Judy Faulkner, the CEO of Epic Systems, has committed to giving away the majority of her wealth through her family foundation, Roots & Wings. Led by her daughter Shana Dall’Osto, Roots & Wings will be granting around $100 million to hundreds of nonprofits each year, focusing on the health, education, and wellbeing of children and their families. The foundation operates on the principle of trust-based philanthropy, giving unrestricted funds to organizations and allowing them to make decisions on how best to use the money.
Roots & Wings has already given away $200 million to 320 different organizations over the past five years. Dall’Osto, who has a background in nonprofit management, believes in giving nonprofits the autonomy to decide how to use the funds, as she saw firsthand the challenges faced by organizations when funding is restricted to specific programs and cannot be used for overhead costs. By providing flexible funding, Roots & Wings aims to support organizations in a way that allows them to grow and thrive.
The foundation’s approach to philanthropy has garnered praise from recipients like Ruth Schmidt, executive director of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, who received a grant that increased from $50,000 to $2 million, providing her organization with much-needed resources and flexibility. By empowering nonprofits to address their own needs and challenges, Roots & Wings is making a significant impact in communities across the country.
Roots & Wings was established in 2019 as a way for Faulkner to formalize her philanthropic efforts and give back to causes she believes in. The foundation operates with a lean staff and prioritizes listening to the needs of the community. While some critics have raised concerns about the lack of strategy and accountability in trust-based philanthropy, Leslie Huber of Way Forward Resources, a nonprofit in Wisconsin, stated that the relationship-focused approach of Roots & Wings ensures that accountability remains a priority.
As Roots & Wings continues to grow and increase its grant-making, Dall’Osto hopes that more funders will adopt a similar model that empowers nonprofits to make decisions about how to best use their funds. By trusting organizations to do good work and make an impact, Roots & Wings is setting an example for philanthropy that prioritizes community needs and collaboration. Faulkner’s commitment to giving back through Roots & Wings ensures that her legacy of generosity will continue to make a difference for years to come.
