Suzanne Bowles

Chief Strategist at Cattail Strategy

Suzanne Bowles is the Chief Strategist and founder of Cattail Strategy, a consultancy that focuses on supporting philanthropic organizations in achieving equitable systems change. Based in Easthampton, Massachusetts, she has over 20 years of experience in philanthropic collaborative design, specializing in grassroots movement building, finance innovations, and economic systems transformation.

Professional Background

Cattail Strategy: Since May 2020, Suzanne has led initiatives aimed at integrating regenerative and community-centered values into funding strategies. Her work emphasizes the importance of shifting economic landscapes towards equity and thriving communities.1 2
Catalyst 2030: From August 2019 to June 2022, she was a founding member and co-lead of the Capital Transformations Working Group, where she contributed to developing finance strategies for transformative social impact.2 4
Tostan: Prior to her role at Cattail Strategy, she served as a Global Partnership Specialist at Tostan from January 2018 to May 2020, focusing on community-driven development in West Africa.2

Areas of Expertise

Suzanne's expertise includes:

Philanthropic Advisory: She advises private and corporate foundations on impact investment strategies that promote systemic transformation.
Collaborative Design: She specializes in governance approaches that foster equity and inclusion within funding collectives.
Research and Field Building: Suzanne conducts research to advance key areas of regenerative impact for environmental sustainability.1 2

Contributions and Initiatives

Suzanne has played a significant role in various movements focused on just transitions and economic democracy. She is known for her work with organizations like the Ford Foundation, BMW Foundation, and grassroots initiatives such as the Andes Amazon Conservancy. Her contributions include developing innovative frameworks for measuring transformational impact and redefining wealth through kinship generosity.1 3

Overall, Suzanne Bowles is recognized as a leading figure in philanthropy and systems change, advocating for deep equity and ecological flourishing through her strategic initiatives at Cattail Strategy.