From Inheritance to Intention: Julie Goldstein on Evolving a Family Foundation

In a world filled with depleting headlines, I find myself hunting for stories that remind us of our power to create change. That's why I loved sitting down with Julie Goldstein, Executive Director of the Swaha Foundation, for our latest Hopeful Pioneers episode.

Julie didn't choose philanthropy—it chose her. Growing up in a family where giving was simply part of life, she inherited both resources and responsibility when her father passed away at 67.

"I wasn't the contributor to the foundations like my parents were," Julie shared. "I felt this huge responsibility to continue what mattered to them, even though I never set out to be in this role. It just happened."

What struck me was how beautifully Julie balances honoring legacy while embracing new ways of showing up in the world. Even the name of her foundation—Swaha, meaning "all that is" in Sanskrit—reflects her view of philanthropy as an offering that appeared in her life and that she, in turn, gets to give to the world.

Like many foundation leaders, Julie is reimagining impact. While foundations are legally required to distribute 5% of their endowment annually, that leaves 95% typically sitting in investments. Julie has intentionally aligned those investment dollars with her philanthropic priorities across education, climate, and human rights.

"I'm no longer comfortable just thinking about deploying capital in the nonprofit world," she told me. "Our only chance at making real change is deploying more and more capital into these [investment] spaces."

This approach allows Swaha to address issues systemically—for example, investing in affordable housing while giving to educational nonprofits creates a more comprehensive approach to tackling interconnected challenges.

I loved our conversation about intergenerational work. Julie's parents brought her into philanthropic decisions early, and now she's navigating similar waters with her child, Ash, who brings unique perspectives as a person of color and member of the LGBTQ community.

"When you have the next generation of giving coming up that's very sensitive to marginalized populations, while also being in a space of privilege, there are complexities," Julie reflected.

Rather than clinging to the past, Julie sees herself at a point where it's time to "step aside a little bit" and trust what's emerging in the next generation. This willingness to listen and adapt feels refreshing in a world that often prioritizes personal wealth over collective stewardship.

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