About

The Knowledge Practice Exchange (KPE) is made up of philanthropy professionals who are engaging in knowledge activity and strategy in ways that are both mission-aligned and driven by desires for equitable change. 

We are focused on shared meaning making as the essence of knowledge work. We acknowledge that knowledge work in philanthropy happens across many titles, roles and spaces and we seek to gather across any existing organizational or sector siloes. We believe that there is much to be learned from outside the philanthropic sector and also recognize that there are unique needs and power dynamics that happen to philanthropically connected knowledge work. We understand knowledge work as embodied and prioritize discussions that surface the importance of practice and lived experience. 

Our intention is that KPE becomes a place for sharing, curating resources, developing collaborative action, strengthening our practice and building this emerging field together. We expect ideas to bubble up here and then spread across individuals,  organizations, and membership groups, so that a more equitable knowledge practice is infused throughout the sector.

KPE Facilitator: Angela K. Frusciante, PhD,

Dr. Frusciante is the director of Knowledge Designs to Change, a research and strategy practice that supports philanthropy professionals and organizations. As a socio-political scholar and engaged researcher, Angela brings 30 years of experience working in social science inquiry within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. She is a vetted member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers, an alumna of the Council on Foundations Career Pathways program, a long-term scholar contributor to The Foundation Review, and founding co-editor of the Journal of Collaboration for Equitable Change. 

Along with her work within community, nonprofit, academic and philanthropic contexts, Angela was one of the first people to hold a “knowledge development officer” title within a grantmaking foundation. In this role, she created and managed grant and research investments related to information access, organizational learning, management systems, program support, evaluation and network learning.  She established a family foundation’s statewide university partnerships and initiated an emerging network of engaged scholars. She continues these relationships as Chair of the Philanthropic Intersections node of the national Urban Research Based Action Network.

Angela believes in the power of the social sector to influence change and has an enduring curiosity for how people activate equity through shared meaning making. Angela is committed to working with philanthropy colleagues who take on the important analytic work that connects funders, grantees, and communities to each other and to social change efforts.