An evolution of inspiration is happening in corporate philanthropy. As head of corporate philanthropy at Delta Dental, I’m excited to see organizations like mine grow from good corporate neighbors to leveraging our resources for radical, systemic change. Impact-oriented corporate philanthropy has been shaped by changes in the world around us…

The alarming state of oral health in the U.S. for adults aged 65 and older was revealed in a recent major report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges updates the agency’s groundbreaking research documented over 20 years ago. In that report, then-Secretary…

If you want to amplify the impact of your community investment, helping your nonprofit partners build capacity is one of the most effective paths toward real change. As head of our foundation and social responsibility at Delta Dental of California, I’m working to explore how capacity building enhances our impact…

I’ve talked previously about how thinking like a venture capitalist can elevate your corporate giving from this kind of widely applied generosity to more focused, outcome-driven investment. Today, I want to talk about a venture capitalist concept called seed funding. When I first stepped into my role as head of…

How to Shift Corporate Philanthropy from ‘Nice-to-Have’ to Core Business Strategy Do you often run into the perception that social impact and philanthropy is a “nice-to-have” for an organization, but not really essential to the business? What if I told you there’s a shift in mindset you can promote that…

As we wrap up Healthy Aging Month, Sarah Chavarria and I spoke about the the new and exciting endeavor the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is taking on. SARAH: Why is our Foundation putting senior oral health care at the forefront? …

How social impact and corporate philanthropy leaders can make a lasting strategic impact by thinking like venture capitalists. Corporate Philanthropists and Venture Capitalists have more in common than you’d think. I often discuss my goals and approach to community investments with my good friend who’s a managing partner of a…

Last month, I had the opportunity to present at a Professional Businesswomen of California webinar where I talked about leading and supporting employees from diverse backgrounds, how I battle imposter syndrome and how we can send that elevator back down for the next generation of leaders. Most people have their…

By Kenzie Ferguson — When I entered the dental profession as a Mobile Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice, I had no idea what obstacles I would face. I had no idea about the needs for public health preventative dentistry. I had no idea of the disparities in dental healthcare. Life has been very…