WHO WE ARE

The People Behind 3W

3W Philanthropic Ventures was built by a team with decades of experience at the intersection of philanthropy, legal strategy, wealth management, and nonprofit leadership. We have worked closely with donors, families, nonprofits, and advisors on complex planning challenges.

We built 3W because we saw a better way to help people navigate legacy planning than traditional, siloed advisory models allow.

Our Story

Built With Intention

Too often, individuals, families, and charitable organizations are forced to navigate complex decisions across multiple disciplines without a clear, integrated path forward. Legal strategy, wealth planning, governance, and philanthropy are frequently handled separately, even though they are deeply connected in practice.

We saw an opportunity to build something different: not another consulting firm, law practice, or wealth manager, but a coordinated platform that brings these disciplines together. A team that clarifies complexity, aligns stakeholders, and follows through from strategy to execution.

That is what 3W is—and what we deliver to every client we serve.

Why “3W”?

The name 3W reflects our belief in a win-win-win approach: clients win, philanthropic impact wins, and advisory teams win when strategy, execution, and people are aligned.

Clients win when they gain clarity, structure, and confidence around complex decisions. Philanthropic impact wins when resources are stewarded with purpose and positioned to endure. Advisory teams win when coordination improves, gaps are reduced, and everyone is working from a more integrated plan.

That is the purpose behind 3W: to bring the right expertise together across legal, financial, and philanthropic disciplines so complex strategies are well designed, practical to implement, and easier to act on.

leadership

The Team

Dan Bolsen

Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer

Jacob A. Griffin, J.D.

Cofounder and Chief Legal Officer

Erica Brand

Vice President of External Relations

John Dinkens

Chief People Officer

Kate Pottschmidt

Vice President of Operations

Steve Schlenk

Chief Marketing Officer

Amber Turner

Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff

Our Core Values

Everything we do is grounded in a set of core values that guide how we work with clients, partners, and each other.

Trust

We build trust through consistency, discretion, sound judgment, and genuine care.

Clarity

We turn complexity into understanding, helping clients see what matters, why it matters, and what comes next.

Stewardship

We help clients steward resources responsibly, sustainably, and in alignment with their values.

Service

We bring expertise together with thoughtful, responsive support tailored to each client and situation.

Work With Us

Why Clients Choose 3W

Our leadership team brings more than 100 years of combined experience across disciplines. What sets 3W apart is how we bring that expertise together—coordinating it around each client’s goals and putting it to work on their behalf.

What makes 3W different:

A multidisciplinary team that combines legal, consulting, wealth management, and philanthropic expertise

A coordinated platform model that eliminates gaps between advisors

Proprietary technology designed to support charitable planning and advisory workflows

A commitment to practical execution, not just strategy

Put Our Expertise to Work

Whatever you are working through, we are here to help. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a conversation about what you are trying to accomplish.

Get In Touch

Dan Bolsen

Dan is cofounder and chief executive officer of 3W Philanthropic Ventures, bringing a proven track record in cross-sector partnerships and philanthropic impact. Over the past decade, he held executive leadership roles at the Purdue for Life Foundation, where he led record-setting fundraising initiatives and major capital projects. He has also served in contracted C-suite roles with innovative health-care companies and is passionate about creating meaningful outcomes and practical solutions for complex challenges.

Jacob A. Griffin, J.D.

Jacob is cofounder and chief legal officer of 3W Philanthropic Ventures, where he leads legal strategy and advises on complex philanthropic, estate, and wealth planning structures. He brings more than a decade of experience designing tax-efficient giving solutions for individuals, families, and institutions. During his time at the Purdue for Life Foundation, serving in planned giving and principal gifts roles, he partnered with donors and advisors to facilitate more than $550 million in philanthropic support. He holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Erica Brand

Erica is vice president of external relations at 3W Philanthropic Ventures and brings nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership experience. She specializes in connecting donors with mission-aligned opportunities that drive meaningful impact. She previously served as senior director of development at the Purdue for Life Foundation, where she helped alumni and donors translate their philanthropic interests into strategic investments that advanced university priorities. She holds degrees in nonprofit management and philanthropic studies from Indiana University.

John Dinkens

John is chief people officer at 3W Philanthropic Ventures and is known for building high-performing teams through targeted coaching, collaborative leadership, and a donor-centric approach that advances organizational priorities. He previously served in advancement leadership roles at Purdue, including senior associate vice president for development and vice president for strategic initiatives, where he led fundraising strategy and performance across most of the university’s academic units. He is a sought-after speaker and trainer on fundraising excellence and leadership development.

Kate Pottschmidt

Kate is vice president of operations at 3W Philanthropic Ventures, where she brings deep expertise in data-driven communications and enterprise campaign strategy. She previously served as senior director for broad-based campaigns and digital engagement at the Purdue for Life Foundation, where she led digital initiatives and large-scale fundraising campaigns. She holds degrees in communication and business from Purdue University.

Steve Schlenk

Steve is chief marketing officer at 3W Philanthropic Ventures and brings extensive experience in brand strategy, storytelling, and philanthropic communications. He previously served as vice president for marketing and communications at the Purdue for Life Foundation, where he led a 27-member team and helped advance enterprise-wide initiatives and record-setting fundraising campaigns. He holds degrees in communication and business from Purdue and a certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University.

Amber Turner

Amber is chief operating officer and chief of staff at 3W Philanthropic Ventures, where she partners with leadership to translate strategy into execution. She previously served as vice president for broad-based campaigns and engagement at the Purdue for Life Foundation, where she led a multidisciplinary team and centralized annual giving, stewardship, and digital communications. She is known for modernizing annual giving and leading Purdue Day of Giving, and she holds a degree in public relations from Ball State University.

Who We Are