In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Mary Humann Judson, founder of Judson Advisory Group and former president of The Goizueta Foundation, shares a candid, experience-based perspective on how foundations think and make decisions. Drawing on decades of work across family foundations, corporate philanthropy and large institutional grant makers, Mary emphasizes a central truth: Every foundation is different. She explains why understanding a foundation’s history, values, governance structure and decision-making process is essential for organizations seeking meaningful support.

The conversation offers practical guidance for nonprofit leaders navigating grant seeking today. Mary discusses what happens behind the scenes once a proposal is submitted, what makes applications stand out and common missteps that can undermine credibility. She also underscores the importance of proactive communication, authentic relationship-building and treating funders as true partners. This episode provides clear, grounded insight for leaders seeking to align their mission with the right funders and build durable, trust-based foundation relationships.

About our guest

Mary Humann Judson is the founder and principal of Judson Advisory Group, a consulting firm that works with families and philanthropic organizations to clarify vision, align values with strategy and design grantmaking approaches that create lasting impact and legacy. She brings more than two decades of experience across private family and independent foundations and advisory roles, with a deep understanding of how philanthropic decisions are made and how effective partnerships are built.

Prior to founding Judson Advisory Group, Mary served as president of The Goizueta Foundation, where she led a highly collaborative grantmaking process and oversaw significant investments in medical research and educational innovation. She previously held executive director roles at the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation and the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation, managing all aspects of foundation operations. A respected leader in the field, Mary has served in multiple governance and advisory roles, including as board chair of Philanthropy Southeast, and remains deeply engaged in advancing thoughtful, values-driven philanthropy.