Episode 62: Long-Term Stewardship Within Family Enterprise Kelly Pollock and Betsy Cohen

Kelly Pollock, CEO of the Burgess Family Foundation, and Betsy Cohen, philanthropic futurist and founder of FutureGood, join R. Adam Smith for a wide-ranging conversation on strategic philanthropy, community impact, and the evolving role of family enterprise in shaping long-term social change. Drawing on decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, trust banking, and futurism, Kelly and Betsy explore how family foundations can deepen community relationships, navigate generational transitions, and move from transactional giving to sustained impact. The conversation also touches on AI's emerging role in the nonprofit sector, the diverging philanthropic priorities of G1 and G2, and what it means to be a builder — not just a buyer — in your community.

00:00 Welcome, Introductions & Guest Backgrounds
02:01 The Burgess Family Foundation: Mission and Structure
03:04 FutureGood: Philanthropic Futurism Explained
04:19 Kelly's Path from COCA to Family Foundation CEO
06:07 Betsy's Journey from Corporate Futurist to Philanthropic Advisor
08:10 Translating Family Passion into Strategic Philanthropic Investment
10:31 St. Louis Philanthropy: Depth of Community and Collaboration
12:11 Collaborative Funding Initiatives Across the Region
15:51 FutureProof: Bringing Nonprofits Together for Shared Planning
16:35 Next Gen Engagement Inside the Burgess Family Foundation
18:29 G1 vs. G2 Philanthropic Priorities and the Generational Shift
20:53 Scale of Family Office Philanthropy: Data and Trends
24:50 Unlocking Capital Beyond Grant Making
26:37 Innovation, Risk Capital, and Scenario Planning in Philanthropy
29:02 AI's Impact on Nonprofits and Family Foundations
31:09 Next Gen Leadership and Being a Student of the Work
35:07 Closing Reflections: Buyers vs. Builders