Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Family Foundation Finds Focus in Grantee Relationships

August 31, 2023 | Prentice Zinn
In recent years, GMA Foundations has worked with the Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W. Farris Foundation to define and hone its grantmaking focus. The process involved deep listening and learning and strengthened grantee relationships.  Cohesive family giving across geography and generations is patient work. Trustees’ willingness to listen to one another and to invest time in grantee relationships translates Read More
Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

The Power of a Learning Journey

August 28, 2023 | Christine Sherry
Family philanthropy benefits enormously from continuous inquiry. But it can be challenging to identify paths to deepen knowledge, explore new ideas, and ultimately, build a culture of curiosity. Embarking on a learning journey—a series of experiences designed to better understand your role in the funding landscape and how to improve your work—can be a creative and inspirational way to promote Read More
Blog | From NCFP

Application Processes and Effective Family Philanthropy: No easy answers

August 21, 2023 | Miki Akimoto
You don’t know who you don’t know – Jay Espy, former CEO, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation What does your application process say about you? As the philanthropic field continues to evolve and explore critical issues including equity, accountability, relationship-building, listening, and trust-based approaches, the grants application process (or lack thereof) often serves as a focal point for both discussions and Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Indian American Philanthropy: A Tradition of Seeding Change and Inspiring Giving

August 10, 2023 | Sharmila Rao Thakkar
Indian Americans have a long history of philanthropy, and the tradition continues to thrive with the current and next generation. In this piece, Sharmila Rao Thakkar explores the various trends and motivations behind Indian American philanthropy—as well as share more about the first-ever India Giving Day that took place on March 2, 2023 and that will become a new annual Read More
Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

It’s Time To Retire The Term “High Net Worth”

August 3, 2023 | Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Nancy Reid
Phila Engaged Giving’s Stephanie Ellis-Smith and Nancy Reid outline the benefits of changing “worth” to “wealth” in the term “high net worth.” This piece was originally published by Phila Engaged Giving and is re-published here with permission. Here’s something radical for you to consider: let’s retire the phrase “high net worth” (HNW), and the even more obnoxious, “ultra high net worth” Read More
Blog | Network News

July 2023: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

July 31, 2023
Network News highlights updates from NCFP’s members and network partners. Current NCFP members or network partners are encouraged to email us with news they would like shared with the community.  Ann Mackey Huston and Darlene Motley Elected to Fred L. Emerson Foundation Board of Directors Kristen E. Rubacka, president of the Foundation commented: “We are extremely pleased to have Darlene Read More
Blog | From NCFP, Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Freedom & Effectiveness Through Accountability

July 28, 2023 | Miki Akimoto, Ashley Blanchard
 Because a body of men, holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody. – Thomas Payne It should go without saying that families who embark on philanthropy together have good intentions—to give back to  communities where families live and have made their wealth, to make a difference in the world, and to provide a place Read More
Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Partnership Lifecycle and Exercising Funder Responsibility and Accountability

July 25, 2023 | Nicholas Banovetz
“I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself.” -Teton Sioux Tribe We’re in this together. Funders, grantees, and community. And while the dynamics of power and privilege exist, the values of collaboration, transparency, and responsibility define good philanthropy. At the Better Way Foundation, we work alongside grantees and Read More
Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Living Our Values Through Stakeholder Compensation

What does it look like to equitably compensate grantees and other partners and how can funders do it in a way that aligns with their values? The Kenneth Rainin Foundation explored this question and shares their process for paying stakeholders. This piece was originally published by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and is re-published here with permission. In 2022 we wrote about our Read More
Blog | Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Listening, Learning, Supporting: Reflections on the RFF Team’s Support Beyond The Grant

June 28, 2023 | Rhonnel Sotelo, Kate Ray
When the Rogers Family Foundation announced the sunsetting of our Oakland education strategy in October 2020, our team knew we’d reach a point of reflection on our grantmaking and practices over the last two decades. That time is now. This piece focuses on the concept of “Beyond the Grant,” which challenges funders to leverage internal organizational capacity to support their Read More