Family Foundation Assessment Process Launched
April 2009
Pursuit of Excellence, the first ever assessment designed specifically for family foundations was launched in January by the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP).
Do you wonder if your family foundation could operate more effectively? Do you evaluate the effectiveness of your grantees but not yourselves? If your answers are “YES,” you’re not alone. In a nationwide, random survey of family foundations conducted by NCFP, most respondents expressed concern about their effectiveness but have no process for assessment.
In a tough economy, operating effectively as a foundation is even more critical to your ability to have the greatest impact possible with limited grant funds.
What the Process Does
Pursuit of Excellence enables you to understand your strengths as well as areas for improvement such as legacy, vision, mission, governance, family involvement, board functions, grantmaking, fiscal oversight and foundation management. The tool measures your views both on how you currently operate and what you aspire to.
What’s Involved
Working with a consultant trained by NCFP, your board members (and a lead staff person if you have one) will each complete the assessment tool online. The consultant will gather additional information about your foundation. At a retreat or other meeting of the board, the consultant will provide a detailed analysis of your results, along with benchmarking information from NCFP’s 2008 Family Foundation Practice Survey, and ratings indicating areas needing improvement. The consultant will then help you devise an action plan to make improvements and achieve excellence. For ongoing support, NCFP will provide you with one year of access to our Family Philanthropy Online Knowledge Center containing 1,000 resources plus monthly teleconferences with experts and peers.
Fees
The Pursuit of Excellence Assessment process, including one year of access to FP Online costs $2,500 plus the consultant’s fee which you negotiate with that individual. Friends of the Family, who provide annual support to the National Center, pay only $2,000.
For more information, contact Susan Price at 202-293-3424