Over the River and Through the Woods: Geographic Dispersion in Family Philanthropy

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Evan Wood, Irene Siragusa, Jack Siragusa, Una O. Osili

With family members living far apart, what steps can families take to build family identity and bonds that once evolved naturally from living in close proximity? How can family members whose lives have taken different paths forge a genuinely collaborative team driven by a mission derived from and embraced by the family? How are families balancing the commitment to the foundation's "home town" and their growing concern for their own region?… Read More

Community Connections: Place-Based Family Philanthropy

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Reginald Jones, Valerie Jacobs Hapke

While some families pay particular attention to the family’s legacy of giving, and some focus on a particular issue or cause, many choose to limit their grantmaking to a specific city, state or region. Hometown serves as both the family’s sense of place and commitment. Gratitude to a supportive community and a desire to give back mean developing giving interests along geographic lines… Read More

Adding nonfamily trustees and community voices to your family foundation board

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Adam Gibbons, Alan Fox, Diane Kaplan, Katherine Weaver, Richard Moore

What are the signs that your foundation’s board might benefit from adding a community leader to bring new energy and a fresh voice to board deliberations and decisions? Some family foundations have never had an outside trustee on the board and don’t want one. Others have had non-family trustees since their inception—either a friend or business associate of the founder, a trusted lawyer or accountant, or a program expert or local community leader respected by the family… Read More

Family Offices and Family Philanthropy

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Anne Etheridge, Craig Muska, Elizabeth “Buffy” Minkin, Jim Frey, Sara Hamilton

As the field of family philanthropy continues to evolve, the options available to families for managing and making the most of their giving are expanding at a rapid pace. One option that a growing number of philanthropic families are considering is the creation of a family office - a private entity that manages the investments and trusts for a single family, while also providing a variety of other personal services, among them philanthropic advising or the housing of a family foundation… Read More

Working Together for Common Purpose: Family Philanthropy Through the Family Office

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Anne Etheridge

As the field of family philanthropy evolves, the options available to families for managing and making the most of their giving continue to keep pace. One option that a growing number of philanthropic families are considering is the creation of a single family office, a private entity that manages the investments and trusts for a single wealthy family—or multiple branches… Read More

Family Philanthropy Through the Family Office (Full Report)

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Anne Etheridge

This special Passages report is based on results of the first national study to explore the relationship between family offices and family philanthropy, identifying common themes for both success and failure. As a benchmark report for the field, the study draws on personal interviews and results from a survey of family offices to highlight emerging best practices by which family foundations and family offices can effectively work together to maximize the positive returns for the community and the family… Read More

Performance Review: Evaluating the Family Foundation CEO

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Virginia M. Esposito, Beth Casselman, Julie Fisher Cummings, Doug Bitonti Stewart

Little has been written about how to review the performance of family foundation CEOs. The job carries a unique set of roles and responsibilities including the special skills required to support effective board governance, work within the family’s culture, represent the family in the community, and engage in grantmaking in the context of the family’s legacy… Read More