The Black Belt Community Foundation: Taking a Multi-Faceted Approach to Rural Funding

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Felecia Lucky, Erin Borla, Wynn Rosser

The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) utilizes a variety of funding sources and partnerships to pursue its philanthropic mission and to provide services to its rural region and rural constituents. BBCF President Felecia Lucky will discuss how the community foundation aggregates resources from individuals and other grant programs to fund their work. She will also share broader implications for private philanthropy’s engagement with rural… Read More

Strategic Lifespan Peer Network: Insights from the Kendeda Fund

Posted on August 7, 2023 by David Brotherton, Dena Kimball, Anne Marie Toccket, Priscilla Enriquez, Glen Galaich

Every family foundation that has decided to sunset has a unique spend down journey. But every family foundation learns throughout that journey. The Kendeda Fund has committed to spending out the remainder of its assets and ending grantmaking operations by the end of 2023. Since their founder, Diana Blank, began her philanthropic journey nearly 30 years ago, Kendeda has worked… Read More

Sustainable Investing as Part of a 10-Year Spend Down at The John Merck Fund

Posted on August 7, 2023 by The John Merck Fund

When The John Merck Fund embarked on a 10-year spendout of its assets in 2012, the board aimed to maximize its grantmaking clout across four core program areas. The board also set another challenge: to finance the effort as much as possible with sustainable investments consistent with the Fund's philanthropic mission—and, what’s more, to do this without sacrificing market-rate returns… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Eisner Foundation

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Wendy Paris, Inside Philanthropy

The Eisner Family EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Portsmouth and Shrewsbury Town. From L to R: Anders Eisner, Breck Eisner, Jane Eisner, Michael Eisner, Eric Eisner. Photo courtesy of the Eisner Family
The Intergenerational Philanthropy of the Eisner Foundation If there were a Disney film about family philanthropy, it might open with a scene from Michael Eisner’s childhood. The L.A.-based philanthropist, former chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company and former head of Paramount Studios before that, grew up sitting in on conversations about family giving during Thanksgiving in Vermont. After… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Compton Foundation

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

Here’s How a Longtime Family Foundation Fractured, and Shifted Gears for a Meaningful Final Act In 1894, Missouri native William H. Danforth founded what would become Ralston Purina Company as a balanced food production company for animals. The company revolutionized the feed business with the introduction of pelletized animal feeds. By the early 2000s, Ralston Purina had merged with Swiss… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Tarsadia Foundation

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

Passing the Torch: A Family Foundation Empowers Dozens of Young Philanthropists Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Tarsadia Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that provide educational opportunities for the underserved, support health and wellbeing of the community, and help people find employment. It’s also one of a growing number of charities that aims to rethink how youth and… Read More

Family Legacy in Philanthropy: A Reparative Framework

Posted on May 24, 2023 by The Milliken Family, Will Cordery

Join us for an enriching discussion on family legacy in philanthropy, moderated by the social impact advisory firm, Freedom Futures. In this thought-provoking one-hour conversation, we will hear from a philanthropic family committed to redistributing a significant portion of their wealth as a form of reparations to cement their family legacy in repair. They will share their motivations and approaches… Read More

Rural Funders Peer Network: Connecting with Peers to Share Successes and Opportunities

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Erin Borla, Wynn Rosser

Use this opportunity to share experiences of best practices for working in rural areas, discuss tactics and strategies, and connect with funding and partnering opportunities to leverage your investments and increase impact. This conversation will focus on successes and opportunities. Please come prepared to share! Some questions to consider: What initiatives are you attempting? What are you funding? What is happening… Read More