Trends 2020: Foundation Identity

Posted on November 19, 2020

This excerpt from NCFP’s Trends 2020 study shares data and analysis regarding various US family foundation giving trends, focus of the foundation, family member dynamics, operational effectiveness, and much more. Size and Scope By conservative estimates, family foundations represent more than 60% of the approximately 90,000 grantmaking foundations in the country; there are more family foundations than all other forms combined in… Read More

Trends 2020: Founder Involvement, Intent, & Perspectives

Posted on November 19, 2020

This excerpt from NCFP’s Trends 2020 study shares data and analysis regarding various US family foundation giving trends, including adherence to founder intent, founder’s perspective on family dynamics, founder involvement, and much more. Founder Involvement Founders remain actively involved in most family foundations, yet this has declined somewhat since 2015, from 64% to 56%. Founder involvement is low among family foundations formed… Read More

Trends 2020: Study Methodology and Key Findings

Posted on November 19, 2020

This excerpt from NCFP’s Trends 2020 study shares data and analysis regarding various US family foundation giving trends, including foundation effectiveness, impact investing and payout, engaging the next-gen, and much more. Study Methodology NCFP engaged Phoenix Marketing International (“Phoenix”) to design and conduct a nationally representative survey of family foundations, with oversight by a diverse advisory committee of knowledgeable practitioners. NCFP and… Read More

Policy Influence: What Foundations Are Doing and Why

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

Among its key findings, Policy Influence shows that foundation leaders clearly believe in influencing policy as an important lever for change. This report seeks to provide foundation staff, leaders, and boards with data and insights that will spur them to candidly discuss philanthropic involvement in public policy — and help guide their own practices to engage in policy efforts more thoughtfully as they work to achieve their goals… Read More

Supporting Youth and Next-gen Philanthropy: How to Get Started

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Vasser Seydel, Kimberly Myers Hewlett, Sammie Holzwarth

Durfee Foundation next-gen board meeting
Multigenerational families use different methods and techniques to teach the next generation about philanthropy. Successful future engagement depends on many considerations, including when and how to best inspire and empower next-gen family members. Please join us for a discussion that will explore a number of important considerations, including when, and how to introduce the concept of giving to your family,… Read More

Family Philanthropy’s Response to COVID-19

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Antony Bugg-Levine, Diana Scearce, Marcus F. Walton, Patricia McIlreavy, Nicholas A. Tedesco

COVID-19 poses an existential threat to the lives of millions and communities across the globe. There are many unknowns at this point; yet as the world waits, giving families are searching for ways to help and provide support. Grantee communities who were at risk before COVID-19 will now be faced with additional social and economic consequences, and service providers will… Read More

Planning a Family Retreat

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Shira Saperstein, Wynn Rosser, Angie Schlater, Carrie Avery, Jennie Zioncheck

Getting your family together for a retreat is a great way to spend quality time together, as well as focus on your family’s giving with the foundation. Families use a variety of resources to build community and discuss important topics in their philanthropy. In this webinar, you will hear how foundations have designed their retreats and meeting agendas, activities for… Read More

The Power of a Name: Considering Privacy, Publicity, and Transparency

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Stephanie Goodrid Lawson, Daphne Moore, Nicholas A. Tedesco

Maginfying glass with money
Using your name publicly can be a positive and productive tool in your philanthropy. Your name can also carry a lot of weight: the responsibility, publicity, and hesitance to experiment and potentially fail. For families that want to use their names more intentionally, it is important to consider the full range of opportunities and responsibilities present. In this webinar, hear… Read More

Family Philanthropy: Tying Grantmaking Practices to Shared Values

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Ashley Clark, Kerry McHugh, Melissa Sines, Katy Rees

Connecting values to practice is key in family philanthropy — shared values can help family givers develop a grantmaking strategy that ties their vision and mission to real impact. As your family considers its own philanthropic strategy, how do you begin to think about your values and put them into practice? Through this co-designed webinar, join NCFP and PEAK Grantmaking… Read More

Taking on the Big Issues: How Your Foundation Can Find Focus and Create Impact

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Keiki Kehoe, Ann Krumboltz, Meg Baesmith, Maggi Alexander

As a funder looking to effect change within a large-scale social, environmental, or economic problem, how do you decide as a family what you can do to make a difference? How do you find your role and define impact as you take on problems of an incredible scope? Join these families who have tackled major issues by finding specific focus… Read More