Building the conditions young people need to thrive.
I partner with foundations and nonprofits to connect ideas and strategies, develop high-impact partnerships, and advise on approaches to investing in young people’s well-being.
Six ways I help foundations and nonprofits do their best work.
Grantmaking Strategy
Designing equitable funding strategies that share power with grantees, address structural inequities, and respond to field and organizational needs.
Funder Collaboration
Convening and aligning foundations around shared goals for greater collective impact.
Thought Partnership
Advising leaders through strategy, ambiguity, and the decisions that shape long-term direction.
Youth Development
Building field capacity to create programs, policies, and systems that center young people and support their well-being.
Communities of Practice
Designing and fostering spaces where funders and/or field leaders learn together and sharpen their craft.
Network Weaving
Connecting people and organizations for strategic impact, deepening partnerships, and fostering more collaborative communities.
Rebecca Goldberg
I’m passionate about creating opportunities for young people to lead and thrive — which means addressing structural barriers and leveraging existing and untapped opportunities to invest in young people’s well-being.
I spent seven years in philanthropy leading a national youth-development strategy as part of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation spend-down. That work surfaced how essential organizational capacity, data-informed decisions, and addressing field-wide inequities are — especially when organizations are navigating uncertainty. I previously led nonprofit initiatives focused on creating equitable learning environments through youth-development and career-pathway programs.
I believe the best work happens through collaboration, trust, and strong relationships — whether you’re working directly with young people, with schools and nonprofits, or with philanthropy.
Past & current clients.
A selection of foundations, intermediaries, and field-building organizations I’ve had the privilege of working with.
In their words.
Rebecca has been a critical advisor for Playworks, particularly through exceptional thought partnership and strategic guidance focused on positioning our work within the youth development field. She has offered insight and a critical eye for public-facing materials, directly strengthening our ability to engage potential funding partners and broaden our reach. Rebecca's collaborative approach and deep commitment to building the conditions young people need to thrive make her an invaluable partner for any organization looking to deepen its impact.
Rebecca is the colleague you want in your corner: a strategist who sees the implications of decisions and spots what—or who—is missing. She brings a broad, deep understanding of philanthropy and youth development, and she is consistently dependable and collaborative. Most importantly, she is a trusted critical friend who speaks candidly in service of better outcomes for the project, the field, and ultimately, young people.
Rebecca is an exceptional leader, collaborator, and partnership builder. She thoughtfully navigates diverse perspectives and aligns stakeholders around a shared vision and common goals. Rebecca is professional, highly organized, and an authentic communicator who builds trust across teams and organizations. Her strategic thinking, coupled with her ability to foster collaboration, enables her to move complex initiatives forward effectively. I highly recommend her leadership and strategic guidance to other organizations and initiatives, particularly those seeking to unite diverse partners around a shared purpose.
Writing & contributions.
Selected articles, chapters, and reports in philanthropy, social-emotional learning, and youth development.
Ready to partner?
Tell me about the work you’re doing and where I might fit in.