Stand Together Foundation’s Executive Director Evan Feinberg: Drive Inclusion and Belonging Through Empowerment Approach

  1. Newsroom

Stand Together Foundation’s Executive Director Evan Feinberg: Drive Inclusion and Belonging Through Empowerment Approach

Feinberg joined other philanthropic leaders at the inaugural Visionaries Summit hosted by the Aspen Institute and Society for Human Resource Management Executive Network.
October 19, 2021

This piece was previously published on the Stand Together Foundation website.

Washington, D.C., OCTOBER 19, 2021 — Increasing belonging in society starts by recognizing the untapped potential in all people to contribute; Stand Together Foundation Executive Director Evan Feinberg delivered that message to business and nonprofit leaders who attended this week's inaugural Visionaries Summit event hosted by the Aspen Institute and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Executive Network.  

The summit focused on how leadership impacts belonging in six critical areas: education, workplace, economics, philanthropy, governance, and culture. As part of a panel discussion entitled, "The Philanthropic Sector's Role in Incentivizing Belonging in Civil Society," Feinberg emphasized the need for a paradigm shift when it comes to thinking about the best ways to promote inclusion.  

"Belonging starts with strong communities that believe every person has unique gifts and talents to contribute. This requires a culture that respects and empowers others," Feinberg said. "There are no quick-fixes to build an empowerment culture It can't be done by executive decree, but leaders can and must hold themselves accountable for promoting bottom-up change in our communities."   

"Too often, we accept good intentions and top-down strategies to try to will our way to a more inclusive society," Feinberg continued. "But the only proven way to promote belonging is to satisfy the basic human desire to be needed. Each of us—including those of us in the philanthropic community—have a role to play in building communities that believe in each person and help them realize their full potential." 

 Joining Feinberg on the panel were Darrell Booker of Microsoft Philanthropies, Najma Roberts of the Democracy Fund, and Carol Stern of the Walton Family Foundation.   

For years, Stand Together Foundation has driven a more inclusive and opportunity-rich society through its support of organizations that empower people to reach their true potential. Partnerships with community-based organizations like The Phoenix, Café Momentum, and Mobile Loaves and Fishes are helping solve some of the most pressing challenges we face — from addiction to employment and re-entry following incarceration, and homelessness. More than 200 such partners are members of Stand Together Foundation's Catalyst program which is aimed at scaling bottom-up solutions to help people improve their lives.  

### 

About Stand Together Foundation 

Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed $100 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives out of poverty. Learn more at StandTogetherFoundation.org. Media Contact: Ashleigh Wayland, [email protected] 
© 2025 Stand Together. All rights reserved. Stand Together and the Stand Together logo are trademarks and service marks of Stand Together. Terms like “we,” “our,” and “us,” as well as “Stand Together,” and “the Stand Together community,” are used here for the sake of convenience. While the individuals and organizations to which those terms may refer share and work toward a common vision—including, but not limited to, Stand Together Foundation, Stand Together, Charles Koch Foundation, Stand Together Trust, Stand Together Fellowships, and Americans for Prosperity—each engages only in those activities that are consistent with its nonprofit status.