Smithsonian’s The Power of Giving Symposium in Washington, DC 9/23/2026

A’Lelia and Nicholas Tedesco, President & CEO of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, discuss “Stewarding the Philanthropic Legacy of Madam C. J. Walker and A’Lelia Walker” during the Smithsonian’s Power of Giving symposium at the National Museum of American History.

From the website: “Join philanthropy thought leaders, Smithsonian curators, and historians as the National Museum of American History’s Philanthropy Initiative hosts a thematic conversation on 250 years of American philanthropy. In this special program, participants will reflect upon 250 years of American philanthropy and look to the future.

We will consider:
How philanthropy has shaped and reshaped the nation over the past 250 years.
How American ideals of equality, civic participation, and shared responsibility reflect a distinctive tradition of American giving.

“The National Museum of American History’s Power of Giving symposium brings historic perspectives to contemporary issues in philanthropy. The series explores how Americans’ gifts of time, expertise, and resources have effected change throughout out shared history. Launched in 2025, it is part of the museums’s Philanthropy Initiative, dedicated to researching, collecting, and displaying content related to the history of American giving.”