Eliane Chavagnon
Reporter
2 August 2012
Daily News Analysis
Silver Bridge is expanding its philanthropy and foundation service capabilities, adding Susanne Salerno as director of foundation services to manage some of the firm’s largest foundation relationships.
Salerno will deliver foundation and non-profit administration, board management, education and planned giving activities and services for client teams nationally. She will also work with Janet Atkins, Dean of Faculty for its educational platform, Silver Bridge Institute (SBI), to further develop the philanthropy curriculum.
Silver Bridge has been vigorously building out its philanthropic offering in recent years, with a raft of new services and appointments. At the end of June, the firm strengthened SBI, adding philanthropy expert Atkins as co-head along with Silver Bridge chief executive Steve Prostano, who has overseen SBI since its inception in 2011.
In her new role, Salerno will report to Prostano and Atkins, who also serves as CEO and founder of Ridgeway Philanthropy, a philanthropic consulting firm.
For the past 15 years, Salerno has managed various activities for non-profit institutions and philanthropic entities, including Fidelity Charitable and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Highlighting the bearing of philanthropy in wealth management, a survey from PNC Wealth Management at the start of the year found that millionaires in the US feel that their wealth comes with a responsibility to help the country through its challenges. Despite the difficult financial environment, over half of the millionaires said they felt “obligated” to give back to their society.
