Family Philanthropy and Big Business
with Arthur Blank and Fay Twersky
Home Depot co-founder and owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United teams, Arthur Blank joins episode seven of season 3 of the Giving Done Right podcast, alongside President and Director of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Fay Twersky. Arthur and Fay discuss the values-driven approach of the Blank Family Foundation with hosts Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette. Arthur also shares insight into how he and his family take a collaborative approach to decision-making within the foundation and how he identified the right leader in Fay to lead the work forward. Fay speaks to finding fit and values-alignment when choosing to work with a family foundation, and both speak of the impact of their Jewish faith on their giving and vocations.
Guest Info:
Arthur Blank, perhaps best known as co-founder of The Home Depot, is now widely recognized for his diverse businesses. In addition to serving as chairman of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Arthur’s businesses include the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, the nationwide PGA TOUR Superstore, and three ranches in Montana.
In 2020, he released his book “Good Company,” a national best-seller, highlighting how the core values successfully used to build The Home Depot can be applied to varying businesses. In addition to the company’s financial success, Arthur is dedicated to giving back.
Named by ESPN as the 2021 Sports Philanthropist of the Year, he has also been distinguished by Forbes as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds 2017, Sports Business Journal’s Executive of the Year 2018, and Sports Business Journal’s one of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports 2016, 2017, and 2018.
A native of Queens, N.Y., Arthur resides in Atlanta, Georgia and has six children and six grandchildren.
Fay Twersky is president and director of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and a trusted, values-aligned leader working with the Blank family to define areas of giving and direct philanthropic resources in service of a better world. Fay also serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the Blank Family of Businesses.
Fay joined the Blank Family Foundation in February 2021 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in Menlo Park, California, where she served as Vice President. Fay is a frequent author and commentator on trends in philanthropy and also serves on the board of The Center for Effective Philanthropy and the Van Leer Group. She is the board chair for the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and serves on the Executive Committee for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
Since 1995, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has granted more than $800 million, and will significantly accelerate the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years in its new collective areas of giving, which include Youth Development, Democracy, and Environment. The foundation also leads giving programs for each of the for-profit businesses in Blank’s portfolio. The Foundation and Blank family businesses have also donated nearly $7 million to COVID-19 pandemic relief.
Credits:
Executive Producer: Sarah Martin
Audio engineer: Kevin O’Connell
Additional editing: Isabel Hibbard
Music: “FasterFasterBrighter” and “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions
Artwork: Jay Kustka
Resources:
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
“Good Company” by Arthur Blank
YouthTruth Survey