Episode 4: A Conversation with Paul Ramsbottom

Sue and Paul discuss why the relationship between funders and their recipients must be considered a partnership toward shared goals, and that these institution to institution relationships depend on the involvement of academic leaders in order to realise the outcomes that the foundation and the institution are seeking to achieve. Mr. Ramsbottom underscored the need for professionalised advancement and development teams especially when as they interact with philanthropies and foundations. They discuss the changes taking place in how work gets accomplished, how the Wolfson Foundation has shifted its operations in the face of the pandemic, and why they continue to focus on their core mission instead of pivoting completely to funding for covid-19.