Using Shared Language to Move Past Fear

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Lisa Graustein

As the field of philanthropy moves to have deeper conversations about race, it’s very important that we establish shared language and define fundamental terminology. Many critical conversations are stifled because people fear saying the wrong thing, not saying enough, or being misunderstood. By building a shared language we can begin to push through those fears and have more open conversations… Read More

Leaning into Racial Justice with the Surdna Foundation and Andrus Family Fund

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Carra Cote-Ackah, Kaitlin Miles, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Don Chen

Amid a national reckoning with race and the pandemic, foundations are leaning into racial justice like never before. Yet many foundations are grappling with how to fund racial equity and the best way forward for their institution and grantees. In this Community Conversation, the Surdna Foundation and Andrus Family Fund will explore their decision to increase funding for racial justice,… Read More

Strategic Lifespan Peer Network: Participatory Grantmaking

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Ibrahima Thiam, Lynda Mansson

How can we shift power and engage others in our decision-making process? How can we listen more effectively and support collaboration in our grantmaking? Join this important conversation with MAVA Foundation Director General Lynda Mansson and Ibrahima Thiam, executive director of Wetlands International Africa and a MAVA partner. They will be discuss how MAVA, a spend down foundation, has embraced… Read More

Application Deadline: Racial Justice Learning and Action Network

Posted on March 16, 2021

Racial Justice LAN logo
The Racial Justice Learning and Action Network is an educational opportunity for family foundation trustees interested in advancing racial justice practices, both personally and professionally. Philanthropy has been slow to embrace equity and it is clear that effective and meaningful impact can only be realized with an active commitment to racial justice. The National Center for Family Philanthropy is committed… Read More

2021 Trustee Education Institute

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Isabel Nogueira, Alyson Wise, Jumi Falusi, Milton Speid, Emily Kaiser, Adrian Ruiz, Lisa Jackson, Priscilla Enriquez, Dorothy Gardner, Regan Pritzker

NCFP’s Trustee Education Institute provides a comprehensive overview of the important legal, investment, ethical, grantmaking, and family dynamics issues facing family foundation board members and CEOs. Featuring the perspectives of innovative donors and a faculty made up of donors, board members, and highly respected philanthropy experts, this virtual seminar covers: Translating values and goals into action Connecting family legacy and… Read More

Strategic Lifespan Peer Network: Using Systems to Achieve Sustainable Success

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Brian Collier, David Peter Stroh

Why do social systems resist our best intentions to improve their performance? How can you use systems thinking to achieve sustainable system-wide impact by taking both the short and long term consequences of your decisions into account? Join field expert David Peter Stroh for a conversation with Brian Collier, Executive Vice President of the Foundation for the Carolinas. Brian has… Read More

Sparking Cross-Sector Collaboration for COVID Recovery: How a Family Foundation Catalyzed Local Investment

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Nancy Rauch Douzinas, Kevin Law, Patrick Halpin, Gemma Deleon-Lopresti, Katie Smith Milway

 The Rauch Foundation of Long Island will describe how family foundations can play a unique role as a neutral hub to forge relationships across local business, government, and media that can multiply investment in regional economic recovery. Foundation President Nancy Rauch Douzinas and a panel of collaborators will articulate and illustrate five principles for using research, relationship networks, advocacy… Read More

Engaging Youth Peer Network Retreat

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Sophy Yem, Kaitlin Miles, Shawn Escoffery, Tiffany Kelly, Karen Weatherford, Alexis Marion, Michelle Knapik, Neil Gobioff

Join your peers for a virtual retreat on supporting youth grantmakers and family members within your family and foundation. We will spend time on the following areas: Timely Peer Connections: How has your foundation changed plans in 2020 and 2021? Are you working more with your youth grantmakers or cancelling some plans due to remote learning fatigue? Race and Equity:… Read More

Board Chair Peer Network: Inaugural Meeting

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Jaimie Mayer, Gilbert Miller, Katherine Lorenz

For family foundations of any shape or size, the chair position can be one of great possibility, joy, and sometimes consternation! Come together for community, learning, and to share challenges and inspiration. In the inaugural meeting of this Peer Network, we will spend time connecting with peers in small breakouts, discussing joys, solutions, and challenges in large group discussion, and… Read More