First Day Podcast

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. welcomes Alyssia Coates, Ph.D., Senior Director of Development Inclusive Philanthropic Engagement at Brown University, to discuss the concept of "inclusive philanthropic engagement." Dr. Coates shares her role in expanding Brown’s donor base by focusing on inclusion and diversity, not only as a moral imperative but also as a path to more effective fundraising. Inclusive philanthropy, she explains, aims to authentically welcome individuals from all backgrounds and to create multiple avenues for their engagement and contributions, aligning these efforts closely with Brown’s mission to support underrepresented groups. Dr. Coates describes the foundational approach she and her team took in making inclusion a core part of their donor engagement strategy. A crucial first step was aligning the mission of inclusive giving with the university’s core values, like those in its Diversity and Inclusion Plan. She emphasizes the importance of represe