Advisors and Consultants

Balancing Family Privacy and Public Trust: Transparency in Family Philanthropy

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Chris Rurik, Richard Russell, Richard Woo

While transparency is an important value in principle, what do you do when your foundation’s privacy is also your family’s privacy? How do we balance the need for public accountability with a family’s right to privacy? What do the tough but important questions regarding transparency and accountability mean for family philanthropy and how can foundations think strategically about these questions?… Read More

Family Governance and Family Philanthropy: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families

Posted on May 2, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Family governance is the framework in which a family manages its joint affairs. A family applies guiding principles to general policies and specific practices for carrying out the roles and responsibilities of their joint activities, such as family philanthropy. A growing number of families are using donor advised funds and supporting organizations at their local community foundation as a core… Read More

Spending Up: A Discussion on Strategic Lifespan at the Quixote Foundation

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Jeffrey Solomon, Lenore Hanisch, June L. Wilson

In the 2015 Trends Study, NCFP found that nearly three-quarters of all family foundations are still considering whether they want to limit their philanthropic lifespans. This webinar features a roundtable discussion on questions to ask your organization, values and beliefs that play into the decision, and the benefits and costs of choosing to spend up your foundation, featuring the perspectives of two leaders from The Quixote Foundation, which completed its “spend up” process in December 2017… Read More

Family Ties: Multigenerational Family Foundation Board Engagement

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

A family throws their hands up in joy on the beach; the photo is taken from the back and with an unfocused lens
Based on interviews with CEOs and family board chairs at seven large, multigenerational family foundations, this publication spotlights the governance practices and structures that these family foundations have created to maintain family involvement; select, orient, and engage family members across generations; and keep the board and foundation focused on impact… Read More

Equity, Inclusion, and Connecting with Community in Family Philanthropy

Posted on March 9, 2017 by James Gore, Leticia Peguero, Nancy Chan, Sahar Afrakhan

What does inclusivity mean for family philanthropy? How can we promote diversity, community engagement, and openness while retaining the family focus of our giving practices? This session will feature a conversation on strategies for connecting with community and building an equity lens into your grantmaking and internal operations… Read More

A Date Certain: Lessons from Limited Life Foundations

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

Morning on the beach. Magical sunrise over sea
To learn more about limited life foundations’ decisions to spend down — and the ways in which they grapple with several important issues along their journey to pursuing their goals in a finite period of time — the Center for Effective Philanthropy conducted in-depth interviews with leaders of 11 limited life foundations. Resulting from these interviews, this report illustrates the ways in which limited life foundations approach spending down in nine key areas, including archiving knowledge… Read More

Community Foundation Spark Session: Readying Your Community Foundation to Serve Philanthropic Families

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Rob MacPherson, Ruth Purcell-Jones, Tony Macklin

You’ve successfully attracted Donor-Advised Funds and developed solid relationships with those founding donors. But now they’re asking for help with tougher issues such as preparing heirs to be responsible givers, dealing with geographic dispersion and generational differences in giving, and improving family communications and problem-solving skills. (If they’re not asking now, they will be soon…). How will your foundation respond,… Read More

Becoming a Successful Board Chair: Tips and Advice from Your Peers

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Alice Buhl, Susan Briggs, Nancy Cable, J.H. Dow Davis

Board chairs play an important and indispensable role in family foundations. Much more than just an honorary title, serving as board chair requires extra preparation, time, and specific skillsets. Join NCFP as we learn from The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation Board Chair and President about the wide range of tasks and responsibilities facing board chairs, including overseeing board meetings, succession… Read More

Case Study: Navigating a Community Foundation’s Roles Among a Family’s Professional Advisors

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Tony Macklin

The Star City Community Foundation has a potential opportunity to work with a generous family planning for a business transition. As is often the case, the information about the opportunity is incomplete. This special case study shares the story of the fictional Lincoln family, and explores the questions, considerations, and challenges facing the community foundation as it works with the… Read More

Family Philanthropy Stories- Capture the Legacy of Your Giving with NCFP and the History Project

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Virginia M. Esposito, Michelle Knapik, Niles Lichtenstein, Kelly D. Nowlin

Why, in 2017, are we still relying on grandma’s photo albums and poorly scanned Facebook uploads to preserve our family histories? Legacy preservation is deeply important whether you are preparing for succession or seeking to keep donor intent alive. So, how can you bring your family’s history up to date in the New Year? In this webinar, NCFP teams up… Read More

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