SPEAKING

Derrick Feldmann is an internationally recognized researcher and strategic advisor speaking at the intersection of philanthropy, public engagement, and research.

His presentations equip foundations, family offices, corporations, and institutions with the evidence and strategic frameworks needed to navigate complex social change.

Below are Derrick’s core speaking themes.

Social Movements, Civic Participation, and Systems Change

FOCUS

Understanding the cultural and behavioral forces that spark movements and sustain engagement.

AUDIENCES

Advocacy leaders, foundations, civic institutions, campaign strategists.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The conditions that mobilize public action

  • Generational and cultural shifts influencing engagement

  • How institutions can responsibly support movement growth

  • Sustaining engagement beyond moments of crisis

The Future of Philanthropy and Public Trust

FOCUS

How shifting public expectations are redefining institutional legitimacy and impact.

AUDIENCES

Philanthropic leaders, corporate social impact teams, institutional boards.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • What research reveals about public trust in institutions

  • The reputational and strategic implications for funders

  • Communicating impact in polarized environments

  • Building durable legitimacy through transparency and evidence

Philanthropy as Risk Capital

FOCUS

How philanthropic capital can be deployed as true risk capital to accelerate innovation, field-building, and systems change.

AUDIENCES

Foundations, family offices, donor collaboratives, philanthropic advisors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The difference between charitable giving and risk-oriented philanthropy

  • Building a “philanthropy stack” across safe, catalytic, and experimental capital

  • Funding research, narrative infrastructure, and early-stage innovation

  • Aligning capital with long-term systems outcomes

Communications as a Strategic Lever

FOCUS

Moving beyond messaging to position communications as infrastructure for change.

AUDIENCES

Funders, nonprofit executives, communications leaders, corporate partners.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • How communications shapes knowledge, attitudes, and behavior

  • Integrating research and narrative strategy

  • Case studies from national public education campaigns

  • Investing in communications capacity as a long-term asset

Research That Drives Strategy and Capital

FOCUS

Designing research that informs investment, campaign design, and institutional decision-making.

AUDIENCES

Research leaders, strategy officers, philanthropic institutions, public campaign teams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Applying knowledge, attitudes, behavior frameworks to guide funding

  • Translating complex data into executive-level strategy

  • Avoiding performative research

  • Measuring what truly drives change