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Meet the Founder

Daniela Kaisth is a Philanthropy Advisor with 25+ years of experience launching, managing, and scaling large and impactful philanthropic programs.  She has raised over $100 million in philanthropic funds and administered over $1 billion in program funds focused on education, refugees, and social impact with the Institute of International Education (IIE) and Gratias Partners.  She has proven expertise in foundation management, donor advising, and non-profit capacity building to maximize social returns on philanthropic investments.  

Prior to Gratias Partners, Daniela was Vice President of External Affairs and IIE Initiatives at IIE, where she integrated the communications, development, and higher education partnerships teams and led IIE’s strategy and response in the area of Higher Education in Emergencies, launching the Scholar Rescue Fund and several other start-up programs and establishing the Institute as a major player in the field through pioneering innovations.  Daniela has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Carleton University, a Diploma in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.  She currently serves on the boards of SAIS, Princeton in Africa, EngageAsia, Ben’s Lighthouse, and R Capital Ventures.

Gratias Partners

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Daniela oversees Gratias Partners, a philanthropy advising firm that optimizes philanthropic giving and impact to tackle urgent social challenges.  We counsel donors to achieve social impact objectives by evaluating prospective grantees, educating donors on trends and best practices, developing strategic partnerships, designing communications campaigns, and incorporating high-impact philanthropy methodology to maximize social returns.  Gratias Partners provides Philanthropic Program Start Up and Implementation, Family Foundation Management, Donor Advising and Non-Profit Management Consulting.  

Past and current projects include:

  • Administer $8 million for a family foundation through grant-making, impact evaluation, and giving groups, leveraging cutting edge best practices.
  • Launch and implement new philanthropic programs, such as a 1+ million Euro public-private partnership in Germany to rescue threatened scholars.
  • Advise non-profits on growth strategies and management, including philanthropic culture and market entry. ​
  • Develop a funder collaborative in the Caribbean region to engage in high-impact philanthropy, improving beneficiary lives and building capacity among non-profits.
  • Advance innovation and thought leadership in the philanthropic sector by facilitating multi-sector dialogues and giving circles
  • Organize workshops and author thought-pieces on high-impact philanthropy involving refugee access to education and entrepreneurship.


Pro Bono Activities