Tag: Family Dynamics
Centering Humanity in Family Philanthropy with Sarah Hopper (Ep. 9)

Centering Humanity in Family Philanthropy with Sarah Hopper (Ep. 9)

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Philanthropy often starts with good intentions, but what happens when it loses its human touch?

Can families reclaim giving as a relationship-driven experience, not just a financial transaction? Can the next generation be raised to value connection just as much as contribution?

In this episode, Joline Godfrey speaks with Sarah Hopper, Founder & CEO of Sound Philanthropy, about reshaping the way families approach giving. They explore the shift from transactional charity to values-based generosity and the importance of building trust, relationships, and collaboration within families and communities.

Sarah discusses:

  • How Sound Philanthropy evolved from a solo venture into a team supporting families with meaningful giving strategies
  • The difference between charity and philanthropy, emphasizing humanity over transaction
  • Trust-based philanthropy, highlighting the value of unrestricted giving and eliminating administrative burdens
  • The challenge and necessity of teaching younger generations the value of trust, empathy, and real connection in giving
  • The growing need for collaboration among funders to address urgent issues more effectively and reduce siloed efforts
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Joline Godfrey:

Connect with Sarah Hopper:

About our Guest: 

Sarah Hopper is a philanthropic advisor who works with thoughtful, heart-driven, and visionary philanthropic leaders. Over the past decade, she has guided clients through more than $100 million in philanthropic giving, earning their trust and respect through her relational, values-based approach to philanthropy.

Since launching her own advisory practice after serving as Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Seattle Foundation, Sarah has built Sound Philanthropy. This relationship-centered business reflects her deep commitment to people, purpose, and equity. Her work is rooted in the belief that philanthropy is not just about giving, but about fostering meaningful relationships across generations, communities, and causes.

Sarah’s practice is equally grounded in humanity. Since 2020, she has deepened her focus on racial equity, recognizing philanthropy’s role in challenging systemic racism and redistributing resources in ways that restore dignity and agency. In 2022, she founded the Racial Equity Action Community (REAC), a cross-racial learning community of leaders and philanthropists dedicated to addressing justice through love, compassion, and transformative giving.

With a unique approach that combines the roles of sherpa and quarterback, Sarah meets clients where they are, helping them grow in awareness and action. The expansion of Sound Philanthropy in 2022, marked by the addition of Brynn Blanchard and enhanced operational infrastructure, reflects her evolving purpose and the continued strength of her vision.

When she isn’t leading with heart in the philanthropic space, Sarah is enjoying life with her three children, husband, and two dogs, and dreaming of her next post-pandemic travel adventure.

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Building Resilient and Connected Families: Lessons from Patric Brophy (Ep. 6)

Building Resilient and Connected Families: Lessons from Patric Brophy (Ep. 6)

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What does it mean to raise financially fit kids in today’s world?

Join Joline Godfrey and Patric Brophy, COO at Bounce-10, as they dive into the real-life challenges and rewards of guiding children toward financial literacy. Patric brings a refreshing perspective as a dad navigating the nuances of money conversations with his two daughters, aged 9 and 11. 

They explore key parenting tactics, like balancing direct involvement in financial education while allowing autonomy. Get insights on handling social media influences, creating frameworks for decision-making, and fostering a growth mindset in kids—topics every parent grapples with today.

Key Discussions:

  • The role of parental modeling in financial education
  • Differences in financial conversations with kids of various ages
  • The impact of social and time trade-offs on family dynamics
  • Preparing kids for technological and social challenges 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Joline Godfrey:

Connect with Patric Brophy:

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Financial Stressors in Kids and How to Handle Them with Jeff Savlov (Ep. 5)

Financial Stressors in Kids and How to Handle Them with Jeff Savlov (Ep. 5)

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Financial stress affects everyone, regardless of their economic standing. 

How can families address stressors from a young age? What is the role of communication and love within a family when facing financial challenges?

In this episode, Joline Godfrey sits down with Jeff Savlov, Founder of Blum & Savlov LLP, to explore the different categories of stressors that families face. They discuss how these stressors may affect family members, from young children to adults, and offer strategies for dealing with them. The conversation emphasizes the importance of open communication, understanding, and utilizing stress as a catalyst for growth.

Key discussions include:

  • Jeff’s family background and his journey from family business to being a family dynamics expert
  • Understanding existential stress and its impact on family systems
  • Strategies for discussing financial decisions with young children and involving them in family financial planning
  • Tackling self-inflicted financial stress and the importance of open communication in families
  • The role of parents in reducing adolescent stress and encouraging honest dialogue
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Joline Godfrey:

Connect with Jeff Savlov:

About our Guest: 

Jeff is the Founder of Blum & Savlov, LLP, and consults to business families, legacy wealth families and the advisors who serve them. He brings more than 30 years of unique experience in sales and marketing, business ownership, entrepreneurial endeavors and family dynamics/psychological training, along with a common-sense style, to his consulting work with families. By integrating his diverse business background, extensive academic work and family dynamics/psychological training with his experience working in his family’s commercial printing business, Jeff helps enterprising families to balance family and business/wealth so both will thrive for many generations.

Having participated in his family’s commercial printing business in New York City, Jeff understands firsthand the challenges of balancing the interplay between family and business and the devastation that can befall an otherwise healthy business when this balance is not proactively managed. In the business Jeff’s family owned, a consultant was brought in to work with the family, facilitated a successful reorganization of the business and helped rebuild family relationships. This is one of the primary experiences which motivated Jeff’s career in family business and family wealth consulting.

Jeff holds a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University with specializations in group dynamics and family systems theory. He has a post-graduate certification from the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of New Jersey (now the Center for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of NJ) where he is a member of the faculty.

Jeff received an Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising from the Family Firm Institute (FFI), Boston, MA where he is recognized with Fellow status. Through membership in FFI, an international organization comprised of family business and family wealth advisors, consultants, educators and researchers, Jeff has access to the latest trends, developments, best practices and research in family business and family wealth consulting. Jeff is the founder of the Princeton Family Business Consultants Group – an interdisciplinary group of professionals serving enterprising families across the U.S. and convening to develop best practices.

In addition, Jeff has consulted on relationship and team dynamics with Fortune 500 companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson and Schering Plough. He also devotes a portion of his time to performance enhancement with corporate executives and elite high school athletes.

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