2021 Community Foundations Family Philanthropy Network Workshop

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Piyush Tantia, Sarah Welch

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! Network members may register up to five staff member attendees at no cost. The workshop will feature insights on navigating tough conversations with donor families (including those about race and equity) and peer learning… Read More

Community Foundations Network Topical Call: Effective Governance

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Virginia M. Esposito

Governance is defined as an agreed-upon process based on common values for collective communication and decision making. It is designed to serve both current and future generations. Good governance is a critical component of a successful family philanthropy effort. Listen to the April 8, 2021 Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy webinar, Effective Governance: Principles, Policies, and Practices. Follow up the webinar with… Read More

Community Foundations Network Topical Call: Racial and Social Justice Resource Sharing

Posted on March 5, 2021 by J.M. Johnson, Mary Kay Mark, Beth Harper Briglia

How are you supporting the racial and social justice learning journey for your staff, donors, or community? Join three of your fellow community foundation leaders to hear how they are having equity discussions both internally and with donors. Come prepared to learn about new resources and bring your own to share. We encourage you to join via computer so we… 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

CANCELLED – Supporting Young Leaders & Next-gen to Develop Philanthropic Identities

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Ashton Kao, Marshall Hill, Thalie Waters, Duncan McLaren, Brendan Adams

*CANCELLED: Given that a majority of our speakers are in Texas with snow and major power outages, we have cancelled this webinar. We are wishing our speakers well during the storms.* Family members of all ages strive to balance their individual identities—who they want to be and what they stand for—with their connection to their family’s identity, values, and culture… Read More

Community Foundations Network Topical Call: CAP Study Groups

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Michelle Arndt, Dien Yuen, JD/LLM, CAP®, AEP®,, Caroline Kuebler

As a strategy for growth and increased impact, community foundations have long been supporting and convening professional advisors. The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) study groups have been an important forum for foundations to build philanthropic planning education in community. How are community foundation peers supporting advisors and growing philanthropy locally?… Read More

Special grantmaking: A purposeful, flexible resource for foundations

Posted on January 8, 2021 by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

Many foundations that are guided by a long-term commitment to move the needle in a finite set of issue areas also hold “special grantmaking” funds. These program dollars can be flexibly deployed for nascent opportunities, innovative ideas, emergencies, local causes, and/or areas of high interest to their leaders. Little has been written about special grants as a vibrant resource for… Read More

Sooner Rather Than Later, Chapter 3: 2018-2020

Posted on January 7, 2021 by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

In 2009, following five decades of Foundation growth and impact, the Board of Directors for this family philanthropy chose to spend down all assets. In the words of its founder, this decision reflected a commitment to finding lasting solutions to California’s critical challenges “sooner rather than later.” The spend-down horizon was initially set for eight years and then adjusted to… Read More

Sooner Rather Than Later, Chapter 2: 2014-2017

Posted on January 7, 2021 by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

In 2009, following five decades of Foundation growth and impact, the Board of Directors for this family philanthropy chose to spend down all assets. In the words of its founder, this decision reflected a commitment to finding lasting solutions to California’s critical challenges “sooner rather than later.” The spend-down horizon was initially set for eight years and then adjusted to… Read More

Spending down: Laurie Dachs answers questions for family philanthropies

Posted on January 7, 2021 by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

In October 2020, Nick Tedesco, president and CEO of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), talked with Lauren B. (Laurie) Dachs, president and vice chair of the board at the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, about spending down all assets. The Foundation was founded in 1957; in 2009 it became a limited-life philanthropy and completed its spend down at… Read More