Bricklayers and Cathedral-Builders: Reflections from FOTH25
Bricklayers and Cathedral-Builders: Reflections from FOTH25
This is a reflection by David Clubb, Executive Director of the Cranwell Family Foundation (CFF), after he represented CFF at the Foundations on the Hill (FOTH25) in Washington, DC, February 23-26, 2025. This reflection was also published on the Virginia Funders Network (VFN) blog (see "Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) – 2025 Recap") and featured in their March 2025 Newsletter.
[NOTE: FOTH brings together foundation leaders from across the country to meet with Members of Congress and staff about key issues of importance to foundations and philanthropy. This year's event was particularly timely considering the many changes the current administration is making that have a significant impact on the philanthropic sector, including some of our work through CFF. The agenda was packed full of opportunities to connect with colleagues and to systematically raise our voices to our representatives and agency leaders who oversee areas of interest to the philanthropic sector in general and to CFF in particular. During our Virginia delegation's meetings with people on the Hill, including Senator Warner, Senator Kaine, and Representative Griffith, we discussed the work of foundations, the vital role of charitable giving, its inextricable link to thriving communities, and its impact in the state of Virginia. The delegation from Virginia was led by Robin Mockenhaupt, Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Virginia Funders Network (VFN), which CFF is a member of.]
John Dewey, an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer, said it best: “We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.” The experience provides the raw material for learning, but it's through reflection that we gain understanding and growth.
As I reflect on my experience at the 22nd Annual Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), February 23-26, it was an invaluable opportunity to connect and network with peers from across the country, especially those in the Virginia delegation, as we collectively engaged with federal legislators and their staff to advocate for the value of the philanthropic sector. These interactions fostered the exchange of ideas and strategies, enlarging our elected officials’ perspectives and enriching our collective approach to philanthropy in Virginia and across the nation. It was an honor to be part of this effort to unite the philanthropic sector and bring our message to Capitol Hill.
But my experience at FOTH25 was also much more than all of that. It was an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day “what” of my work at the Cranwell Family Foundation, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, and to step into the “why” at a deeper level, as I was inspired by colleagues from across the country and the impact of their foundations locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. FOTH25 did nothing to dispel the difficulties we are facing as a sector. These are, indeed, challenging times. And the daily work can make us feel weary and worn down, as the need is so great. But my time at FOTH25 did not drive me to despair; it called me to more carefully consider the broader context and the bigger picture. I was reminded of the story of the three bricklayers:
One day a man happened upon three bricklayers who were busy at work.
He asked the first bricklayer, “What are you doing?”
The first man answered gruffly, “I’m laying bricks.”
The man asked the second bricklayer the same question.
“I’m putting up a wall” was the reply.
The passerby then posed the question to the third bricklayer.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
With enthusiasm and pride, the third man responded,
“I’m building a magnificent cathedral.”
I came away from FOTH25 with a renewed vision for the “cathedral” the Cranwell Family Foundation is building and for the collective “cathedral” the entire philanthropic sector is building through our amazing work in diverse ways and diverse contexts. I came away seeing myself and others not merely as bricklayers, but as cathedral-builders. Let’s keep building our “magnificent cathedrals!”