John Thompson, MSEd, CFRE, is Director of Development and Impact at the Mensa Foundation, working to broaden the understanding of intelligence and support gifted people across the lifespan. He leads the Foundation’s fundraising and programming and has helped shape its current strategic direction.
A Weekend of Purpose and Momentum
This past month in Denver, the Mensa Foundation team came together for a retreat that reflected both the heart of our mission and the momentum behind our future.
Set against the backdrop of the Mile-High City, the gathering brought together Foundation leadership for a focused period of strategic planning, organizational alignment, and meaningful connection. The retreat created space not only to reflect on where we are, but to actively shape where we are going.
Sharpening Strategy, Clarifying Direction
At the center of the weekend was a shared commitment to advancing the Foundation’s work in service of a more neuroinclusive world. Conversations spanned program development, long-term vision, and how we continue to translate insight into impact. From refining priorities to exploring new initiatives, the time together reinforced a collective clarity around purpose and direction. Importantly, the team also took a candid look at the Foundation’s programmatic portfolio, asking hard questions about what to streamline, what to evolve, and what to sunset, so that every effort the Foundation undertakes reflects its core mission: to unleash intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
Celebrating the People Behind the Mission
A highlight of the weekend was the Foundation’s first-ever Spring Reception, an evening dedicated to honoring the remarkable individuals whose generosity and service make this work possible. Foundation Director Jill Beckham captured the spirit of the occasion: “Having the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the amazing supporters of the Mensa Foundation at our first-ever Spring Reception brought me tremendous joy. It is because of these dedicated individuals that our mission continues to grow and thrive.”
Among those recognized were individuals whose contributions have shaped the Foundation in lasting ways: Tim Winkelman, a longtime donor who serves as scholarship chair for both the Denver and Boulder local groups as well as regional scholarship chair; Emmaly Perks, who volunteers her time on a task force working to establish a network connecting gifted adults, professionals, and scholars; George Cooper, a donor and longtime volunteer scholarship judge; Alex Tamayo, whose generous financial support advances the Foundation’s mission; Beth Anne Demeter, a longtime donor and committee chair for one of the Foundation’s awards; Tommy Ryan, a generous donor and enthusiastic ambassador for the Foundation’s work; and Joi Lin, who was instrumental in launching the Foundation’s speaker series, chairs our Education and Gifted Youth committee, and is a dedicated donor.
Leadership Reflection and Forward Vision
Reflecting on the retreat itself, Foundation President Nguyen Pham shared, “I’m beyond grateful to my Board of Trustees and Staff for entrusting me with our greatest retreat yet. While we achieved many collective breakthroughs, I’m most excited to carry forward two things. One is our renewed, incisive focus on centering and addressing the unmet needs of gifted and neurodivergent people, which relentlessly informs every organizational decision that we make. The other is the curious, harmonious, and audacious culture that we’ve honed as a team for years, which surfaced in sharp relief throughout our productive and joyful weekend in Denver. These outcomes and more will keep us grounded in our continued advancement of the iconic Mensa Foundation: the world’s most brilliant charitable organization.”
A Global Network, A Shared Commitment
The Foundation’s reach extends well beyond its own walls. American Mensa and Mensa International are both represented on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees as ex officio members, a structural relationship that reflects the shared commitment across the Mensa family to advancing the mission globally. American Mensa Chair John Gruebele and Mensa International Chair Robin Crawford bring that broader perspective to the Foundation’s governance, ensuring that the work done here resonates across the worldwide Mensa community.
A Global Network, A Shared Commitment
The energy throughout the weekend was unmistakable. There was focus, yes, but also joy. Moments of deep discussion were balanced with genuine connection, reflecting the spirit of a team that is both mission-driven and deeply human. And underpinning all of it was a clear-eyed recognition that momentum requires more than vision. It requires resources. Growing the Foundation’s unrestricted annual fund is not simply a fundraising goal; it is what makes everything else possible.
Looking Ahead
As the Mensa Foundation looks ahead, the work remains clear: to broaden our understanding of intelligence, support gifted and neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan, and build pathways that allow brilliance to be recognized and nurtured in all its forms. The plans are taking shape. The community is behind us. And the future feels closer than ever.
With Gratitude
To our donors, volunteers, and community: thank you for being part of this journey.
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