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Are Family Foundation Board Internships an Effective Tool for Training the Next Generation?

Posted on July 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Are board internships an effective tool for training the next generation? What are some examples of other family foundations that have used them, and what have their experiences been? The National Center for Family Philanthropy and Youth Philanthropy Connect, a program of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation, have teamed up on the release of our latest Passages Issue Brief… Read More
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Disaster Philanthropy: What is the role of family giving in preparedness, response and recovery?

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Regine A. Webster, Lori Bertman

We’re pleased to present a very special edition of Ask the Center, featuring answers to questions on disaster philanthropy from two of the presenters from our June 13th webinar on the topic of “Disaster Philanthropy: The Role of Family Giving in Preparedness, Response and Recovery.” Lori J. Bertman is president and CEO of the Baton Rouge-based Irene W. and C.B… Read More
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What is a disqualified person?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Benjamin T. White

Self-dealing is defined to include almost all business and financial transactions between a private foundation and its “disqualified persons.” So what is exactly is a disqualified person? The following is excerpted from the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s Passages Issue Brief, “Avoiding Conflicts and Self-Dealing for Family Foundation Boards,” by Ben White. Friends of the Family and FP Online subscribers… Read More
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How Do We Help the Leaders of Our Grantees Find the Peer Support They Need?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Pierce Family Foundation

JJ Hanley faced a situation well known to nonprofit executives: the number of volunteers that wanted to help was outstripping the agency’s capacity to manage them.  Operating with a small staff, volunteers were key to the success of JJ’s List – which connects people with disabilities with community businesses and services – and her late-night brain-storms of one weren’t getting anywhere… Read More
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How Can We- and Why Should We- Use Facebook to Engage Family Members?

Posted on March 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

By Kelly Medinger Whether you are a Facebook neophyte or a self-proclaimed Facebookaholoic, there is no doubt that Facebook and other social media platforms have changed the landscape of why and how we communicate. So how does this landscape affect a private family foundation?  Especially when the family’s privacy is paramount? At the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation,… Read More
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What Questions Should We Ask Our Auditors?

Posted on February 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Once again everyone’s favorite time of year has arrived, audit time! For many, this can be viewed as a daunting and even arduous process.  A family foundation in NCFP’s network of Friends who no longer cringes at audit time shares this list of questions to ask your auditor to ensure your organization has a clean financial bill of health. Questions for the Auditors Did management limit… Read More
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What Are Easy Ways to Involve My Children in Giving This Year?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: Many families anticipating a generational board change ask the National Center for Family Philanthropy how to involve the next generation in their giving as they are getting ready to ascend to the board. Many families have begun to ask about easy ways to involve their children in philanthropy while they are still young to create a “culture of giving.” The… Read More
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How Do I Know if I Have a Great Collaboration?

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

The National Center hosted a special webinar on the topic of “Avoiding Leaky Pipes: Enhancing Donor-Grantee Collaboration” this past October. On the webinar Susan Wolf Ditkoff, a partner in the Boston office of the Bridgespan Group,  provided a “litmus test” one can use to determine if you have an effective collaboration. The two major components one must address are shared goals… Read More
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Does NCFP Recommend Any Special Holiday Gift Giving Guides for Family Philanthropy?

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

We would like to share tips and tools with our family and friends about giving and family philanthropy during the holidays. Can you recommend any good resources on this topic? The Hip Family’s Guide to Happier Holidays Lisa Parker of the Lawrence Welk Family Foundation says in her guide: “The single best piece of advice I received as a young… Read More
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What is a family council and when should a family consider establishing one?

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Patricia Angus

What is a family council and when should a family considering establishing one? Many families with multiple branches may elect to set up a Family Council. While the particular roles and responsibilities of Family Councils vary across families, they typically function as an oversight committee that consists of a small group of family members elected or selected out of the… Read More