Alison Patterson is a philanthropic strategist who works at the intersection of wealth, meaning, and decision-making. Through Patterson Philanthropic Advisors, she helps individuals, families, and their professional advisors move philanthropy from a transactional conversation to a planning discipline, one that shapes identity, relationships, and long-term legacy.

Drawing on experience in both nonprofit leadership and private advising, Alison’s work focuses on how charitable decisions are actually made: through values, family dynamics, trust, and timing, not just tax strategy. She equips advisors across financial, legal, and philanthropic fields to guide these conversations with confidence and clarity.

She believes the next evolution of advisory work is not technical specialization, but integration, where philanthropy functions alongside investing, estate planning, and governance as a core component of client strategy.

Alison serves on the Advisors in Philanthropy Board to advance cross-disciplinary collaboration and to help the profession develop shared language, frameworks, and tools that make philanthropic planning accessible, practical, and meaningful