About

Purple Line

All you really have in life is your good name.

We work with individuals and families to understand their motivations, interests, and goals, and then identify the right organizations, giving vehicles, and opportunities to bring those intentions to life. Whether we’re working directly with you, across generations of your family, or alongside trusted advisors—financial planners, estate attorneys, or accountants—we strive to be of service in ways that honor your legacy.

Jewish tradition echoes this in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), Chapter 4, verse 13:

Rabbi Shimon says:
There are three crowns—the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of monarchy—but the crown of a good name surpasses them all.

At Good Name Advisors, we return to this question often:
How does one acquire the crown of a good name?

We believe it’s through words and actions, large and small—but most often, through good deeds. Philanthropy is one powerful way to express those deeds, to live by your values, and to contribute to something lasting.

We help you clarify what matters most, spot the patterns in your giving choices, and find meaningful ways to direct your generosity. Our passion is connecting people and organizations in ways that make a lasting impact.

Kari Alterman speaking to a group

Kari Alterman

Kari is a passionate philanthropic advisor and connector, known for her ability to match people with meaningful causes in ways that bring mutual benefit, purpose, and joy. As the founder of  Good Name Advisors, she partners with individuals and families to clarify their values, elevate their giving, and preserve their good name through thoughtful, lasting philanthropy.

Kari brings a unique blend of deep experience, personal warmth, and strategic insight to her work. She spent nearly a decade at the William Davidson Foundation, where she led the Jewish portfolio for eight years before serving as Director of External Affairs and Senior Advisor. Her career also includes leadership roles at the American Jewish Committee (as Detroit Regional Director) and  Jewish Federation of Detroit, where she concluded an 11-year tenure as Director of Leadership Development.

Kari is known not only for her expertise in philanthropy, but for her intuitive ability to read people—what drives them, what excites them—and connect them to organizations and opportunities that align. Her extensive network across the Jewish, philanthropic, and civic landscapes allows her to open doors, make strategic introductions, and guide clients with both insight and care.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Kari holds a BA in History, an MSW, and a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. She is also a  21/64© Certified Philanthropic Advisor.

In her volunteer life, Kari proudly serves on the boards of OneTable, Clover Hill Park Cemetery, and The Zekelman Holocaust Center, where she is also an active second-generation speaker. She recently joined the boards of Boundless Israel, the Jewish Fund, and the Jewish Federation of Detroit. She is a founding member and former executive committee member of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and a past board member of JPRO.

Kari’s work is rooted in the belief that a good name—built through acts of generosity, kindness, and purpose—is the most meaningful legacy we can leave.

A Personal Note

I come from generations of “good names.” In recent years, I lost both my father, Emery Grosinger, and my father-in-law, Mickey Alterman. Their passing has only sharpened my understanding of what a good name truly means. Nearly every day, someone shares a memory or a small act of kindness they experienced from one of them. These quiet moments, still remembered, remind me that legacy is built not in grand gestures alone, but in consistent, thoughtful acts over time.

I would be honored to help you preserve—and build—your good name, too.

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