NCFP Blog

Featured Article

Fifteen Timeless Tips for Trustee Training and Succession

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Jason Born

Year after year, one topic in family philanthropy rises to the top: inspiring, engaging, and preparing the next generation for leadership. Sooner or later, unless the board decides to spend down the endowment, board succession in family foundations is a matter of when, not if. Since its founding in September 1997, the National Center for Family Philanthropy has published dozens… Read More
Featured Article

The First Year: Tips and Tools for the New Family Foundation CEO

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Susan Crites Price

Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from The First Year: The Complete Guide for New Family Foundation CEOs and their Boards of Directors. It is sometimes said that serving in the role of family foundation chief executive is an art, not a science. Family foundation CEOs have many roles to play and many constituencies to serve. But what distinguishes this… Read More
Featured Article

Avoiding Leaky Pipes: Enhancing Collaboration Between Donors and Grantees

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Thomas Tierney

Editor’s Note: In this month’s FGN, Thomas J. Tierney and Richard M. Steele of The Bridgespan Group offer thoughts on how donors and grantees can overcome persistent traps to true collaboration, and get better results for society. The below article is adapted from their longer piece “The Donor-Grantee Trap: How ineffective collaboration undermines philanthropic results for society, and what can… Read More
Ask NCFP

How do I set priorities as the new CEO of a family foundation?

Posted on June 15, 2012 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from the new NCFP CEO Guide, Performance Review: The Complete Guide to Evaluating the Family Foundation CEO, volume 3 of our Family Foundation CEO Leadership Series. Setting priorities can be challenging for a new CEO, what with the myriad responsibilities of the job. When Kathleen Odne, the executive director of the Dean & Margaret… Read More
Featured Article

Getting Started with CEO Performance Review: Now’s the Time

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Susan Crites Price

Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from NCFP’s CEO Guide, Performance Review: The Complete Guide to Evaluating the Family Foundation CEO. In a 2010 interview study of 60 family foundation chief executives by National Center for Family Philanthropy President Virginia Esposito, most told her they do not receive a formal performance review by their board. But when NCFP interviewed board… Read More
From NCFP

Milestones in Family Giving: the Contagious Joy of Philanthropic Celebrations

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Virginia M. Esposito

Everyone loves a good celebration.  Families particularly mark the special moments in their lives with celebrations: an anniversary, graduation, wedding, or a birthday (especially those birthdays that end in the dreaded “0” – 30, 40, 50, and whatever numbers come after that!). While families may celebrate personal milestones, their approach to their philanthropic work may be more “nose to the… Read More
Ask NCFP

We’re a Family: How Can We Be Diverse?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Wendy Wehr

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on the Minnesota Council on Foundations’ Philanthropy Potluck Blog, and is used with MCOF’s permission. During discussions of diversity in philanthropy, family grantmakers sometimes get frustrated. Their thoughts may immediately turn to: “Our board members are family, how can we be diverse?” No matter your family’s DNA or your foundation’s charter, it is possible (and desirable) to… Read More
Featured Article

Advocacy and Family Giving: Leveraging Limited Dollars to Maximize Impact

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Lisa Ranghelli

The Brindle Foundation in New Mexico is concerned with the well-being of children and youth, and funds in the areas of education, early childhood development, youth development and human services.  Brindle has assets of $14.2 million and annual giving of $579,000 (as of 2010). As the Board and staff of the foundation explored how to make the most difference with… Read More
Ask NCFP

What Are Some Common Mistakes in Foundation Planning?

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Mark Neithercut

My parents are in the process of establishing a family foundation, and we are wondering  if you have a list of common mistakes that other donors have made in planning for a family foundation? A foundation is a business enterprise and, like any good business enterprise, a little bit of planning goes a long way. What can go wrong, you… Read More

We’re here to equip you with the tools you need to make a meaningful impact. Contact NCFP for support.

Get in Touch

Keep up with trends in family philanthropy. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Signup

Gain access to personalized support and a network of peers. Join our community!

Join Now