6 days ago

Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Jodi A. Wolin
President & Founder, Inspired Philanthropy
Strategic Development Consultant Boston Public Art Triennial, Children’s Services of Roxbury, Victim Rights Law Center, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
Board Member & Co-Chair, Development Committee Buffalo Seminary
Advisory Board Member, Women’s Network Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

SDG Focus Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Changemaker in Strategic Philanthropy and Institutional Capacity-Building (United States)

For over three decades, Jodi A. Wolin has been a catalytic force in advancing philanthropy as a vehicle for systemic change, equity, and institutional trust. Her career — spanning leadership roles across Boston’s most respected nonprofits and her own advisory firm — has been defined by one constant the belief that strong institutions are built not merely on funding, but on purpose-driven culture, transparency, and shared accountability.

As President and Founder of Inspired Philanthropy, Jodi has reimagined how nonprofit organizations conceptualize and operationalize their missions. Through her strategic advisory work, she partners with boards, CEOs, and development leaders to design robust fundraising systems that not only meet financial goals but embed long-term sustainability. Her firm’s engagements have included an $18 million capital campaign for Children’s Services of Roxbury, a $15 million campaign to launch Boston’s inaugural Public Art Triennial (2025), and the first comprehensive fundraising framework for CACHE (Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange) — a pioneering cultural ecosystem initiative in Northwest Arkansas.

Her earlier executive leadership roles at Casa Myrna, Children’s Trust, Boston Harbor Now, Roca Inc., and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy reflect a professional journey grounded in advocacy, empowerment, and institution-building. In each, she demonstrated the transformative power of strategic philanthropy — increasing fundraising revenues by over 100% within two years while developing collaborative ecosystems between programs, communications, and operations.

Jodi’s success comes from her ability to cultivate a culture of philanthropy that embraces everyone — from senior management to grassroots teams — ensuring that generosity becomes both a shared value and an operational discipline. Her counsel has guided organizations through complex transitions, campaign launches, and institutional reorganizations, always anchored in data, empathy, and ethical leadership.

Beyond her consulting practice, Jodi is deeply embedded in advancing civic leadership and gender equity. Since 2014, she has served on the Women’s Advisory Board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, mentoring emerging female leaders in business and social impact. As Co-Chair of the Development Committee for her alma mater Buffalo Seminary, she helps strengthen alumni engagement and endowment growth, reinforcing the critical role of education in promoting inclusive leadership.

Her contributions have been widely recognized. In 2020, Jodi received the “Leading the Way” Award from the University of Massachusetts Center for Collaborative Leadership, honoring her exceptional character, ethical leadership, and enduring impact across the nonprofit sector.

Today, through Inspired Philanthropy, she continues to redefine the role of fundraisers as architects of trust — bridging donors, institutions, and communities to co-create impact that endures beyond campaigns. Her consulting engagements exemplify Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by fortifying nonprofit systems that deliver equitable access, institutional accountability, and community resilience.
Jodi’s philosophy is simple yet profound philanthropy is not about wealth redistribution — it is about power reconfiguration. By embedding trust, transparency, and shared ownership into organizational DNA, she ensures that every dollar raised amplifies justice, strengthens governance, and accelerates collective progress.

As a recipient of the Icons of Change International Award 2025, Jodi A. Wolin exemplifies the changemaker who transforms philanthropy into a strategic force for peace and institutional integrity — a visionary leader proving that when generosity is systematized and leadership is shared, strong institutions and just societies naturally follow.

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