...where ideas have no boundaries

Duncannon Philanthropic Advisors (DPA) is an established practice area within The Duncannon Group LLC. Our practice leader and principal, Carol O’Donnell, has more than 16 years of experience in philanthropy including managing private foundations and donor advised funds. As Associate CEO of the Connecticut Community Foundation (CCF), Ms. O’Donnell designed and directed the grantmaking and community services of the $70 million foundation serving Waterbury and 20 other communities. In this capacity, she directed the CCF’s Nonprofit Assistance Initiative which provides technical assistance and capacity building services to nonprofits. Under her leadership, CCF evolved from a typical passive responsive funder to a dynamic, community change agent designing proactive grant initiatives in full partnership with area nonprofits, community leaders and residents. These initiatives included a wide range of needs and opportunities including after school programs, early childhood literacy, community wide youth planning, nonprofit mergers and seniors.

Currently, DPA is providing strategic and management services to private foundations serving Greater Waterbury, CT.  DPA is responsible for strategic planning, design and implementation of grant initiatives, board governance and grant monitoring and distributions



DPA’s qualifications and strategic approach align very closely to that of the Private or Family Foundation seeking consultant services.These include:

• Experience in researching and designing proactive community initiatives
• Commitment to the strategic use of data to inform project design and support the cycle of intentional learning
• Institutional commitment to working with the community and its nonprofits in the design, implementation and restructuring of projects to insure success and sustainability
• Experience working at the federal, state and local level in formulating policy to achieve real systems change
• Solid knowledge and extensive professional network in fields of early childhood education, education and youth development