Note from Caroline Murphy, Vice President of Advancement and Philanthropic Services: At this year’s Spring Inspiration Breakfast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Holly Fogle, Co-Founder of the Monarch Foundation, for a powerful conversation. What unfolded was not just a discussion about philanthropy. It was a call to rethink how we show up for one another.
It begins with what you already have
Holly’s story does not start with wealth. It starts in a small Appalachian town where neighbors relied on one another to get by.
She spoke about the “church” ladies who shaped her understanding of giving. When a family couldn’t afford a funeral, they stepped in. When the church needed a roof, they cooked, gathered, and worked until it was finished. No one had extra money, but everyone had something to contribute.
That lesson of abundance stayed with her. We belonged to each other.
In the room, you could feel that idea settle in. Meaningful giving doesn’t begin with a perfect plan. It begins with what you have and who is around you.
Giving evolves when you stay close
Holly’s path from a small Appalachian town to a leadership role at McKinsey and, eventually, to becoming a full-time philanthropist was not a straight line. It was shaped by questions, doubt, and a desire to do more than just succeed professionally.
Over time, her approach shifted from writing checks to building solutions alongside the people closest to the work.
That shift came from seeking and leaning into proximity.
She shared a moment that made that clear.
A young mother arrived at the door with a crying baby and a bottle filled with Coca-Cola.
It would have been easy to judge. Instead, Holly learned the truth. The mother had no access to formula and no safety net. She was doing the only thing she could to keep her baby alive.
You could feel the room pause there.
That moment didn’t just challenge assumptions; it changed how Holly understood the role of philanthropy. If people are already doing their best with what they have, then the work isn’t to control their choices but to stay close enough to understand them and respond differently.
Trust is where change begins
That belief is what led to The Bridge Project, a direct cash program supporting mothers and babies during the first 1,000 days of life.
The idea is simple. Give families cash and trust them to use it.in the best way they can support their family.
For many donors, that approach can feel unfamiliar. It asks you to release control. It asks you to believe that people know what is best for their own lives.
Every day, families are making impossible choices between food, diapers, and rent.
With direct cash, those choices begin to change. Mothers can breathe. They can plan. They can care for their children with dignity.
As Caroline reflected during the conversation, this isn’t just about outcomes. It’s about dignity. It’s about knowing someone believes in you.
Philanthropy is personal
For Holly, this work is not separate from daily life. It shapes how she parents, spends her time, and makes decisions.
She asks her children a simple question: What did you do today that was uncomfortable or inconvenient?
She is also intentional about how she models these values, while recognizing that her children may ultimately choose their own paths in philanthropy, and that’s okay.
Because the moments that change lives are rarely the easy ones. Meaningful giving asks something of us, our time, our attention, our willingness to act when it would be easier not to.
What matters most is not that the next generation mirrors our giving exactly, but that they carry forward a strong sense of responsibility for how they show up in the world.
This is where philanthropy becomes more than a transaction. It becomes a way of living.
There will be missteps
Not every effort succeeds. Holly openly discussed failed projects and missed opportunities. But she also made one thing clear: failure isn’t the end of the story.
Sometimes, the relationships built along the way lead to new ideas. Sometimes, what feels like a setback becomes a starting point for something better.
What matters is staying in the work.
A call to step forward.
Holly describes herself as an audacious dreamer, someone willing to imagine solutions at a scale that truly meets the need.
As the conversation drew to an end, Holly shared one piece of advice:
Take a step. Then take another.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to begin. And when you do, be bold. The resources, relationships, and influence you possess matter more than you realize.
Right here in our community, families are working every day to build stability, opportunity, and a better future for their children. Your support helps make that possible.
Take one step today and allow yourself to be an audacious dreamer about what’s possible.
Model what matters. Start where you are. And trust that your path may evolve and look different from others but still make a meaningful difference.y.
Together, we can move this work forward, one step, one relationship, one act of generosity at a time.
Inspired to take your next step in philanthropy?
If something you heard sparked an idea or opened a door to more possibilities, we’d love to connect. Whether you’re exploring your first step in giving or looking to deepen your impact through a Donor Advised Fund or other opportunities, our team is here to support you. Reach out anytime, we’re happy to help you turn inspiration into action. Contact Caroline Murphy at [email protected]
Featured Photo Credit: Jenna Joyce
