),
implemented in a hyper-local manner across Philadelphia neighborhoods with an outcomes- focused approach. Our work is aligned with resident priorities, grounded in trauma-informed principles, and focused on root causes rather than short-term relief. We emphasize collaboration with trusted, community-based organizations and the co-creation of practical, sustainable solutions.
We are dedicated to building robust frameworks to drive meaningful, lasting change in social challenges and afflictions that we collectively care so deeply about. We are committed to openness and transparency in reporting on the work and on progress. Your investment makes it possible for all of us to build a better world for the generations that follow, inspiring others to join us in this work.
Building on our Baseline and Driving Impact
On December 31, 2024, Doing Good Well (DGW) was established as a 501(c)(3) with a clear purpose: to activate private philanthropy in service of measurable, neighborhood-level outcomes in Philadelphia. Our first year focused on establishing the infrastructure necessary to operate in alignment with our mission and values. We developed and launched a comprehensive case for support, including our website, newsletters, thought pieces, interviews, videos, and social media presence.
Equally important, we defined criteria to identify neighborhoods of focus and partner organizations and began forming our first collaborative with locally respected leaders. The collaboratives —working alongside the DGW Board—will formalize philanthropic investments, establish measurable outcomes, and ensure accountability through transparent monitoring and evaluation.
During our first year, we:
• Activated grants from Donor Advised Funds – many of which were first time gifts – Evaluated neighborhood plans for alignment with DGW’s identified areas of impact
• Provided training to collaborative members to strengthen shared governance and outcomes measurement, advancing a collective impact “social mutual fund” approach
A Starting Point: The Kensington Health and Housing Collaborative In November, we launched our first programmatic initiative, The Kensington Health and Housing Collaborative. This Collaborative, addressing housing insecurity and its intersection with health and community stability, brings together six respected organizations and community leaders committed to coordinated, trauma-informed interventions focused on prevention, stabilization, and long-term housing pathways. In short: focused on building long-term solutions using a “social mutual fund” approach.
March marks the completion of the early structuring and long-term planning phase of the Collaborative’s work, following a successful first quarterly leadership meeting in February of this year. Tangible implementation plans were shared and approved, and the Collaborative now moves into the execution phase of the 3-year program. This collaborative represents a proof point for DGW’s model: a structured community of donors working in partnership with neighborhood leaders to advance measurable outcomes, and adapt in real time as implementation unfolds.
Activating Private Philanthropy Program funding this year centered on activating private philanthropy—particularly individuals with Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). We have focused on donors with growing, mid-sized DAF balances, working alongside their independent advisors and trusted peer communities to deploy capital more strategically and collaboratively. Our goal is to transform passive charitable reserves into active, outcomes-driven investments. A majority of our first year funding came from Donor Advised Funds – many of which were gifts made for the first time from these accounts. Looking forward, we will continue to focus on this important and growing sector with a view to inspire, guide and organize communities of donors to activate their DAF assets to advance meaningful social impact.
Looking Ahead We invite you to take a closer look at these issues and opportunities with us in the year ahead. We will share communications, news articles and relevant collateral, should you wish to learn more about the communities and the work of DGW. We will share our thoughts and suggestions on the DAF sector and ways to strategically deploy funds for maximum impact. Please share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions with us. Consider joining us for in-person events and meetings. Many of you have already done so, and the contribution of your presence has enriched our work in numerous ways.
As we enter our second year, our priorities include: – Expanding and deepening the DAF donor community
• Advance the understanding of DAFs as giving vehicles – Testing and refining our mission to ensure ongoing relevance, efficiency, and measurable impact of the social mutual fund approach – Continuing to refine dashboards and reporting systems to enhance transparency and learning
• Exploring additional Philadelphia neighborhoods for programmatic investment
• Strengthening governance and continuing to build the Board
On a Personal Note
In our first year, Doing Good Well has been referenced and engaged through newsletters, thought leadership pieces, interviews, and community convenings highlighting innovative philanthropic models and neighborhood-based collaboration. These early signals of interest affirm the relevance of our approach and the opportunity ahead. None of this would have been possible without your early investment—of capital, credibility, and counsel. Your confidence enabled us to build thoughtfully, launch intentionally, and begin demonstrating what a coordinated, outcomes-focused donor community can achieve.
Thank you for your partnership, and we look forward to continuing the work together in the years ahead.
With Appreciation,
The Board Members of Doing Good Well
Vik Dewan, Scott Fisher, Gavin Kerr and Mike Wang