Community Foundations

Community Foundations Topical Call: Philanthropic Advisor Competencies

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Dien Yuen, JD/LLM, CAP®, AEP®,, Tony Macklin

The demand for philanthropic advice is increasing and, in response, more firms and organizations are hiring advisors to wealthy donors and families. However, our field of philanthropic advisors and consultants is a beautiful mess of talents, perspectives, responsibilities, and expectations. In October 2022, the American College of Financial Services convened 50 experts and practitioners to envision a more cohesive future… Read More

Understanding Purpose Trusts: Advantages and Disadvantages

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Susan Mac Cormac

Purpose trusts have been around for centuries. However, most practitioners are far more familiar with charitable trusts. Enforced in the UK by chancery courts since the 15th Century and adopted unto the US into the Uniform Trust Code in 2000, charitable purpose trusts have been established to advance identified charitable purposes (instead of specific beneficiaries) but are limited in time,… Read More

Is Spending Down Right for Your Philanthropy? How to Make the Decision and What to Consider in the Process

Posted on April 18, 2023

Determining the lifespan of a philanthropic effort is one of the most important decisions a philanthropy’s board, staff, and family members make. Would the philanthropy have more impact and better meet community needs by spending more or all of its assets in a limited timeframe instead of existing in perpetuity? How does a philanthropic family make this decision? What plans… Read More

International Grantmaking: Navigating the Challenges of Legal and Regulatory Barriers

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Jessie Krafft

Donors who give to projects and partners outside of the United States have the opportunity to make real and lasting impacts in communities. But when foundations want to make grants to non-501(c)(3)s, the rules governing cross-border funding can be complex. Join this webinar to learn how to support foreign grantees while managing risk, complying with the regulations governing this work,… Read More

International Grantmaking: Trusting Relationships are Critical to Success

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Ashley Barrett, Sylvia Brown, Jenny Kelly, Kimberly Myers Hewlett

Systemic challenges, such as climate change, racial justice and gender equity, exist beyond the borders of the United States. Philanthropic families seeking to ramp up their international giving face a variety of challenges and opportunities, including identifying partner organizations and building trusting relationships with them. Join us to learn how to be an effective international funder and concrete steps to… Read More

Community Foundations Topical Call: Balancing Individual and Collective Giving in Families

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Ashley Blanchard, Tony Macklin

Families often balance giving based on shared purpose and priorities with allowing members to pursue individual interests and goals. The tension between those two goals increases as new voices join the decision-making—spouses/partners, younger generations, non-family advisors, and more. NCFP and Lansberg Gersick Advisors (LGA) recently completed a study of how families navigate the tension and successfully sustain collaborative philanthropy. LGA… Read More

2023 Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network Workshop

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Natalie M. McVeigh

Community foundations networking at the 2022 National Forum on Family Philanthropy
This workshop, exclusively available for members of NCFP’s Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network, is an excellent opportunity to learn from your peers and build professional skills! We’re excited to be back together in-person for this workshop. Space is limited and network members may register up to two staff member attendees at no cost. Attendees will pay for their travel, hotel, and some meals… Read More

Community Foundation Spark Session: Guiding Donors on the How and Now of Philanthropy

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Rebekah Allison, CAP®, Ayanna Wakefield, Brennan Gould, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Tony Macklin

Compass guiding donors in philanthropy
Our communities face many complex and interconnected challenges. Most require us to confront racial, economic, and other inequities. We’re also living in an era of massive wealth creation and wealth transfer. More donors have the resources to meaningfully address those challenges. But the how and now of their philanthropy matters more than ever. Community foundations have an incredible opportunity—and perhaps… Read More

Operationalizing Equity Practices

Posted on December 15, 2022

Equity vs equality family philanthropy
For funders seeking to incorporate an equity lens throughout their work (and not just their grantmaking), there are many opportunities to shift internal operations towards more equitable and values-aligned practices. Yet while many families recognize the desire to make these shifts, they need further guidance around the specific decisions and considerations that will advance their philanthropy towards a more equitable… Read More

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