Blog

Written by family philanthropy practitioners and experts in the field, the NCFP blog offers perspectives on effective family philanthropy, sector news, and more.

Subscribe to NCFP’s monthly e-newsletter and we’ll deliver blogs, resources, and events directly to your inbox.

Strategic, Responsive, or Both?

Blog Post

October 14, 2016

Kris Putnam-Walkerly

Editors Note: This piece was originally published on putnam-consulting.com. I’ve been hearing a lot lately about funders weighing the…

How Do Family Foundations Partner with Community Foundations?

Blog Post

September 19, 2016

Tony Macklin

Private foundations can be flexible tools for involving family members in philanthropy. However, there are times when a family’s foundation…

Gratitude and Humility in Philanthropy: From a Story, to a Value, to Action

Blog Post

September 6, 2016

Doug Bitonti Stewart Julie Fisher Cummings

“Ask what they need—and then listen closely.” -Marjorie S. Fisher The importance of documenting the ethos of our founders is well known in…

Knowledge philanthropy: Engaging donors in community needs

Blog Post

July 27, 2016

Laily Pirbhai

As a community foundation, the Calgary Foundation understands the importance of our 3 key roles: donor stewardship, effective grantmaker…

Boardroom Battles: Five Ways to Move Beyond Conflict

Blog Post

May 31, 2016

Kris Putnam-Walkerly

Over the last 15 years, I’ve consulted with a few clients who, in the midst of our strategic planning sessions or evaluation efforts, must…

To Make a Difference, Family Philanthropy Must Take More Risks

Blog Post

May 24, 2016

Katherine Lorenz

Imagine a world where every child has access to a quality education. Where humans live in harmony with nature. Where cancer has been cured…

10 Questions to Help Start the Values Conversation

Blog Post

April 21, 2016

Suzanne Hammer

Ten questions to help you start the values conversation with your family to help bring your philanthropic mission and goals into focus

Aligning your external mission with your family’s values

Blog Post

April 4, 2016

Doug Bitonti Stewart

Why did your family start giving? Did you want to achieve a specific impact on an issue close to your hearts or did you want to bring your…

Why we must stand up for overhead

Blog Post

March 3, 2016

Katherine Lorenz

As family philanthropists, it’s difficult to read headlines about abuses at wasteful, extravagant nonprofits without feeling the urge to…

Good Governance: How Should Family Foundation Boards Spend Their Time?

Blog Post

February 9, 2016

Phillip Henderson

Checks landing in the mailboxes of nonprofit organizations with foundation return addresses have long been considered philanthropy’s most…

Blog

Filter results

Results