OUR STORY
Eve and Lauren founded their consultancy in 2009 after working with numerous families and realizing that philanthropic families and foundations were interested in hiring small-firm consultants who would provide exceptional attention, customization, and professionalism.
With a small cadre of loyal clients, Eve and Lauren grew their business into thriving consultancy that focuses on helping philanthropists answer the question: “How will the world be different in five years because of the efforts we have made and how can I reach that goal while being true to my interests and morals?”
To date, Eve and Lauren have advised over 60 philanthropic families, so their experience is broad ranging in all areas of essential philanthropic work, namely: board and family relationships, grant strategy and diligence, and grantmaking/foundation operations.
Deep Experience in Law and NonprofitsPhilanthropy Advisory Group (“PAG”) differs from other philanthropic consultancies because Eve and Lauren are legally trained and bring expert negotiation and contract skills to the table. PAG considers the risks of each strategic grant and implements protections and realistic expectations for the parties involved. PAG is also thoughtful about IRS compliance and governance, so their clients stay protected.
Shared Perspective on Serving Funders
When Eve and Lauren met at Harvard Law School, they realized they had a shared interest in service careers that would allow for disruptive change. Through many years of developing their skills and expertise, they found this professional challenge in working with funders whose passion to shepherd their charitable funds required expert support and guidance. Eve and Lauren also realized their unique perspective in the field of philanthropic advising because of their legal and nonprofit backgrounds. Although not currently practicing law, their backgrounds equip them to help their clients establish and operate healthy foundations, negotiate effective grants, and ensure that their philanthropy fulfills their goals under the stewardship of future generations.
Ultimately, PAG’s philosophy stems directly from Lauren’s and Eve’s desire to offer a high-touch service for their clients—they approach each client with a goal of ensuring that he or she finds the reward and joy that comes from the privilege of philanthropy. And it is PAG’s privilege to serve our clients.
Our Team
PRINCIPAL
Lauren
Hammer Breslow
J.D., M.P.H.
Principal, Philanthropy Advisory Group
New York
Lauren consults to philanthropists and foundations on mission, grants strategy, grants management, operations, compliance, board governance, and succession planning. She specializes in developing strategic grant programs and negotiating strategic grants for donors. She also has extensive experience overseeing long-term grants and grant strategies. Lauren has nonprofit and grants experience in health & medicine, child welfare, education, housing, immigration, and international giving.
Before founding Philanthropic Advisory Group, Lauren consulted to an exclusive network of high-net worth philanthropists. In that role, she advised dozens of funders on matters ranging from the choice of philanthropic vehicle to how to resurrect failing grants and grant strategies.
Previously, Lauren was the Associate Director for the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, a foundation based in New York City, which provides medical research and student education grants in the field of pediatric mental health. Her prior work includes serving as Assistant General Counsel for the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, an associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP and a law clerk to the Honorable Barbara S. Jones of the Southern District of New York. She also proudly served for five years as a board member of Advocates for Children of New York, an organization that helps disadvantaged children succeed in New York City public schools.
Lauren earned a B.A. in government from Harvard College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She received a J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School. Later, she earned her Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health as a Zuckerman Fellow, and was there awarded the Gareth Green Award for Excellence in Public Health Practice.
Eve consults to philanthropists and private foundations on board governance and operations as well as succession planning. She has particular expertise in advising family foundations on effective decision-making and operations. She also provides technical advice on foundation mission, grants strategy, grants management, operations, and legal compliance. Eve has nonprofit and grantmaking experience in the arts, child welfare, education, medical research, and international giving.
Before founding Philanthropy Advisory Group, Eve consulted to an exclusive network of high-net worth strategic philanthropists. In that role, she advised dozens of funders on matters ranging from donor intent strategies to effective family foundation governance and next generation integration. Eve also served as Vice President at the J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she was a philanthropic advisor and program officer in the Philanthropic Services Group, which advises private bank clients on all aspects of their philanthropic giving and manages grantmaking activities on behalf of over 60 foundations with average annual giving of $100 million. She previously served as director of external affairs and operations at Advocates for Children of New York, an education policy, research and direct service organization that helps disadvantaged children succeed in New York City public schools. Eve also served as a corporate attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
Eve received her B.A. summa cum laude in economics and anthropology from the University of Michigan and her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School. Eve is admitted to the New York and California Bars and a member of the exclusive National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers.
PRINCIPAL
Eve M. Rodsky
J.D.,
Principal, Philanthropy Advisory Group
Los Angeles
PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR
Bree
Peterson Cohn
M.P.A.
Philanthropic Advisor, Philanthropy Advisory Group New York
Bree specializes in foundation operations and policies, grants strategy, grants management, and due diligence. She has worked with more than 20 foundations and philanthropic families.
Prior to working in philanthropic advising, Bree was Development Coordinator at The White House Project, a nonprofit that aims to advance women in business, politics, and media. In that role, she developed programming for the Corporate Council, an exclusive group of senior executives working to advance women’s leadership in their companies. She previously worked as the program associate for a New York City-based family foundation, where she managed all aspects of the grantmaking process for a diverse portfolio of issues such as the environment, human rights, economic development, and poverty prevention. Bree also participated in The Fund for New Citizens Collaborative at the New York Community Trust that oversees grants to community-based organizations working on immigration issues. She is an advisory committee member and volunteer tutor at Two Together, a tutoring program for underserved children. Prior to working in philanthropy, Bree was a Teach for America corps member in the South Bronx.
Bree received her Masters in Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at NYU, where she studied International Policy and Management and was published in The Wagner Review academic journal. While at Wagner, Bree spent a summer in Ghana as a consultant to an NGO on its public health program and led a research project on the environment’s impact on human security for the Congressional Research Service. She earned a B.A. in Political Science and Communication at the University of Southern California.