About House of Philanthropy

Nonprofit best practice, built for big platforms.

We help athletes, entertainers and mission-driven organizations build giving that lasts. Our team has spent decades inside communities, and we bring that experience to every client.

Kids at a hands-on learning station with an athlete

An athlete interviewed by local TV at a community event

What sets us apart

We've done this work on the ground.

Our team has spent decades inside communities: running programs, raising money, building boards and reporting to funders. We bring that experience, plus an understanding of life in the public eye, to every client.

Community experience

50+ years on the ground

Our team has run community programs, coordinated volunteers, raised funds and built partnerships in the neighborhoods they served. We know this work from the inside, and we build to the standards funders and boards expect.

Embedded partner

Part of your team

We don't hand off a deck and disappear. We work as an extension of your team, with weekly check-ins and hands-on guidance from day one.

Strategy first

No program without a plan

Every client starts with a written strategy. Each program, partner and post ties back to a goal you can measure.

Community led

Trusted, vetted partners

We work with schools, nonprofits, government agencies and community leaders who are already trusted locally. We vet every partner, so programs meet real needs and keep going long after the cameras leave.

Talent fluent

We plan around your schedule

Game weeks, trades, tours, filming and release dates. We know how demanding the calendar is, and we build the work around it.

Built to last

Sustainable from year one

We build for scale from the start. Plans, systems and relationships belong to you, and your team is trained to run them.

Wings, not chains.

We build giving our clients can own. That means clear systems, trained people and documents that stay with you, so the work can grow with us or without us.

We're also selective. Philanthropy done well takes real commitment, and it isn't the right fit for everyone. If the timing isn't right, we'll tell you, and we'll point you to what will help.

See if we're a fit

A guest celebrating at a community golf event

An athlete coaching a huddle of young players

A coach smiling on the sidelines of a football field

The team

The people doing the work.

Decades of experience inside communities, nonprofits and public health. You work with us directly, every week.

Tenisha Valliant-Irvin

Founder and CEO · Strategy and Execution

Tenisha Valliant-Irvin is the Founder and CEO of House of Philanthropy. She leads strategy and execution across every engagement, from strategic planning and governance to resource development, partnerships and program design.

For more than 15 years, she has worked with a wide range of nonprofits, from grassroots community organizations to some of the most influential leaders and institutions across Canada and the United States.

A grant writing instructor, Tenisha founded House of Philanthropy in 2024 to bring nonprofit best practice and operational discipline to talent-led philanthropy.

15+ years in nonprofit leadershipStrategic planning and governanceGrant writing instructor

Alisha Martin

Community Impact and Public Health Strategy

Alisha Martin leads community impact and public health strategy at House of Philanthropy. She helps clients ground their work in documented community need, align with the systems that already serve families, and build programs that are sustainable and measurable.

With six years in Medicaid and community health, she gives clients a clear understanding of where health, social services and community resources intersect. She brings extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, bringing together health partners, public agencies and community organizations around shared goals.

Alisha also leads business development and strategic partnerships for the firm, building the corporate and community relationships that sustain client programs over time.

6 years in MedicaidStakeholder engagementStrategic partnershipsBusiness development

Work with people who have done the work.

Tell us what you want to build. We will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.

Book a consultation