Lily Messing: Leadership in Philanthropic Organizations

I discovered Lily by researching philanthropic giving circles, and I loved her story about how she was inspired to not only help the world, but lead others in doing so. As someone who wants to have the same ripple effect on the world, I admire the way Lily has used her organization to connect with people all around the world. I had no clue that 100+ Teens made its way to other continents, and I enjoyed talking through the logistics of scaling her group. A central theme for Lily was personal relationships, and she underscored the importance of knowing every group leader and keeping in touch. This is significant because she not only created something that would help others through philanthropy, but she also strives to help shape and grow other leaders every day as well. Leadership is truly all about helping people reach their potential and find their path; this is something that Lily truly exemplifies.

I want to one day build a community around a personal project, which is what I am essentially doing with Capital Compassion. Connecting with people like Lily has been the most rewarding part because I learn from a perspective that is usually not pushed in today’s media. We had simple conversations about things like talking to her members over the phone and how special that can be. Philanthropy is the love of humankind, and Lily reminded me to stay focused on the reason that you created something. Even though so much has changed in the past years for 100+ Teens Who Care, Lily stays concerned with her initial goal of building a lasting legacy and creating lasting change in her communities.

Listen to Lily's episode here.