The Power of Connections: Reflections on 2024

As we look back on 2024, one theme stands out as central to everything we do: the power of connections. At the Greenbridge Family Foundation, we’ve always believed in the immense impact that deep, meaningful connections can have on furthering shared goals, driving innovation, and, ultimately, making the world a better place.

From the beginning, we’ve also been committed to running a lean organization—one focused on efficiency and maximizing impact. This approach has been a cornerstone of our work, but we know that staying lean while pursuing ambitious goals means we can’t do it alone. That’s why we prioritize building relationships with like-minded philanthropists, subject matter experts, and communities. These partnerships enable us to work thoughtfully, knowledgeably, efficiently, and—most importantly—impactfully.

This year, we’ve been fortunate to deepen our engagement with incredible communities and networks that have enriched our work and inspired us to think bigger and act smarter. Below, we’re thrilled to share three key highlights from 2024 that exemplify the transformative power of connection.

1. P150: A Community of learning and celebration

We are proud to be part of P150, a vibrant community of philanthropy advisors and changemakers. This year, Kim’s ongoing engagement with P150 has been a particular highlight for us. Through this group, we’ve been able to connect with subject matter experts in areas like criminal justice, mental health, and the American education system, gaining valuable insights that inform and enhance our work.

P150 has also provided us with opportunities to learn about and share best practices for achieving the shared goal of moving more money, more effectively, through stronger operational systems and processes. These insights have been invaluable as we continue to reflect on how we can refine and improve our own practices.

Finally, P150 has allowed us to celebrate the incredible organizations we support while introducing us to new ones to consider for future funding. These moments of learning, sharing, and celebration remind us of the vital role of communities like P150 in helping us achieve our mission.

2. One for Justice: Learning and witnessing together

We are newer members of the One for Justice community, but it has quickly become a meaningful part of our journey. Kim attended their 2024 conference and shared her reflections on this powerful experience in this blog post. Both Kim and Jason are excited to attend the 2025 conference as we deepen our engagement with this network.

One for Justice has given us a unique opportunity to learn more about the criminal justice reform movement, engage with leaders driving change, and hear directly from those with lived and proximate experiences. From the site visits to the access to remarkable movement leaders, this community has been instrumental in shaping our approach to criminal justice innovation. You can learn more about the organizations we’re supporting in this space here.

3. Greenbridge Capital Summit: Building Community, Sharing and Inspiring

In 2024, we embraced a fresh approach to connection by gathering an amazing group of Greenbridge emerging venture managers (see list). We came together for an incredible day and a half in midtown Manhattan in New York to build connection, share lessons learned and inspire one other. We had some amazing speakers such as the Founder and Managing Partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, the iconic Russ Carson, the amazing Kim Lew, CEO and CIO of the Columbia University Endowment, and Jason Wang, Founder and CEO of Freeworld, one of our incredible impact partners. Jeff Harbach was a masterful MC and Kim Plewes led the planning and organization of the entire amazing event. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we hope to do similar events in the future.

As we step into 2025, we do so with deep gratitude for the people and communities we’ve had the privilege to engage with this year. These connections remind us that we are part of something much bigger—an ever-growing network of individuals and organizations united by a shared vision for a brighter, more equitable future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here’s to continuing to learn, grow, and connect in the year ahead.