NCFP Blog

Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Using the Mirror Tool to Minimize Unconscious Bias in Grantmaking and Fund Leaders Closest to the Issues

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Liz Dozier

Chicago Beyond dramatically shifted its grantmaking and, today, all of its multi-year grants are in support of BIPOC-led organizations with direct experience in the social issues they are working on. Here, Liz Dozier shares more about how the organization went about making this change and introduces Chicago Beyond’s Mirror Tool, which other funders can use to identify and reduce bias… Read More
From the Archive

From the Archive: Family Philanthropy Transitions: Possibilities, Problems, and Potential

Posted on August 28, 2024

NCFP’s From the Archive series highlights resources from our Knowledge Center that have stood the test of time and continue to provide valuable guidance for the field.  All families go through transitions, be it births or deaths of family members. Institutions, too, experience transitions—from changes in staff or board leadership to financial fluctuations and shifts in strategic direction. Family philanthropy… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

How the Grunin Foundation’s Transparent Strategic Planning Process Led to Deeper Relationships with Community

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Kelly Fliller

The Grunin Foundation embarked on a strategic planning process to ensure its funding strategies were aligned with its capacity building work and equity framework. While they always funded in a relationships-focused way, they were surprised to find that putting more—though still minimal—processes in place helped strengthen their relationships with grantees and nonprofits in the community. Grunin Foundation Director of Communications… Read More
Network News

August 2024: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on August 14, 2024

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. William Caspar Graustein… Read More
From NCFP

Our Minds are Holding Us Back: Solutions to Overcome Psychological Barriers to Moving Resources

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Nicholas A. Tedesco

As humans, we all face obstacles to taking action. From the mundane—going to the gym or paying a bill—to the consequential, like switching careers or moving, we often put off decisions and tasks. Philanthropists face their own specific barriers to action, many of which are psychological and unconscious. In philanthropy, moving capital effectively is the crux of the work, and… Read More
Network News

July 2024: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on July 16, 2024

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. The Libra Foundation… Read More
Ask NCFP

Ask NCFP: Should we add discretionary giving to our grantmaking strategy?

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Miki Akimoto

NCFP receives a number of questions about family philanthropy and is particularly equipped to answer inquiries about philanthropic purpose, governance, next-generation engagement, family dynamics, and succession and legacy. This series is designed to answer commonly asked questions and provide resources and considerations for family funders. If you have a family philanthropy question, consider posting to NCFP’s Peer Exchange Platform for… Read More
Network News

June 2024: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on June 17, 2024

beach with sand and sunset
NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. Remembering Influential Foundation… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Learning Together for Exponential Results: How Two Flora Family Foundation Leaders Activated Shared Knowledge

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Flora Birdzell, Kimberly Myers Hewlett, Maggie McGoldrick

Flora Birdzell and Kimberly Myers Hewlett, both members of the Flora Family Foundation (FFF) Family Council, have participated in two NCFP Learning and Action Cohorts together. We talked to them to learn about the benefits of learning together and how they applied what they learned, particularly to FFF’s Black Maternal Health Initiative.  Recent research from NCFP affirmed that continuous reflection… Read More
From the Archive

From the Archive: Avoiding Avoidance—Managing and Addressing Conflict in Family Philanthropy

Posted on June 1, 2024

NCFP’s From the Archive series highlights resources from our Knowledge Center that have stood the test of time and continue to provide valuable guidance for the field.  While conflict is a natural part of any relationship, it can be particularly apparent in a family philanthropy context. Funders must manage conflict well in order to ensure their internal dynamics do not… Read More

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