NCFP Blog

Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Unlocking Doors: Relational Reparations, Shared Liberation, and the Healing Power of Story

Posted on November 6, 2025 by C’Ardiss “CC” Gardner Gleser

As an NCFP Fellow, I was given the opportunity to explore a question about family philanthropy with the goal of contributing to more effective practices in the field. I wanted to better understand how philanthropy could move beyond extraction toward practices of repair and return. That journey began with questions about wealth, the responsibility wealth holders have, and how family… Read More
Uncategorized

The Value of Capacity Building to Increase Nonprofits’ Impact

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Maggie McGoldrick

A notebook on a spring with the text CAPACITY BUILDING on a white sheet lies on a wooden table with colored pens.
Capacity building has long been a way for funders to supplement their traditional grants, boost nonprofit effectiveness, and ultimately help nonprofits be more sustainable. By investing in nonprofit leadership, technology, systems, and more, funders can equip their partners with tools and expertise to help them better meet their mission. As nonprofits face federal funding cuts and a shifting regulatory environment,… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Practices for Engaging the Next Generation in Your Philanthropy

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Maggie McGoldrick, Nicholas A. Tedesco

A version of this article was originally posted by Deseret Magazine and is re-posted here with permission. Giving takes many forms. Some people give their time and others give their expertise. For many, giving is a joyful way to impart their values and family culture to their children. For philanthropic families who have a formal giving infrastructure, giving includes their… Read More
Network News

September 2025: Network News

Posted on September 19, 2025

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. Walton Family Foundation… Read More
Network News

August 2025: Network News

Posted on August 17, 2025

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. Stupski Foundation Accelerates… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Using Your Voice and Influence to Complement Your Grantmaking 

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Maggie McGoldrick

Funders can use their voice and influence to amplify their grantmaking, something that is particularly important as nonprofits face a dearth of funds. From signing pledges to signal solidarity and take action to bold peer-to-peer calls to action and transparent communication, family philanthropy is using its voice to meet the moment. Conversations about philanthropy typically focus on financial assets. However,… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Planning for Effective Next-Generation Engagement

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Kaky McGinness Grant, Pat Lummus

To improve its next-generation engagement and onboarding processes, the Sartain Lanier Family Foundation partnered with Grant Philanthropic Advisors to develop a ‘learning ladder’ that introduces the next generation to important skills and philanthropic knowledge and supports a smoother transition to board service.  In 2024, the Sartain Lanier Family Foundation had begun to see the impact of its recent strategic planning… Read More
Network News

July 2025: Network News

Posted on July 18, 2025

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. Ford Foundation Announces… Read More
Ask NCFP

Ask NCFP: How do we set expectations about our funding capacity?

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Maggie McGoldrick

NCFP receives a number of questions about family philanthropy and is particularly equipped to answer inquiries about philanthropic purpose, governance, next-generation engagement, family dynamics, and succession and legacy. This series is designed to answer commonly asked questions and provide resources and considerations for family funders. If you have a family philanthropy question, consider submitting a request for assistance to NCFP… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

How Family Philanthropies Can Support Community Organizing to Strengthen the Fabric of US Democracy

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Loren McArthur

Family philanthropy is uniquely positioned to support a healthy democracy by funding community organizing, which often aligns well with their values and can fill funding gaps in meaningful ways, argues Loren McArthur.  Many family donors are worried about the state of American democracy. Today, just 34 percent of Americans are satisfied with the way democracy is working in the United… Read More

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