Peter Karoff (1937-2017)
Chairman and Founder, The Philanthropic Initiative

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Peter Karoff was the founder of The Philanthropic Initiative, a nonprofit philanthropic advisory firm that designs transformative giving solutions at the local, national and global level. As an expert in charitable grant making, Karoff served on the board of more than 30 non-profit organizations and foundations, including Blackside Productions, producer of the PBS series “The Eyes on the Prize.”

Prior to founding The Philanthropic Initiative, Karoff was in insurance and real estate for more than 25 years. He also served on the boards of directors of the Robina Foundation, Ascent Private Capital Management and Big Picture Learning.

Karoff was the author of The World We Want – New Dimensions in Philanthropy and Social Change (AltaMira Press, 2007) and editor of Just Money – A Critique of Contemporary American Philanthropy (TPI Editions, 2004.) An accomplished poet—his book of poems Parable will be published by Robert Alter Brooks in early 2017
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Karoff earned his degrees from Brandeis University and Columbia University, and received an honorary degree from Lesley University in 2002. He was named a fellow of the McDowell Colony and a Purpose Prize Fellow.