You believe in the power of giving.

You have the resources to make a difference.

Yet the path to creating lasting change isn’t always clear.

Transform Your Philanthropic Vision into Meaningful Impact.

 

Where Impact Meets Intention

As families evolve in their philanthropic journey, common questions emerge:

  • How do we translate our values into meaningful action?
  • What strategies will create the greatest impact in our chosen areas?
  • How do we engage the next generation in our family’s legacy of giving?
  • Where do we begin to address the complex challenges in our communities?

 

Your Guide to Purposeful Philanthropy

At Essential Leadership, we partner with individuals and families to unlock their full potential for creating positive change. Through a thoughtfully designed journey of discovery and strategic planning, we help you move from aspiration to action.

 

Our Approach

We combine deep expertise in philanthropic governance and grantmaking with professional coaching to help you:

  • Align your giving with your core values and vision
  • Create effective family governance structures that honor all voices
  • Develop clear frameworks for impactful grantmaking
  • Design engaging learning experiences that bring family members together
  • Build sustainable systems for long-term philanthropic success

Why Essential Leadership

Amy Holdsman brings over two decades of experience in philanthropic advising, family dynamics, and strategic grantmaking. As a Professional Certified Coach and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, she guides families through the complex landscape of meaningful giving with both expertise and heart.

“After many decades of being directed by a dedicated but controlling leader, our foundation went through a generational transition, bringing on a new president and a group of “next generation” family members as trustees. This prompted a need to re-think everything – governance, values, grantmaking priorities, processes – the works! It felt quite daunting – where to begin? Amy helped us to clarify a set of steps to bring the group together to address these thorny questions and worked to ensure that all voices were heard and valued as we crafted the next iteration of the foundation. She brought a sense of calm, good humor and commitment to getting things done, all of which were essential in creating cohesion among a group that had never worked collectively before. Amy is a rare individual who brings together great organizational skills with true caring and empathy about the issues we seek to address. I’ve already recommended her to a few colleagues!”

— Executive, Family Foundation based in Baltimore

What Makes Us Unique

 

Essential Leadership goes beyond traditional consulting. We understand that family philanthropy requires careful attention to:

  • Family dynamics and relationships
  • Individual learning styles and interests
  • Legacy preservation and evolution
  • Cross-generational engagement
  • Collective decision-making

Every engagement is customized to your family’s specific needs, timeline, and goals. Whether you’re planning for succession, engaging the next generation, or refining your foundation’s focus, we create a structured yet flexible process to help you achieve your philanthropic aspirations.