Philanthropic strategy, fractional program leadership, and exits
I am Erin Sines and, through Enduring Good Advisors, I help individuals, families, and foundations plan their giving, lead their programs, and end them well.
I advise donors on their giving strategy, step in as a fractional program officer or director when a foundation needs senior leadership without a permanent hire, and guide spend-downs, wind-downs, and exits.
How I help
Plan your giving
Whether you are giving for the first time or rethinking a long-standing approach, I help you decide what you want your giving to achieve, where to focus, and how to get there. Together we set priorities, choose which organizations and approaches to fund, and build a plan you can act on.
I bring particular depth in international development; accountability, governance, and anti-corruption; and programs for women and girls. At the MacArthur Foundation, I also advised peer donors on international giving and on place-based giving, which concentrates funding in one country, region, or city.
Read: How we built attention to women and excluded groups into an anti-corruption strategy
Read: How we planned a time-limited initiative with its end in mind
End a program or a foundation well
Every program ends eventually. Ending well means deciding when and how to stop, telling partners early and honestly, protecting the work that should continue, and giving the organizations you fund the time and support to plan for what comes next.
I help foundations and families plan spend-downs (giving away all assets by a set date), wind down programs, and exit a field responsibly. I have done this as both a funder and a non-profit board member:
At the MacArthur Foundation, I led the design and delivery of the exit from the 30-year Population and Reproductive Health program, working with our country directors in India, Mexico, and Nigeria.
With my co-director, I designed and led the five-year wind-down of On Nigeria, which closed in December 2025.
As a non-profit board member, I helped close an organization: placing its assets, settling its accounts, and completing its final filings.
I also advised peer donors as they planned their exits.
Read: What we learned closing a 30-year, $372 million program
Read: Reflections from 10 years of On Nigeria, including what we would do differently
Senior program leadership, without a permanent hire
When your foundation needs a senior person on a program but not a permanent hire, I can step in. I fill the gap during a leadership transition, a staff leave, the launch of a new initiative, or a wind-down, and I work as part of your team for as long as you need. This is sometimes called interim or fractional leadership.
In that role, I can:
Lead a program or initiative day to day
Build or refine your grant portfolio
Manage grants and relationships with the organizations you fund
Brief and work with your board and leadership
Lead and mentor your staff
At the MacArthur Foundation, I co-led a distributed global team running On Nigeria, a 10-year, $154 million initiative. I was also a program officer, then director of the Population and Reproductive Health program.
Read: How funding grantees as cohorts built trust and collective action
About Erin Sines
I am the founder and principal of Enduring Good Advisors. I spent more than 15 years at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, moving from program officer to program director. Over my career, I have led or helped deploy more than $350 million in philanthropic funding.
At MacArthur, I co-led On Nigeria, a 10-year, $154 million initiative to reduce corruption and strengthen accountability. We funded independent media, criminal justice reform, civic groups, and efforts to shift public attitudes toward corruption. I also served as director of the Population and Reproductive Health program, leading its exit after 30 years with our country directors in India, Mexico, and Nigeria. I was part of teams that moved rapid-response funding when it was urgently needed, including $30 million for public health during COVID-19 and $80 million for US democracy and rule of law in 2025.
Earlier in my career, I worked with policymakers to turn data into policy decisions, partnered with journalists on data-driven stories, and conducted health research in Latin America and the US.
I have served on the boards of the Trust, Accountability, and Inclusion donor collaborative, Fòs Feminista, and Global Integrity, among others. I hold a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Politics from St. Mary's College of Maryland. I am a 21/64 Certified Advisor and a Daylight Certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor.
I am based in Chicago and work with clients across the United States and internationally. In my spare time, I am usually reading a couple of books at once, hiking, or cooking for family and friends.
How we work together
Who I work with: individuals and families; family, private, and corporate foundations, including those needing interim program leadership; and wealth managers, estate attorneys, and advisory firms who want a specialist for their clients. I also help non-profits rethink their strategy or restructure when their funding or mission changes.
How I work: Every engagement starts with a conversation about what you want to accomplish. From there, I propose a scope, timeline, and fee that fit your needs. Some clients need a few focused sessions; others need several months of hands-on support.
My work centers on strategy, program leadership, and exits. If you need fundraising, business development, or commissioned research, I am happy to point you to colleagues who specialize in that work.
When work requires additional skills, I bring in experienced colleagues. You will know who they are and what they will do before they start.
Book an introductory call
The first conversation is free and carries no obligation. Tell me about your giving and what you hope to do, and I will tell you whether I can help.
Email me at hello at enduringgoodadvisors dot com or use the form below.
