Voices from the Field

Anniversaries are times for reflection on and celebration of the past, as well as an opportunity to imagine the future. As the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) celebrates our 25th anniversary, we are speaking with community members about their reflections on the evolutions of their own philanthropy, the sector, and NCFP as well as their hopes for the future. … Read More

This article was originally published by Mission Investors Exchange and is re-posted here with permission. In philanthropy, the open call interview process to fill board- and committee-level positions is not typically a common practice. These positions are often filled by those who already have an existing relationship with the foundation, such as colleagues and associates, friends and family members. Reasons… Read More

Anniversaries are times for reflection on and celebration of the past, as well as an opportunity to imagine the future. As the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) celebrates our 25th anniversary, we are speaking with community members about their reflections on the evolutions of their own philanthropy, the sector, and NCFP as well as their hopes for the future. … Read More

“When you read about these near misses [of stable democracies staving off authoritarian threats], two factors prove decisive again and again: when a society’s elite stands up to an authoritarian faction, using their power to beat it back, and when the mass public organizes and demonstrates in favor of democracy.” – Zack Beauchamp, American democracy is tottering. It’s not clear… Read More

We sat down with Noa Staryk, board chair at McKnight Foundation, to learn more about their nation-leading approach to climate philanthropy. From grantmaking to investment strategies, Noa provides sharp insights and inspiration for other funders looking to join the movement. Please visit our Climate Change Content Collection if you are interested in learning more. NCFP: Can you tell me a bit… Read More

Delaplaine Foundation, a private family foundation with deep roots in the Frederick, Maryland community, has been dedicated to making a positive difference in Frederick County and beyond since its inception in 2001. The name Delaplaine has been synonymous with philanthropic giving reaching back more than a century, and the foundation has awarded over $20M in grant funding to more than… Read More

This article was originally published by the Surdna Foundation and is re-posted here with permission. Have you ever had food stuck in your teeth and only found out when you looked in the mirror hours later? If you’re like us, you probably thought, “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” The truth is that it’s tricky to give honest feedback to the people… Read More

Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on the many forms of family philanthropy, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and produced by Inside Philanthropy’s editorial team. In 1937, Paul Lamfrom fled Nazi Germany and later founded Columbia Hat Company, a modest hat manufacturer in Portland, Oregon. When Paul passed away, the company’s reins… Read More

This article was originally published by Alliance and is re-posted here with permission. Love the intention—but let’s make sure you get it right. These days, the word ‘participation’—or rather, its sophisticated cousin ‘participatory‘—is tossed around the social impact space like the word ‘organic’ in a hipster grocery store. Everyone wants to do a participatory process because they understand why it’s a smart… Read More

This April, Muslims around the world are observing the holiday of Ramadan—a month-long period of fasting from dawn to sundown, and of thinking of others, and of giving back. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in the Muslim faith, as well as my own. When I was a child, the month before Ramadan, my immigrant parents would sit at the kitchen table… Read More