Jamie Forbes grew up in an old New England family imbued with a strong sense of belonging, good fortune and a clear understanding that with privilege comes responsibility. This experience taught him the importance of family culture, tradition, mentoring and stewardship.
Philanthropy has deep roots in his family history, and yet Jamie identified early on that there was limited training around how to give, what to give, and how to evaluate the societal impact of giving. He longed for coaching and mentoring, and today he gets great satisfaction from the coaching and mentoring that comes with this work.
Before Forbes Legacy Advisors, Jamie founded a management consulting group with several partners. Opus Advisors focuses on expanding the capacity of nonprofit organizations. During his tenure at Opus Advisors, Jamie launched their philanthropy advising division, serving both families and businesses to get the greatest impact from their giving. He has also coached and mentored his own children in their giving, including helping them raise funds and donate books to establish a library for an elementary school on the Caribbean Island of Dominica. Jamie is particularly passionate about helping people discover how to combine what they love and how to give.
His work with clients led him to evolve his practice to include supporting family conversations, recognizing that trust and communication are at the heart of resilient families. Jamie uses curiosity, empathy, humor and his natural ability to build trust with others.
When he is not at work, Jamie can be found with his wife and two daughters or enjoying time with friends. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, exercise nut, musician, and cancer survivor. Traveling provides an opportunity to understand other cultures, which also helps him understand people better. Jamie is a Charter Adviser of Philanthropy (CAP®), holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Connecticut College and has also studied at The Wharton School and Babson College.